Radcliffe Quad
Encyclopedia
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
of University College
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The buildings have been Grade I listed since 1954.
The quadrangle was started in 1716 and finished in 1719 with money bequeathed to the College by John Radcliffe, a former student of the college tutored by Obadiah Walker
Obadiah Walker
Obadiah Walker was an English academic and Master of University College, Oxford from 1676 to 1688.-Life:Walker was born at Darfield near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, and was educated at University College, Oxford, becoming a fellow and tutor of this College and a prominent figure in University circles...
and doctor to the King. Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
's main hospital and other University buildings are also named after him.
There is a statue of John Radcliffe by Francis Bird
Francis Bird
Francis Bird was one of the leading English sculptors of his time. He is mainly remembered for sculptures in Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. He carved a tomb for the dramatist William Congreve in Westminster Abbey and sculptures of the apostles and evangelists on the exterior of St...
on the gate tower of the quad. His coat of arms is also displayed.
The architectural style of the quad matches that of the earlier main quadrangle immediately to the west, although this was by then rather old-fashioned for the time. It is not a "quadrangle" in the same way as the main quadrangle, because it only has buildings on three sides; the fourth side is bounded by a high stone wall separating the garden of the Master's Lodgings to the south.
To the east is Logic Lane
Logic Lane
Logic Lane is a small historic cobbled lane through University College in Oxford, England, so-called because it was the location of a school of logicians. It links the High Street at the front of the college with Merton Street to the rear, which is also cobbled...
, a small cobble
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
d lane thorough the College, connecting the High Street
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
at the front of the College and Merton Street
Merton Street
Merton Street is a historic and picturesque cobbled lane in central Oxford, England. It joins the High Street at its northeastern end, between the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art and the Eastgate Hotel at the historic east gate of the city...
at the rear. A covered bridge
Logic Lane covered bridge
The Logic Lane covered bridge is a small covered bridge at the High Street end of Logic Lane, within University College, Oxford, England.The bridge was designed by the Oxford architect Harry Wilkinson Moore and was completed in 1904. It links the older Radcliffe Quad buildings with the newer...
(built in 1903) connects the Radcliffe Quad buildings internally with other buildings on the High Street owned by the College to the east.
The Radcliffe Quad is where University College's matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
photograph is taken at the start of each academic year.
See also
- Radcliffe CameraRadcliffe CameraThe Radcliffe Camera is a building in Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and built in 1737–1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library.-History:...
- Radcliffe InfirmaryRadcliffe InfirmaryThe Radcliffe Infirmary was a hospital in central Oxford, England, located at the southern end of Woodstock Road on the western side, backing onto Walton Street. The Radcliffe Infirmary, named after physician John Radcliffe, opened in 1770 and was Oxford's first hospital...
- Radcliffe ObservatoryRadcliffe ObservatoryRadcliffe Observatory was the astronomical observatory of Oxford University from 1773 until 1934, when the Radcliffe Trustees sold it and erected a new observatory in Pretoria, South Africa. It is a grade I listed building.- History :...
- Radcliffe Observatory QuarterRadcliffe Observatory QuarterThe Radcliffe Observatory Quarter is a major University of Oxford development project in Oxford, England, in the estate of the old Radcliffe Infirmary hospital.The site, covering 10 acres is in central north Oxford...
- Radcliffe Science LibraryRadcliffe Science LibraryThe Radcliffe Science Library is the main teaching and research science library at the University of Oxford, England.Being officially part of the Bodleian Library, although with a completely separate building, the library holds the Legal Deposit material for the sciences and is thus entitled to...
- Radcliffe SquareRadcliffe SquareRadcliffe Square is a square in central Oxford, England. It is completely surrounded by historic Oxford University and college buildings. The square is cobbled, laid to grass surrounded by railings in the centre, and is pedestrianised except for access....
- John Radcliffe HospitalJohn Radcliffe HospitalThe John Radcliffe Hospital is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England.It is the main teaching hospital for Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. As such, it is a well-developed centre of medical research. It also incorporates the Medical School of the University of Oxford....