St. John's College
(22) St. John's College stands on the E. side of
St. Giles' Street. The walls are of local Oxfordshire
rubble and freestone and the roofs are slate-covered.
In 1437 Archbishop Henry Chichele founded the college
of St. Bernard for students of the Cistercian order,
and this eventually formed the front quadrangle of
the existing building. The earliest part is perhaps the
cellar at the W. end of the N. range; the S. Range of the
quadrangle was in course of erection in 1439 and the W.
Range and Gatehouse are of much the same date. An
appeal was made to the Cistercian houses for the building-fund in 1483 and further building is known to have
been in progress in 1501–2; the latter probably included
the E. part of the Hall. The Chapel was consecrated in
1530. The E. Range was probably the last of the
mediæval work undertaken and it appears to have been
unfinished and roofless in 1546. St. Bernard's College
seems to have finally come to an end c. 1546, but the
buildings were not destroyed and in 1555 the College of
St. John the Baptist was founded by Sir Thomas White
who acquired the buildings, completed the E. range,
added the kitchen to the N. and restored the hall; the
E. range included the President's Lodgings on the N.
and the old Library on the S. Attics were added over
the various rooms in 1573 and in 1579 the ground in
front of the college was acquired and enclosed with a
low wall. The Outer Library on the S. side of the present
Canterbury Quadrangle was built between 1596 and
1601; much of the material came from the White
Friars. In Laud's Presidency (1611–21) various works
were undertaken; in 1615 the stone dormer-windows
and battlements were added to the W. front and in 1617
battlements were added within the quadrangle; the
Cook's Building on the street-front N. of the main
building was erected in 1612; the chapel was refitted
and in 1616 the hall was enlarged to the W. and in 1619 a
new louvre built. The Baylie Chapel on the N. of the
chapel must have been begun after 1633 when Laud
became archbishop, and was, according to Wood,
finished in 1662. The Canterbury Quadrangle was built
by Laud between the years 1631–36, incorporating
the earlier S. range which was extended at both ends.
The Senior Common Room was built in 1676 and has an
addition of c. 1835 on the N. side. The screen in the
hall was built in 1742 and in the second half of the
century Holmes Building was erected to the S.W. of
the old library. The chapel was drastically restored
by Edward Blore in 1843. The new buildings to the
N. of the college were erected in 1881 and further
additions were made to this new quadrangle in 1906
(incorporating an earlier building) and 1933.
St. John's College Arms
The Canterbury Quadrangle is a fine example of
early 17th-century design, the fittings of the library
are noteworthy and the earlier work in the front
quadrangle has many features of interest.
St. John's College
Architectural Description—The Front Quadrangle
(about 117 ft. square) is entered by the central Gatehouse on the W. side, which with most of the rest of
the W. range is of mid 15th-century date. In front
of the college is an enclosure planted with trees and
with low stone walls erected in 1579. The gatehouse
is of three stages with a restored embattled parapet
and a refaced top stage. The partly restored outer
archway has moulded and shafted jambs and four-centred arch in a square head with moulded labels
stopped on to grouped shafts flanking the jambs; the
spandrels are traceried and have shields repainted
with the Stuart royal arms and those of the college
impaling Laud; the archway is fitted with original
oak doors of two leaves with a wicket; each leaf is
divided into five vertical cinque-foiled or trefoiled
panels with elaborate tracery, moulded styles and
muntins. The second stage has an oriel window, all
modern except the moulded jambs against the wall;
flanking it are two much restored canopied niches
with pedestals, panelled backs and ribbed vaulting;
the top stage has two restored windows and a restored central niche containing an original figure of
St. Bernard, later adapted to represent St. John
the Baptist. The E. face of the gatehouse has a
partly restored archway with moulded jambs and
four-centred arch in a square head, moulded labels
and traceried spandrels enclosing repainted shields
of the arms of the see of Winchester and of Sir
William Cordell. The second stage has a partly
restored window with a square head and now fitted
with sashes. The top stage has a restored niche similar
to those on the W. front and containing a modern
figure; S. of it is a window of one trefoiled light; the
top of the stage and the N.E. turret have been refaced.
