Queen's College
Queen's College Arms
The Queen's College
(20) The Queen's College, stands on the N. side
of High Street, immediately W. of Queen's Lane.
The walls are of local Oxfordshire stone and ashlarfaced and the roofs are covered with slates and lead.
The Queen's Hall was founded in 1340 by Robert de
Eglesfield, chaplain to Queen Philippa who was
regarded as a co-founder. The mediæval building
consisted of a single quadrangle entered by a gatehouse
in the E. range; the chapel on the S. was built
in 1373–82 and had an ante-chapel added c. 1515; on
the W. side were the Provost's lodging, the hall of
c. 1400 and the kitchen to the N. of it; to the W. of
the chapel lay the Library of c. 1392. The whole of
these buildings were demolished when the college was
re-built on a larger scale between the years 1672 and
1760. The position of the mediæval buildings, particularly the chapel, has been determined with some
exactness by the uncovering, from time to time, of
parts of the foundations. A new range was built by
Sir Joseph Williamson in 1672 on the front to Queen's
Lane and immediately to the N. of the old quadrangle.
The new Library on the W. side of the N. quadrangle.
seems to have been designed in connection with the
general reconstruction and was built in 1692–95 by
Timothy Halton, Provost. The N. range of the N.
quadrangle was built in 1707 and the W. range of the
front quadrangle was built in 1710–11. Probably
shortly after this the main mediæval buildings were
demolished and the Hall and Chapel were begun in
1714; the hall was finished in the following year and
the chapel soon after, though it was not consecrated
till 1719. The Kitchen was built at the same time but
was perhaps modified when the S. range of the N.
quadrangle was built in 1719; the inner part of the
E. range of this quadrangle was also built in 1719 to
render the quadrangle rectangular. The colonnaded
screen towards the High Street was built in 1734 and
in the next year the block at the S.E. angle was built;
the rest of the E. range was not erected till 1757–60,
the bridge between it and the chapel being even later.
The design of the new buildings has been assigned to
Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.
The statement that Wren actually built a chapel for
the college is almost certainly incorrect, and the existing
building shows the influence of Vanbrugh. The design
of the gateway in the S. colonnade was ascribed to
Hawksmoor by a writer in 1736.
The college includes good examples of the later
English Renaissance and both the chapel and library
have noteworthy contemporary fittings with some
earlier glass in the chapel.
Architectural Description—The Front Quadrangle
(140 ft. by 140 ft.) is entered by a Gateway on the High
Street which forms the central feature of the one-storeyed colonnade on the street-front, built in 1734.
The gateway is of the Doric order with rusticated
columns flanking a round-headed arch; above it is a
domed structure with open round-headed arches supported by coupled Doric columns; it contains a statue
of Queen Caroline by Henry Cheere. The gateway is
fitted with a contemporary oak door with carved work
in the head. Flanking the gatehouse are five bays of
open arcading with rusticated masonry and round
arches towards the quadrangle and similar blind arches
enclosing niches towards the street. The W. Range
was built in 1710–11 and is of three storeys with attics.
The E. front, largely refaced, has on the ground-floor
an open arcade of round rusticated arches, similar to
those on the S., above them are two ranges of square-headed windows, set in a tall recess in each bay; the
wall is finished with a cornice and modern balustraded
parapet and above the three middle bays is an atticstorey finished with a segmental pediment with cherubs,
swags and a cartouche-of-arms of William Lancaster,
Provost (1704–17). The S. end of the range is of
three bays and generally similar to the E. front; within
the ground-floor arches are round-headed windows
with imposts and key-blocks and the end is finished
with a straight-sided pediment, enclosing a carving of
the royal arms of Queen Anne after the Union, with
four cherubs and cartouches-of-arms of the college and
Williamson; on the pediment are three modern
statues. The W. front has three ranges of square-headed windows and a range of segmental-headed
windows lighting the basement; the wall is finished
with a cornice and balustraded parapet. Inside the
range, the ambulatory or loggia has groined vaults
springing from pilasters with moulded capitals and
bases; the loggia is continued N. for four bays beyond
the quadrangle as a passage. The room at the S. end
of the range is lined with bolection-moulded panelling
with dado-rail and cornice. In the buttery are preserved
three silk banners of the college trumpet dated
1666 or 1667; they bear the college arms. The
northernmost staircase is probably the library staircase
of c. 1696, re-set; it has heavy turned balusters, panelled
newels and close moulded strings; opening off the
staircase is a doorway with panelled linings and doors
leading to a corridor on the first floor; on a bracket
above it was a painted bust of Queen Philippa, of
uncertain date; the next staircase to the S. is of
c. 1710 and has turned balusters, square newels and
close strings; a staircase of similar type rises from the
corridor to the upper floors. The Senior Common Room
(Plate 165) has a doorway with a round head, eared
architrave, cornice and segmental pediment; the room
is lined with early 18th-century panelling with entablature, dado-rail and cupboards and doorways with
round heads; the fireplace-projection is flanked by
fluted Corinthian pilasters and above the shelf is an
enriched panel; the fireplace has a veined marble
surround. On the second floor is a little re-set late
16th-century panelling.
