College tribute for woman pioneer

The new £35m college will house 1,000 students

A new residential college for Durham University is to be named after the pioneer of women's education and social reformer Josephine Butler.

The new £35m college is expected to admit male and female students in 2006.

Ms Butler, who was born in 1828, campaigned on many issues, including better education for women.

The new college at the Howlands Farm site, off South Road, will provide accommodation for another 1,000 students in the city.

Influenced society

The Northumberland-born Victorian campaigner had family links with the university - including her husband George Butler who was a lecturer in classics.

Her father's cousin was the Second Earl Grey, the Prime Minister when parliament passed the legislation for Durham University's foundation in 1832.

Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "We have chosen a name with a splendid list of associations: with education, with health and well-being, with justice, reform and social responsibility.

"Josephine Butler was a remarkable person whose influence shook up society in the 19th century and is still in evidence today. She was from our region.

"She has family links both with the university and with the parliament that brought the university into being."