The gate-hall has an original stone vault of two bays
with hollow-chamfered diagonal, ridge and wall-ribs
springing from vaulting-shafts with moulded capitals
and bases; the bosses are carved with a monster,
a yale, a half-angel holding a shield with a fesse, and
foliage. The W. Range, flanking the gatehouse, is of
two storeys with attics, finished with a restored
embattled parapet and stone-fronted gabled dormers
of the 17th century, refaced. The two end bays of
the front are gabled, that on the N. being a later
heightening, the original bay being finished with a
low gable above the first-floor windows, of which
the restored parapet-string remains. The windows
are of one or two square-headed lights with moulded
reveals and labels; one in the S. bay retains its trefoiled
heads and the others may have been so finished
originally; the lower windows in the end bays have
the lower parts partly blocked. The E. face of the
range has similar windows, all now of one light and
fitted with sashes; the doorways have moulded jambs
and four-centred heads; this and the other ranges
round the quadrangle have re-built embattled parapets,
added early in the 17th century. The S. Range is of
similar general character to the W. range, the windows
have been restored and are mostly fitted with sashes;
the parapet and dormers are similar to those on the
W. front and all have been restored. The front to
the quadrangle is generally similar to the S. side but
the parapet is stepped up in the middle and has a panel
with a restored achievement-of-arms of Benjamin Henshaw. Both this and the other ranges have late 17th or
early 18th-century moulded lead rain-water heads enriched with roses. The E. Range is generally similar to
the W. range on the side towards the quadrangle and has
been partly refaced; it has a similar achievement-of-arms on the parapet. It seems to have been originally
pierced by three passages, the E. openings of which
were exposed in 1924, and the remains of the middle one
are still visible inside; the existing passage was formed
after 1633; it is entered by a much restored doorway
with a round keyed arch, side pilasters, entablature,
broken and scrolled pediment and a cartouche-of-arms
of the see of Canterbury impaling Laud; the spandrels
are carved with a mitre and a stork. The doorway to
the President's Lodgings, further N., is similar but
less restored; the spandrels have a stork and an Agnus
Dei and the cartouche has the arms of the college.
The windows are similar to those in the other ranges
and all more or less restored. The E. face of the range
will be described under the Canterbury Quadrangle.
Inside the W. range, on the ground floor are two
fireplaces with eared and moulded surrounds and
friezes; they are probably referred to in two inscriptions, one re-set and one loose, reading "This chimney
was erected by A.Q. 1694 Porter." The room above
the gate-hall is lined with 18th-century panelling;
the top room in the gate-tower has a flat open roof
with chamfered main timbers; one wall-post stands
on a stone corbel carved with an angel holding a shield.
In the S. range, the W. room on the ground floor is
lined with early 18th-century panelling and has an
18th-century fireplace. The western staircase has old
timber-framed walls and wooden handrails. Two
rooms to the E. have 18th-century panelling and fireplaces. The room E. of the second staircase retains
a small portion of the 16th-century painted foliagedecoration on the plaster; on the W. wall is a piece
of late 15th or early 16th-century oak partition of the
muntin and plank type. The E. room in the range is
lined with early 18th-century panelling and has an 18th-century stone fireplace; it is flanked by fluted Doric
pilasters supporting an entablature; on the frieze,
between the triglyphs are modern painted shields.
On the first floor two rooms are lined or partly lined
with early 17th-century panelling and others with
18th-century panelling. Inside the E. range, the S.
room on the ground floor is lined with 18th-century
panelling; on the first floor there is a 16th-century
doorway of oak with a moulded frame and ornamental
stops; the door is panelled and has a carved head.
