Cripps Hall

Currently accomodating 373 students, Cripps Hall is one of the largest and most impressive halls of residence on the University of Nottingham’s main campus.

View of the upper quad at Cripps Hall after the opening in 1959 (monochrome photograph)
View of the lower quad at Cripps Hall after the opening in 1959. (Courtesy of John Laing PLC)
Monochrome photographs of Mr Humphrey Cripps receiving the Ordo Caligulae (a small silver boot mounted on an oak plinth) from the University of Nottingham Students Union to recognise his distinguished service in the interest of students.
Mr Humphrey Cripps receives the Ordo Caligulae from the University of Nottingham Students Union to recognise his distinguished service in the interest of students. (Courtesy of The University of Nottingham Archive)
View of the upper quad at Cripps Hall after the opening in 1959 (monochrome photograph).
View of the upper quad at Cripps Hall after the opening in 1959. (Courtesy of John Laing PLC.)
A monochrome photograph showing a large group of students gathered in academic dress for the opening ceremony.
Some of the first residents of Cripps Hall gathered for the official opening ceremony in 1959. (Courtesy of The Evening Post)

Situated atop a hill, centrally between the residential & recreational Downs area and the main academic facilities, many past alimni will tell you it is perfectly situated to make the most of campus student life.  A quick walk down to lectures and study is complemented by easy access to leisure facilities, sports and recreational facilities.  Even the city centre is just short walk or bus trip away.

Map of the University of Nottingham, University Park Campus.

Made possible by a very generous donation from the The Cripps Foundation, Cripps Hall opened in 1959.  It became the first campus building to bear the Cripps family name in recognition of the founders significant and ongoing contributions.  Sir Cyril Thomas Cripps and Sir Cyril Humphrey Cripps were both present for Cripps Hall’s official opening and their initials were taken to form the hall logo and crest.  Used in various colour combinations, the logo not only represents the hall but also the various bodies within it.

A monochrome photograph of Mr D. H. McMorran, with Mr. C. T. Cripps and his son Mr. C. H. Cripps look at a scale model of Cripps Hall following its opening.
The architect of Cripps Hall, Mr D. H. McMorran, with Mr. C. T. Cripps and his son Mr. C. H. Cripps looking at a model of the Hall following the opening ceremony in 1959. (Courtesy of The University of Nottingham Archive)
Cripps Hall Logo
The Cripps Hall logo formed from The Founder's initials
A gold logo on blue background.
A gold logo on red background.
A gold logo on green background.

Cripps Hall was the first designed by the distinquished post-war architect Donald Hanks McMorran RA FRIBA FSA at the University of Nottingham.  In March 1988, it achieved the distinction of being one of only eighteen post-war buildings to be officially protected.  It was awarded Grade II listed status for its “special architectual or historical interest”.

Originally an all male hall, Cripps Hall had a proud tradition of success in intramural sports and a very strong Junior Common Room (JCR) [All undergraduates resident in the Hall became JCR members for the duration of their studies even if later living off-campus].  At one point in the late 1990s this saw the hall’s JCR fielding three rugby and five football teams during the same season.  Hall spirit and comradery were a central part of the student experience helping to form life long friendships and memories that last a lifetime.  This was acknowledged in a 1972 letter from the then Warden to students which stated “It has always been recognised in this Hall that water fights, if kept within reasonable bounds, have – during the pre-exam period – a certain therapeutic value in reducing tension.”

Monochrome photograph of two students, one about to pour a bucket of water over the other.
Water fights, within accepted bounds, were common place amongst students resident in Cripps Hall. (Courtesy of Dr L. Davies)
The names of the Cripps Hall Sportsman (later Sports Person) of the year embossed in gold lettering on a wooden plaque.
The Cripps Hall Honours Board for Sports Person of the Year.

The Cripps Hall JCR also had strong connections to the local community.  Residents were often actively involved in the University of Nottingham Carnival which has now become Karnival, the University of Nottingham’s student run community charity.  Cripps Hall used to also host an annual community fete connecting it to local residents and particularly popular with local children.

Monochrome photograph of a student helping local children play a game at the 1960 Cripps Hall Summer Fete in aid of the World Refugee Year Appeal.
Cripps Hall Summer Fete (1960). The profits were donated to the World Refugee Year Appeal. (Courtesy of The University of Nottingham Archive)

Each Christmas, those resident in the hall would donate an evening meal to the elderly and vulnerable in Nottingham.  Cripps Hall JCR would work with other local organisations to collect practical Christmas gifts and then host a formal Christmas Dinner in December.  That evening the students would forgo their own meal, instead helping to entertain and serve their guests.

The millenium saw major change at Cripps Hall as it adapted to reflect changing student attitudes and needs.  In September 2000, Cripps Hall welcomed its first batch of female students becoming a mixed hall for the first time.  At the end of this academic year, the first Cripps Hall Summer Ball was held near to Newark at the stunning Kelham Hall.  This period was also notable as the newly constituted JCR, supported by its commercial operation Cripps Hall Trading, was so successful that despite providing subsidised activities, functions, parties and events it turned a significant profit which it was able to invest in improving hall facilities.

The JCR Committee in formal dress under an archway inside Kelham Hall Ballroom.
The 2000/2001 JCR Committee at Kelham Hall for the first Summer Ball.
A poster advertising Summer Ball Tickets for £28 including transport, four course meal, disco and other entertainments. The poster shows a photo of Kelham Hall.
A poster advertising the first Cripps Hall Summer Ball on Friday 1st June 2001.
Cripps Hall Formal Photo 2000/2001

In recent years Cripps Hall has continued to adapt as the university has sought to standardise its residential provision with that available off-campus.  In a drive to cut costs and maximise revenue from the accomodation provided, the Senior Common Room (SCR) is no more having been replaced by multi-hall staffing structure.  Similarly, the JCR has effectively ceased to exist having been absorbed into the University of Nottingham Students Union (UoNSU) losing the local provision of activities and low level pastoral support.  The collegiate nature of Cripps Hall, together with that of all the other halls of residence, is being replaced with a single corporate image more easily replicated and marketed for future students.

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