The E. Range was built in 1734 and 1757–60; it has
been refaced and accords generally in design with the
S. part of the W. range. It has three contemporary
statues, by Henry Cheere, on the S. pediment and
restored carving in the W. pediment.
The N. Range consists of the Hall on the W. and the
Chapel on the E. divided by a corridor. The front
(Plate 78) to the quadrangle is treated as a single design
with a central feature and four bays on each side; it is
of one storey with a basement and the central feature is
of four bays divided and flanked by Doric columns with
an entablature continued along the front and a pediment; the metopes of the frieze are carved with cartouches-of-arms of the college, Lancaster and Williamson and the tympanum with a seated figure of Justice
with Neptune, Plenty, an amorino and scrolls; the
central bay has a round-headed doorway with a window
of similar form above and round-headed niches in the
side bays; the bays on each side of the central feature
are divided by Doric pilasters and the entablature is
surmounted by a balustraded parapet; each bay has a
single round-headed window. Rising from the middle
of the range is the restored cupola; it is octagonal on
a square base with coupled Ionic columns at the angles
supporting entablatures and vases; it is finished with
a small dome. The N. front is of much simpler
character and has a plain cornice and parapet; the
central feature is flanked by coupled Doric pilasters
and has a round-headed central doorway and a round-headed window above, within the later bridge; the
side windows are round-headed and set in square-headed recesses. The apsidal E. end of the chapel is
treated like the N. front as to its windows, cornice and
parapet; it has been largely refaced. The central
corridor has a stone vault of three bays with a saucer-dome over the middle bay and panelled barrel-vaults
over the side bays.
The Chapel (Plate 174) (102 ft. by 33 ft.) is ashlar-faced
internally and has side walls and apse divided into bays
by Corinthian pilasters supporting entablatures of
which the enriched cornice is continued along the walls;
the E. bay and the pilasters flanking it are faced with
marble; one bay of each side wall is blind and has a
shell-headed niche with cherubs below; the W. wall
is divided into three bays similar to those of the side
walls; in the middle bay is a doorway with an eared
architrave, entablature and pediment of oak on the
E. face; the side bays have each a round-headed recess
with a glazed fanlight. The plaster ceiling is deeply
coved at the sides and divided into bays by coffered
bands; the bays are panelled and have modelled foliage
and cherub-heads; the apse has a semi-dome of more
elaborate character with a central wreath enclosing a
painting of the Ascension by Sir James Thornhill,
1716.
Fittings—Bells: In cupola—two; 1st by Michael
Darbie, 1655; 2nd by Abraham Rudhall, 1718. Brasses:
On walls of apse—(1) of Henry Robinson, Bishop of
Carlisle, 1616, plate with kneeling figure of bishop in
front of Carlisle cathedral with a shield-of-arms of the
bishop over the doorway, various figures, devices and
inscriptions; (2) of [Robert Langton, LL.D.], c. 1518,
figure of priest in doctor's cap and cope diapered with
fleurs-de-lis, small plate with rebus and initials R.L.;
(3) of [Nicholas Hyenson, 1477 (?)], worn figure of priest
in academic dress with defaced inscription; (4) to
Ralph Hamsterley, [1518], Master of University College,
inscription and indent of small figure; (5) of Henry
Airay, S.T.D., Provost, 1616, plate with kneeling figure
in cap, gown and hood and various other figures and
devices. In ante-chapel—(6) to Henry Airay, 1616,
inscription only. Candelabra: two, each of ten
branches, given in 1721 by Penyston Powney and
Thomas D'Oyley respectively, with their shields-of-arms; also, against side-walls, a series of wall-sconces
probably of the same date. Communion Rails (Plate 28):
of wrought iron with elaborate scroll-work standards
and gates, c. 1719. Floor-slabs: In ante-chapel—to
[Gerard Langbaine, S.T.P., Provost, 1657–8], with
shield-of-arms; (2) to [Christopher Potter, S.T.P., Provost, 1645–6], with shield-of-arms. Glass: In E.
