Porter and the Porters' Lodge
The Porters' Lodge is the staffed entrance hall of a Cambridge College: part reception, part security post, part lost-property office. At many Colleges it is staffed around the clock, and for most practical questions of College life they are the first people to ask.
In practice
Selwyn calls the Lodge the fulcrum of the College community: keys are collected there, parcels land there, notices go up there, and porters keep watch over safety and security while fielding questions about Cambridge life. At Peterhouse the Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day, responsible for the security of the College and the safety of members, guests and visitors, handling emergencies alongside day-to-day post and taxi booking. Visitors meet the porters before meeting anyone else: the Lodge is the first point of contact for everyone in the College.
Why it matters to newcomers
If you visit a College, go to the Lodge first and say who you are there to see. For families, it helps to know that the Lodge is where post, keys and emergencies are handled. For members, the porters are worth knowing by name: they keep the building you live or work in running.
Related
- College - the institution the Lodge serves
- Bedder - the other household face of College life
- College visiting hours - when visitors are welcome
Sources: The Porters' Lodge at Selwyn; The Porters' Lodge at Peterhouse.