History

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Date Founded:
Over a thousand years ago - the precise date is uncertain but probably somewhere between the 8th and 10th century.

Founders:
Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. The 4 Hogwarts houses are named after these founders (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin). They were the greatet wizards/witches of the age.

Location: Somewhere in Scotland - presumably quite close to the English border (we know this because in Fantastic Beasts, JK tells us through Harry and Ron's handwriting that they found an Acromantula colony in Scotland - i.e. Aragog and family in the Forbidden Forest). Hogwarts is a huge and magnificent castle with spacious grounds. On one side of Hogwarts, lies the Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade next to it, past the Hogsmeade station. Aswell as the Hogwarts lake.

Uniform: Black robes and cloaks, pointed plaing black wizards' hats. Also, presumably, shoes (probably any type such as sneakers) & t-shirts & pants (whatever the Hogwarts students choose to wear under their robes). According to the book, their is no mention of ties, collared shirts, grey skirts or long pants (this uniform was shown in the movie only).

Badge: The Hogwarts Badge represents the symbol and colours of each of the 4 houses. Gryffindor is represented by a lion on a scarlet background; Slytherin by a serpent on a green background; Hufflepuff by a badger on a canary yellow backround and Ravenclaw by a raven/eagle on a purple-blue background. The Hogwarts motto: 'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus', means 'Never tickle a sleeping dragon' (the Muggle equivalent is 'Let sleeping dogs lie').



Additional information:

:: The founders built the Hogwarts castle together, far from prying Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people and witches and wizards suffered much persecution. For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them up to the castle to be educated.

But then disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families.

He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school.

But Slytherin would not give up on his cause, for he had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the others knew nothing. Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school.

The heir alone would be able to unleash the horror within and purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic, i.e. muggle borns.

:: Many years ago (in around 1600), every few years, the Triwizard Tournament would take place at one of the 3 big participating schools: Hogwarts, Durmstrang or Beauxbatons. But then it was discontinued due to the high death toll. In Harry's 4th year at Hogwarts, it took place again and was hosted by Hogwarts.

:: Thousands of great witches and wizards have attented Hogwarts School of Witchcarft and Wizardry over the ages and it is one of the most famous and renowned magic school in the wizarding world.

:: Hogwarts is unpenetrable for muggles. This means that if a muggle tries to enter Hogwarts or even if they look at Hogwarts, all they see is an old castle in ruins and a sign hanging over it proclaiming that it's abandoned and extremely dangerous.

:: Hogwarts is unplottable. This means that it is impossible to draw or position on a map.

:: The majority of the Hogwarts castle is most probably built in early Romanesque style (heavy and Roman like) but I assume that as it expanded through the century, bits were added on and therefore probably also has a combination of Late Romanesque and Gothic (expansive and light) architecture.

:: Hogwarts is home to the largest number of house-elves in any dwelling in Britain - well over a hundred. The house-elves maintain the castle, keep the fires going in the commonrooms and offices, clean the dormitories and classrooms and cook meals in the kitchen.

:: The Hogwarts kitchen is situated directly below the Great Hall. There are four long House tables positioned below their counterparts in the Great Hall. At each meal, the food is sent up to the House tables through the floor.

:: There are many secret passageways and rooms in Hogwarts. No one - even Dumbledore isn't aware of all of them. One such room is the Room of Requirement, which is located opposite the state of Barnabas the Barmy on the 7th floor. The room provide the person who finds it with whatever they require - be at a toilet (as in Dumbledore's case) or a safe haven filled with Defence Against the Dark Arts books and paraphenalia (as is the case with Harry's Dumbledore's Army meetings).