window (Plate 176)—by Joshua Price, c. 1717, figures
of the Holy Family with angels, in lunette, figures of St.
Peter and St. Paul and a view of a city; in lunettes of all
other windows glass by same artist with small figure-subjects of the Adoration of the Shepherds and the
Magi, the Baptism, the Last Supper, the Flight into
Egypt, the Agony in the Garden, all in the apse,
Apostles and shields-of-arms of (a) Lancaster impaling
Wilmer, (b) the College, (c) Marteine; (d) Henry
Compton, Bishop of London; (g) Sir Joseph Williamson;
(f) variant of Lancaster; (g) variant of Lancaster; (h)
Gibson impaling Alexander; (i) Celey (?); (j) Dixon;
(k) Sir William Dawes, Archbishop of York and (l)
Hilton. In four windows on N. and S. sides—glass by
Abraham van Linge, 1635, repaired and re-set by Joshua
Price; on N. side, (a and b), formerly in one window
and representing the Last Judgment (Plate 176), with
name of artist, date and date of repair; (c) the Last
Supper with the Crucifixion; (d) the Annunciation and
the Visitation (Plate 176); on S. side, (a) the Ascension;
(b) the Resurrection (Plate 177); (c) the Adoration of
the Shepherds (Plate 177); (d) Pentecost (Plate 177);
In next pair of windows to W., glass of 1518 re-set with
later glass, in N. window (Plate 178) figures of archbishop and two bishops under canopies and with the
arms of Wolsey and a coat with various charges presumably for Langton, but not heraldic, on the brackets
the date 1518; in S. window three figures of St. Peter
as pope, St. Clement and a bishop under canopies with
the same date, the royal arms of Henry VIII and two
early 18th-century shields-of-arms of Lord Crewe,
Bishop of Durham and Sir Wilfrid Lawson. In westernmost pair of windows—on N. side (Plate 178), the
Annunciation with the Crucifix on the Lily and figures
of St. Aldhelm, St. Osmund and St. Lawrence, partly
restored and shields-of-arms of Lancaster, Hilton,
Heglise (?), the see of York and Salkeld; on S. side (Plate
178), figures of St. Margaret, St. Christopher, St.
Edward the Confessor, St. John of Beverley, St.
Robert and St. Anne and the Virgin, also shields-of-arms of Langton, Hilton, Edward the Confessor, the
college and another coat for Langton (?), all early 16th-century, perhaps repaired by van Linge and again
repaired and re-set by Price. Lectern (Plate 24): of brass,
with eagle on globe, moulded baluster-stem and four
lions at base; inscribed on globe "Aquila Regina
Avium et Avis Reginensium. Johan. Pettie socius
Coll. moriens legavit Anno Dom. 1653", and on the
stem "Gullielmus Borroghes Londini me fecit Ano.
Dni. 1662". Panelling: In ante-chapel—on N., S. and
W. walls, panelled wainscotting with cornice, bench
against S. wall and seats with later lockers in recesses of
W. wall, early 18th-century. Paving: In chapel—of
marble squares set diagonally. In ante-chapel—of two
types of stone with black marble squares set diagonally,
early 18th-century. Reredos: of marble with guilloche
and floral enrichment, scrolls at ends and acanthuscresting with pedestal and vase, fixed on face of reredos
enriched wooden frame enclosing a 17th or 18th-century
copy of Correggio's La Notte. Screen: Between chapel
and ante-chapel—of oak and of three bays, middle bay
with high round-arched opening with carved scrolled
supports, cartouches-of-arms of the college and Sir J.
