1594 Sidney Sussex College founded

The founder was Frances, wife of Thomas Radcliffe, Earl of Sussex. The Countess died in 1589, widowed and childless, leaving Ł5,000 and some plate and other goods for the foundation of a College. She recognised that the money might not be sufficient, in which case the funds should were to be used to further endow Clare College. The funds were not sufficient, but her executors went ahead with the plans for the College at personal expense, Sir John Harrington of Exton Rutland being particularly influential.

Sidney Sussex foundation was based on the model of Emmanuel. Though not as puritanical as Emmanuel, opposition to "Popery" and "other heresies" were professed in the foundation, and the College was to be for the education of the future clergy of the Church of England.

The College was to be built on the site of the old Franciscan Friary. Since 1546 the site had been owned by Trinity College, who had been using the friary buildings as a supply of building materials. Elizabeth I had to apply pressure on Trinity to sell the site. The executors obtained the licence to found the college in 1594. After another year building work started. The College was formally founded in 1596, and buildings were first used in 1598.

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