The passage-way through the range has an early 17th-century fan-vault of two bays with cusped panels
and pierced pendants; it springs from moulded
corbels; the side walls have each a doorway with a
four-centred arch in a square head and one is fitted
with an early 17th-century panelled door, with a
carved head. The N. part of the range forms part of
the President's Lodgings with the main staircase (Plate
185) at the N. end; this is of early 17th-century date and
of well-type; it has turned balusters, moulded strings
and rails and square posts and newels with a series of
variously enriched panels; one newel, at the top,
retains its high turned terminal; against the E. wall is
a panelled dado of the same age. On the first floor,
above the hall, is one of the original staircases of the
range and the library is partly lined with early 17th-century panelling.
The N. Range comprises the Chapel, the Hall and
the Buttery. The Chapel (79 ft. by 26½ ft.) is no doubt
substantially a building of early 16th-century date
but now retains no features of that age, all the windows
being of the date of Blore's restoration in 1843; the
walls are ashlar-faced. The E. window replaces one
originally of seven lights. In the N. wall are two
restored arches, probably of the 17th century, with
moulded jambs, four-centred heads and labels, with an
angel-stop on the E. In the S. wall are two corresponding blind arches. At the W. end of the chapel is a crosspassage entered by an early 16th-century doorway at
the S. end with moulded jambs, four-centred arch
and label with foiled spandrels; the N. doorway is
modern. The Baylie Chapel (22½ ft. by 12½ ft.) was
built after 1633. The E. window is of three cinque-foiled lights with vertical tracery in a segmental-pointed
head. In the N. wall is the lower part of a former doorway and in the W. wall is a doorway with moulded
jambs and four-centred head. The roof is ceiled with
a fan-vault of plaster; it is of two bays with cusped
panels and plain shields to the cones; the spandrels
have circular traceried panels enclosing shields, that on
the E. of Laud as archbishop of Canterbury; the
smaller panels have alternately a mitre and a crest; the
vault springs from moulded and panelled corbels.
Fittings—Brasses: In the Baylie chapel—on W. wall,
(1) of Henry Huchenson, 1573, kneeling figure in
gown and hood and three inscription-plates on marble
tablet with added inscription to Richard Huchenson,
his brother, 1579. In cross-passage—on W. wall,
(2) of [Robert] Harte, 1571–2, kneeling figure of man
in gown and hood; (3) of John Glover, M.A., 1578,
kneeling figure in gown and hood with two inscription-plates; (4) to Henry Price, S.T.B., 1600–1, two inscription-plates, effigy lost; (5) of Robert Shingleton, M.A.,
1577, kneeling figure in gown and hood and two
inscription-plates. In lobby between chapel and
President's lodgings—(6) to William Laud, Archbishop
of Canterbury, 1644–5, inscription and shield-of-arms,
copied from coffin-plate in 1663. Monuments and
Floor-slabs. Monuments: In Baylie chapel—under E.