Williamson on the E. and W. key-blocks and carved
spandrels; bay finished with a cornice, broken and
scrolled pediment and tall central vase, side bays
flanked by coupled and fluted Corinthian columns
standing on a plinth and supporting an entablature
with vases over the outer columns, on E. face in each
side-bay a stall with swags above and a panelled desk
in front, early 18th-century. Stalls: Against N. and S.
walls of chapel—benches with shaped supports, set
against panelled backing with cornice and scrolled and
carved bracket at E. end and returned to screen at W.
end with pierced and carved upper panel, panelled
desks with panelled standards, finished with shaped
heads and vase-finials, lower benches with continuous
moulded fronts, early 18th-century.
Under the chapel is a basement or crypt containing
various burials including that of the founder.
The Hall (Plate 172) (62 ft. by 31 ft.) is of five bays
divided by Doric pilasters with entablatures from which
springs the plaster barrel-vaulted ceiling, coffered over
the E. bay; the other bays are divided by enriched
bands and are panelled with a large rosette in the middle
panel of each bay. The end walls are each of three bays
with pilasters as on the side walls and a continuous cornice, above which is an 'attic-storey' with plain
pilasters and a pediment over the middle bay; on the E.
wall this bay has a niche with a large urn. On the W.
wall the same bay has a window and the stage below
three round-headed openings to the corridor beyond; all
these are fitted with scrolled wrought-iron balustrades,
that of the central opening forming a balcony; the
central doorway below has panelled side-pilasters, a
round head and panelled doors. The lower parts of
the walls are lined with oak panelling finished with a
cornice and in the middle of the E. wall is a raised
centre-piece (Plate 49) with elaborately carved scrolls,
entablature and pediment with a cartouche-of-arms of
Lancaster. In the windows are a series of heads in
painted glass, ascribed to William Price; they represent
the founder, Queen Philippa, Edward III, Edward IV,
Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria, Sir Joseph Williamson and Dr. Lancaster. Under the hall is a cellar with
barrel-vaults of brick. The buttery and the adjoining
staircase have a range of windows, in the W. wall, each
of two transomed lights. Two heads mostly of c.
1640 in painted glass of Henry V and Cardinal Beaufort
are in these windows.
The North Quadrangle (126½ ft. by 92 ft.) is flanked by
the Library on the W., the enlarged Williamson Building on the E., a range of 1707 on the N. and the
kitchen-range, extended in 1719, on the S.
The Library was built between 1692 and 1695 and is
an ashlar-faced building of two storeys. On the E.
face (Plate 170) the ground storey is rusticated and has
a series of eleven round arches with carved or scrolled
keystones; these were all formerly open but have now
been mostly filled in to part of their height with windows
inserted in the upper part. The upper storey has a series
of windows of similar form lighting the library; the
three middle bays form a central feature, divided and
flanked by Corinthian pilasters supporting an entablature and pediment; below the three middle windows
are carved swags and on the frieze is a cartouche-of-arms of Crewe; in the pediment is a statuary-group representing Wisdom with attendant amorini with books
and instruments; on the apex is an eagle on a globe,
holding a shield of the college arms. The main cornice
of the entablature is continued along the whole front
and is surmounted by a panelled parapet. The W.
front has been almost entirely refaced; it is generally
similar to the E. front but in place of the arcade on the
ground floor is a central doorway with a pediment and
a series of arched recesses, each enclosing a round-headed niche with a statue; the statues (Plate 52), by
Vanderstein, represent Queen Henrietta Maria, Sir
Joseph Williamson, Bishop Thomas Barlow, Archbishop Lamplugh, Robert Eglesfield, Edward III,
Queen Philippa and Charles I; the cartouche on the
frieze bears the arms of Thomas Smith, Bishop of
Carlisle, 1684–1702, and the tympanum has a group
representing Queen Philippa with attendant amorini.
The N. end of the building has a single central window
on the first floor, similar to those in the side-walls.
