Winchester College, Winchester
Winchester College was founded in the fourteenth century by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor to Richard II, and the first seventy poor scholars entered the school in 1394. Historically, the school also took a few paying students, known as "Commoners". Originally there were only about 10, rising steadily until the early 19th century, when their numbers were approximately equal to those of the Scholars. In the late 1850s and throughout the 1860s, the numbers expanded dramatically as nine new boarding houses were built. One more boarding house was built in 1905, bringing the total to the current 11 (including College, which continues to occupy the original 14th century buildings), and the total number of pupils to almost 700. A twelfth boarding house is currently in the planning stage