window, (1) of Richard Baylie, S.T.D., President and
Dean of Salisbury, 1667, and Richard Baylie, his son,
1674–5, alabaster and black marble altar-tomb (Plate
179) with panelled pilasters, arches, blank cartouches
and swags, white marble effigy in gown and cap, reclining on books, back-piece, probably from the monument,
now fixed on external face of N. wall, with Corinthian
columns, entablature, pediment and three cartouches-of-arms; on N. wall, (2) to William Levinz, M.D.,
President, 1697–8, marble tablet (Plate 32) with Corinthian side-columns, entablatures, broken pediment,
achievement and three shields-of-arms, monument
signed T. Hill, 1699; (3) of Ralph Huchenson, President, 1605–6, alabaster wall-monument (Plate 30) with
painted bust in gown and hood, enriched side-pilasters,
cornice and cartouche-of-arms; on the W. wall, (4) of
Sir William Paddy, M.D., 1634, alabaster and black
marble wall-monument (Plate 195) with bust of man in
recess, Corinthian side-columns, entablatures, broken
pediment and achievement-of-arms. In passage W. of
chapel—on W. wall, (5) to E[dward] Bernard, S.T.P.,
1696–7, draped marble tablet with shield-of-arms; (6)
of John Case, 1599–1600, alabaster and black marble
wall-monument (Plate 34) with painted kneeling
figure in gown at prayer-desk, panelled side-pilasters,
entablature and cartouche-of-arms; (7) to Edward
Waple, 1712, grey marble tablet, with side-pilasters,
cornice and cartouche-of-arms; (8) to William
Bigmore, LL.B., 1631, stone and slate tablet, with
scrolls, entablature, and broken pediment; (9) of
Richard Latewar, S.T.D., 1603, alabaster wall-monument (Plate 34) with painted kneeling figure in gown and
hood, at prayer-desk, enriched side-pilasters, cornice and
cartouche-of-arms; (10) of John Wicksteed, 1606–7,
marble tablet with incised figure of man in gown
kneeling at desk, cornice and shield-of-arms; (11) to
Edward Sparke, LL.B., 1675, stone and marble tablet
with cherubs and shield-of-arms. Floor-slabs: In
choir—(1) to G. L. (William Levinz), President,
1697–8. In Baylie Chapel—(2) to Edward Sparke,
16[75]. In cross-passage—(3) with date 1646; (4) with
date 1712; (5) to T. E., 1685. Pavement: In chapel—
of black and white marble squares, laid down in 1676.
The Hall (82½ ft. by 26½ ft.) was built probably
c. 1500 but was enlarged by one bay to the W. in 1616
and in 1935 the screen was set back throwing the
former screens-passage into the hall. The windows,
four on the S. and three on the N., are partly original
but remodelled in the 17th century and now much
restored; they are each of a single light with moulded
reveals and four-centred head with a label; the doorway, at the W. end, is of c. 1500 and has moulded jambs
and four-centred arch in a square head with a modern
label; above it is a blocked window. The E. part of
the hall has an original roof of three bays and of collar-beam type with curved and moulded braces forming
two-centred arches; each bay has a secondary truss
with a higher collar-beam; the purlins have curved
wind-braces; the roof is covered by a semi-circular
panelled plaster ceiling, probably erected c. 1616 but
remodelled in the 18th century. The fireplace was
inserted c. 1759 at the expense of John Duncan
whose name with a copy of Raphael's John the Baptist
by Lamberto Gori is above it. The panelling on the E.,
N. and S. walls is of early 18th-century date and at
the dais-end it is divided into bays by Ionic pilasters
and finished with an entablature. The stone screen
is of 1742 and is ascribed to James Gibbs; it is of three
bays with Ionic columns with elaborate iron gates
(Plate 28) in the central archway. The N. doorway is
fitted with an early 18th-century panelled door. The
roof of the W. part of the range is probably original
and is of trussed-rafter type. The Buttery adjoins the
hall on the W. Its former E. wall has recently been
removed and replaced by the re-set screen of the hall;
the buttery has late 15th-century moulded ceiling-beams.
Below it is a 15th-century cellar of four bays with a
central cylindrical column with moulded capital and
base; from it and similarly moulded corbels springs
the stone quadripartite vault, with chamfered diagonal
and wall-ribs. A pier has been inserted, probably in
the 17th century, under the former E. wall of the
buttery above. In the W. wall are the splays of two
former windows. The room above the buttery now
forms a gallery to the hall; it is lined with 18th-century
panelling. Two sections of 16th-century painted wall-decoration from this room have been re-set on the
adjoining staircase; one consists of panels and a
frieze of arabesque ornament with a shield on the
frieze; the other has an inscription; a second inscription remains in situ on a window-splay. The staircase,
to the N., was built in 1616, but in the W. wall of the
enclosing building is a window of two cinque-foiled
lights in a square head which is presumably of the
15th century; other windows are of the 16th or 17th
century. The staircase itself has a square central pier,
timber-framed in the upper part and with a newel,
having a moulded terminal, and symmetrically turned
balusters.