Inside the building, on the ground floor, there was
formerly an open loggia on the E. side, with three
passages carried through to the W. side; the arrangement has now been altered and most of the floor forms
the lower library. The Library (Plate 173) is entered by
a doorway in the S. wall with eared architrave, consoles
and a cornice; on the inner face (Plate 169) the doorway
is flanked by Corinthian columns supporting an entablature and a pediment with a cartouche-of-arms of Crewe;
on the pediment are two allegorical female figures and
on the wall above is an elaborate achievement-of-arms
of the college with cherubs. The walls are lined to a
height of about 10 ft. with oak panelling finished with
a cornice; above the internal window-heads is a series
of modelled festoons in plaster with various devices,
books, shells, musical instruments, cornucopiae, globe,
pelican, etc. The flat ceiling has three large enriched
panels with shaped ends and smaller panels in the spandrels; the smaller panels have sprays of acanthus and other
foliage, fruit and flowers; the central panel has an oval
in the middle with festoons, etc. and cartouches and
palm-branches in the spandrels; the end panels are more
simply treated; all these panels have later decoration
in the middle; against the walls is a deep modillioned
cornice. Between each window and at right angles to
the wall is a book-case finished with an entablature; the
end is panelled with enriched upper panels; above the
cornice of the two central cases on each side is a
pediment with a cartouche of arms and carved cresting;
the arms are those of Henry Robinson, Bishop of
Carlisle and Edmund Grindal, Archbishop of Canterbury, the see of Lincoln and the see of York impaling
two crossed spears; the side-pilasters of these cases have
carved pendants. Flanking the S. doorway is a pair of
cupboards, the re-set panels (Plate 51) of which are
formed of elaborate carved and pierced scrolled foliage.
In the windows is a series of heads in painted glass and
a series of cartouches-of-arms; the heads are those of
Henry IV, Charles II and Catharine of Braganza, and
the cartouches those of the College, Cardinal Beaufort,
William Fettiplace and Sir Joseph Williamson with a
device for the founder Robert Eglesfield; the glass is
ascribed to William Price and was formerly in the hall.
On the sill of the N. window is a painted wooden figure
of Queen Philippa, formerly in the old hall and perhaps
of 16th or early 17th-century date.
The N. Range of the N. Quadrangle was built c. 1707
and is of three storeys with cellars and attics. The
building is ashlar-faced and has on the partly restored
S. front three ranges of square-headed windows with
architraves; it is finished with a later balustraded
parapet; the doorways have straight-sided pediments.
At the W. end of the building are two round-headed
niches. The N. front has windows, with plain architraves and moulded bands between the storeys; the
wall is finished with a cornice but no parapet. Inside
the building many of the rooms are lined with early
18th-century panelling; the staircases have turned
balusters, square newels and close strings. The E.
Range is of three storeys with cellars and attics; it was
originally built in 1672 but was extended to the S. and
W. and heightened in 1719. The W. front to the quadrangle is entirely of 1719 and continues the design of
the adjoining S. front of the N. range. The E. front
is ashlar-faced and has three ranges of windows all
square-headed with architraves and the two lower
originally each fitted with mullion and transom, some of
which remain, and the upper with mullions; two bays
project slightly and are finished with pediments but the
rest of the front has a cornice and plain parapet. The
first three bays on the N. extending up to the top of
the first floor, were part of the original building but
the rest of the front is an addition of 1719, the mullioned
upper windows being so treated to accord with the
earlier work. The N. front is similarly treated but has
two round-headed niches in the middle with a carved
half-eagle between them. Inside the range there are
two staircases of 1672, with turned balusters, square
newels with pendants and close strings; a third staircase in the S. part of the range is of c. 1719. Many of
the rooms have panelling, dadoes and cornices and
stone surrounds to the fireplaces, of early 18th-century
date. The S. Range is of three storeys with cellars and
attics. The N. front is generally similar to the corresponding elevations on the N. and E. of the quadrangle. Inside the range, the Writing Room is lined
with 17th-century panelling perhaps re-used; it is
finished with an enriched entablature and has a painted
canvas over the fireplace with a shield-of-arms; there
is also a carved cartouche of the arms of the college on
the door.
The Brew House is a timber-framed building at the
W. end of the Fellows' garden. It was built probably
in the 16th or 17th century but was largely reconstructed in the 18th century. In it are preserved some
mediæval slip-tiles from the site of the old chapel.
Adjoining the Brew-house on the N. is a garden shelter
with a half barrel-vault in enriched plaster, probably
dating from the 18th century. Re-set in the S. wall of
the Fellows garden is the upper part of the stone effigy
of a woman probably Queen Philippa; it is much
defaced but may be of the 16th century. Set in a wall
in the Provost's garden is a restored shield, for Langton,
with angel-supporters and a hat, from the old Provost's
lodging.
Condition—Good.