The Cook's Building, or kitchen-wing, extends to the
N. along the street-front. It incorporates work of the
16th century but was largely re-built and heightened
in 1612. It is of three storeys with attics, the windows,
where original, have four-centred heads to the lights
and moulded labels and the parapets are finished with
a series of restored gabled stone dormers; these have
supporting scrolls, finials and diagonal openings to
the roof-space. Inside the building, the kitchen has
an old panelled door and a wide fireplace, with a three-centred arch, in the W. wall. A room at the N. end
has a wide fireplace with an oak lintel. On the first
floor, in the W. wall N. of the staircase is the head of a
re-used 15th-century window of one cinque-foiled light.
The room over the lobby from the hall is lined with
early 18th-century panelling and the adjoining room
over part of the kitchen with early 17th-century
panelling. A room at the N. end has mid 18th-century
panelling and there is also some 18th-century panelling
on the second floor. The kitchen has a modern extension on the N. and a small projecting wing added in
1612.
The Senior Common Room forms a wing extending
N. from the chapel and was built in 1676; it was further
extended c. 1835. It is of one storey with basement
and attics and the side walls are finished with entablatures. The main windows on the W. side have eared
architraves; the timber dormer-windows have pediments. The senior common-room is lined with late
17th-century panelling with a cornice; the fireplace
(Plate 23) has a dark marble surround and there is a
carved frieze-panel above; the panelled overmantel has
enriched mouldings, festoons at the sides and a cartouche of the arms of the college, with scrolled foliage,
etc., above. The S. doorways have over-doors with
drapery-swags and broken pediments. The enriched
plaster ceiling with shells, shell-fish, etc. was made
by Thomas Roberts in 1742. On the N.W. of the
President's Garden is an outbuilding, probably of the
17th century, but extensively altered.
The Canterbury Quadrangle (114 ft. by 111 ft.) was
built between the years 1631–36, incorporating the
lower library block of 1596–1601. It is generally of
two storeys and towards the quadrangle the E. and W.
and the N. and S. fronts are symmetrically designed.
The E. (Plate 181) and W. sides have each an open
loggia to the lower floor, with a central feature and five
bays on either side. The central feature (Plate 184) on
the W. has a semi-circular arch springing from attached
columns, a carved head on the key-block and carved
angels in the spandrels; it is flanked by coupled and
fluted Doric columns supporting an enriched entablature continued along the front; on the frieze are
carved cartouches of the see of Canterbury and Laud;
the upper storey has enriched two-stage pedestals and
coupled and fluted Ionic columns supporting a second
enriched entablature with a segmental pediment; in
the tympanum is a large cartouche of the royal Stuart
arms impaling France and flanked by a rose and a
thistle; in the middle of this stage is a shell-headed
niche flanked by Corinthian columns supporting
entablatures and a pediment; under the pediment
are carved figures of a lion and unicorn and in the
niche is a standing bronze figure of Queen Henrietta
Maria by Hubert Lesueur; below the niche is a large
carved cartouche of the arms of Canterbury impaling
Laud and surmounted by a mitre. The side bays of
the loggia form a continuous arcade of round arches
with carved heads on the key-blocks and enriched
spandrels each with a round panel and a woman's bust
standing on a bracket; the busts represent virtues as
follows—Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance,
Faith, Hope, Charity and Piety or Religion; the spandrels have appropriate symbols and at the ends, figures
of angels; the enrichments of the frieze above, on this
and the E. front, include the arms of Laud, the various
offices he enjoyed, etc.; the arcade rests on plain
Doric columns with half-columns as responds. The
upper storey has a range of windows each of two four-centred lights with a restored label; the restored
parapet is embattled and the string has a series of
carvings of beasts, heads, figures, the see of London
impaling Laud, etc. The E. front is generally similar
but the upper part has been considerably refaced; the
central feature (Plate 184) has a bronze figure of
Charles I, also by Lesueur, with a cartouche of the
royal Stuart arms above; the busts over the side arcades
represent the arts—Learning, Astronomy, Geometry,
Music, Arithmetic, Logic, Rhetoric and Grammar, with
appropriate emblems and books bearing their authors'
names. The N. and S. sides of the quadrangle range
with those on the E. and W. and have similar parapets,
string-courses and upper range of windows; in place of
the loggia, however, is a lower range of similar windows
and a series of doorways with four-centred arches in
square heads and plain shields in the spandrels; the
upper storey on the N. has been refaced. On each side
are four enriched lead rain-water heads with the arms of
Charles I, Laud and Canterbury, or the last two impaled.
The E. external elevation or Garden Front (Plate 180)
is finished with an embattled parapet and a small gable
at each end, all restored. The ground floor has a
series of restored windows similar to the upper windows
of the quadrangle; in the middle is a restored doorway
with a round head and plain imposts and key-block;
the spandrels are carved with scrolls and fruit; flanking
it are plain pilasters with consoles supporting entablatures and a pediment with cornucopiae and a cartouche-of-arms of Canterbury impaling Laud. The upper
storey has a series of restored oriel-windows; the
three in the middle and that at the N. end are each of
three transomed and four-centred lights with a single
light on each return; they rest on moulded corbels,
the space below the sills being enriched with jewel
and strap-ornament; the oriel at the S. end is similar
but of five lights on the face; alternating with the
oriel-windows are four other restored windows each
of three transomed lights. The parapet string-course
has a series of restored carved bosses as on the other
elevations. The N. external front is of three storeys
finished with a series of small curvilinear gables; the
windows were similar to those of the upper ranges
of the quadrangle but several have been altered, the
mullions removed and modern frames inserted; one
original doorway has been altered into a window.
The S. external front has no parapet except in the E.
bay; the two ranges of windows are similar to those
in the upper ranges of the quadrangle; this part of
the front dates from 1596–1601. The E. bay is an
addition of 1631–6; the lower storey has two windows
similar to the rest but the upper storey has an orielwindow, similar to those in the garden front but with
a large middle light below the transom taking the place
of the two above; the space below the sill has partly
finished panels in place of carving. Inside the building,
the loggias have each a central doorway (Plate 6) in the
inner wall, with architraves, plain imposts, round arch
in a square eared head and carved key-stone; above it
is an enriched entablature with a pediment and a shell
in the tympanum. The passage to the garden has a
richly cusped and panelled fan-vault, with pierced
pendants; the outer doorway is hung with panelled
oak doors with scrolled enrichments and shell-heads.
The first floor of the W. loggia mostly forms a long
gallery in the President's Lodgings; above it is an
attic storey, with a number of doorways with moulded
oak frames; one room is lined with early 17th-century
panelling; the fireplace has Ionic side-pilasters,
moulded shelf and overmantel; the latter is of three
bays with Doric columns, entablature and enriched
panels with perspective arches. The W. half of the
N. range also forms part of the President's Lodgings.
On the ground-floor are four doorways with moulded
oak frames, four-centred arches in square heads and
fleur-de-lis or moulded stops, perhaps earlier work
re-used; they are fitted with panelled doors with fluting
in the heads. There is a little early 17th-century
panelling. The Drawing Room (Plate 183), on the first
floor, is lined with early 17th-century panelling divided
into bays by Ionic pilasters standing on enriched
pedestals and supporting an entablature with a panelled
frieze; the fireplace is flanked by Doric columns supporting a strapped entablature; the overmantel is of
three bays divided by Ionic columns and flanked by
diminishing pilasters supporting an enriched entablature
with pendant drops; the middle bay has a panel with a
broken pediment and a cartouche-of-arms of Canterbury impaling Laud; the side bays have niches with
standing figures of women; the W. doorway of the
room has panelled side-pilasters supporting an entablature and double pediment; the outer face has enriched
pilasters and a broken pediment with an urn; the
door is of two main panels, the upper elaborately sub-divided and the lower with a large jewel-ornament.
The ceiling has moulded ribs forming small panels
but is of doubtful antiquity. Further E. is an oak
doorway similar to those on the ground floor. The
rest of the N. range retains a number of oak doorways
similar to those in the President's Lodgings. On the
first floor, the W. room is lined with early 17th-century
panelling with overdoors and entablature; the fireplace has a moulded stone surround, flanked by pilasters
supporting an entablature; the overmantel is of two
bays with enriched pilasters, entablature and arched
and eared panels in the bays. A second room, further
E., is lined with early 17th-century panelling, with Ionic
pilasters between the bays and an enriched entablature; the fireplace (Plate 22) is flanked by enriched
pilasters supporting an enriched double frieze, cornice
and shelf; the overmantel, of two bays, has Ionic
columns and an entablature; the bays have shaped
panels with pediments. The S. range is largely
occupied, on the first floor, by the old library; this is
reached by a modern staircase at its W. end and at the
head of this staircase are three late 16th-century
doorways; that leading to the Junior Common Room,
has a moulded oak frame with a four-centred arch in
a square head with foliage and shields or rosettes in
the spandrels; the stops are carved with vases of
flowers and leaf-sprays; at the foot of the adjoining
attic-staircase is a second doorway of similar form
but uncarved; the doorway to the old library is of
stone, with moulded jambs and four-centred arch in
a square head; it is fitted with panelled doors in two
leaves; the inside of the doorway has fluted side-pilasters, bracketed cornice, finials and a pediment
with a gilded bust of Charles I, and his cypher, in the
tympanum. The Old Library has a trussed-rafter roof,
ceiled between the beams. It is fitted with bookcases forming eight recesses on each side and each
with a window; the book-cases are finished with
entablatures and pediments with finials at the ends;
the benches between them have ogee bench-ends
finished with a turned knob. The walls of the W. bay
are lined with early 17th-century panelling with a
bracketed cornice; the E. bay has similar panelling.
In the E. oriel-window are nine oval panels of painted
glass—(a) achievement-of-arms of Warren, (b)
achievement-of-arms of Craven; (c) achievement-of-arms of the founder with inscription recording the
making of the window in 1596; (d) royal arms of
Queen Elizabeth; (e) achievement of the Merchant
Taylors' Company who contributed to the library,
1596; (f) achievement of Dove of Suffolk; (g) shield-of-arms of Berkeley with inscription to Robert Berkeley,
contributor, 1596; (h) shield of Hangar, with inscription
to George Hangar, contributor, 1596; (i) medallion with
portrait of the founder; also four quarries with arms
of Archbishop Laud, 1633, and Juxon, Bishop of
London, 1636, and the founder. In the S. oriel-window
is an achievement-of-arms of Canterbury impaling
Laud, with angel-supporters and the date 1636, also
a loose panel with the same arms and those of Laud's
various other offices, on a bay-tree, perhaps a modern
copy. The Laudian Library occupies the whole of the
first floor of the main block of the E. range. It has a
modern open roof of thirteen bays, with arched braces
below the collar-beams; on the braces are attached
figures of angels holding books, of doubtful age, and
below the collar-beams are carved mitres or shields
with the arms of various dioceses, etc., impaling
Laud. The library is entered by a doorway (Plate 6)
in the S. wall with plain imposts, round arch, acanthus,
key-stone, consoles, cornice and broken pediment,
with, on the S. face (Plate 6), a wreath and ribbon
with the inscription, ὁ θεὸς μάλιστα Πάντων γεωμετρει
and on the N. face a cartouche-of-arms of Canterbury
impaling Laud; it is hung with doors of two panelled
folds, with ornamental pierced upper panels.
The wall between the gardens of the President and
the Fellows was built at the cost of Edward Sprot in
1613, according to an inscription over the doorway.
Condition—Good.