Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/157

OXFOKD. H5 OXFORD. (parents of John Baliol, King of Scotland), between 1263 and 1268. The S. front of the college is in a very dilapidated state, but a new chapel, which has been built as a memorial to Dr. Jonkyns, its late master, is highly ornamented in its interior decorations, and is one of the objects visited by those who wish to see all that is remarkable in Oxford. MERTON COLLEGE was originally located at Maiden, in Surrey, where it was founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton, Bishop of Rochester and Lord High Chancellor of' England, and transferred by him to Oxford in 1274. One of the smaller quadrangles of this college, in which the library stands, is said to be the most perfect specimen of an ancient quadrangle in Oxford. The chapel is worthy of inspection, and con- tains eight finely toned bells, a handsome E. window and ceiling, some ancient tapestry, and some good stained glass. EXETEK COLLEGE was founded by Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter, and Lord High Treasurer of England, who removed to it his scholars, who up to this time were at Hart Hall. In 1404 Edmund Stafford, Bishop of Exeter, added 12 fellowships, and obtained leave to give the college its present name. The chapel, which has been recently erected, a very fine building, and beautifully decorated, is another object which should by no means be passed over by visitors. OKIEL COLLEGE was founded by Edward II. in 1326, at the suggestion of Adam de Brome, his almoner, who was also Rector of St. Mary's, where his tomb still remains in the Lady chapel, on the N. side of the church, in that part which is called " Adam de Brome's chapel," from the fact of his having been buried there. The original building stood between the W. side, or Oriel-street, and the High-street, where a portion of the original crypt now remains, and was called St. Mary's College, having been dedicated to the Virgin. The king framed new statutes for tho society, and gave it the advowson of St. Mary's church, the piece of ground upon which St. Mary's Hall now stands ; but it was not till the reign of Edward III. (who may almost be regarded as its second founder) that the college obtained the site upon which it now stands. Tho term " Oriel," as applied to this college, has given rise to some controversy among philologists. According to some it is derived from an eastern window which formed a recess in the interior. Others derive it from oriolum, a porch or entrance gate, while another opinion is that it comes from aul royal, a translation of aula regalis, which is the term applied to the college in some early deeds relating to it, in which it is described as being commonly known as the domui Seatce Maria Firginu, Oxon. Collegii de Oryell, aliat aula reffalit. In consequence of its royal foundation the sovereign still continues tho visitor of the college. QUEEN'S COLLEGE derives its name from Philippa, queen of Edward III., who encouraged and assisted her confessor and chaplain, Robert de Egles- field, who founded it in 1340. It occupies an area of 2,300 feet in length, by 220 in breadth, and its principal front is built in tho style of the Luxem- bourg Palace. It has two spacious quadrangles divided by the chapel and the hall, both of which were erected from the designs of Sir C. Wren. The former is 100 feet long by 30 feet broad, and has some magnificent painted windows, whilo the latter is 60 feet long by 30 broad, and contains an ancient marblo chimney-piece and several portraits. On Christmas Day an old English dinner is served up in the hail, when a boar's head is taken up to the high table in solemn procession, the bearers singing an old monkish song. The library of Queen's College is considered one of tho finest in the University. It is 123 feet in length and 65 feet in height, and contains a collec- tion of M.SS., printed books, portraits, and stone carvings. "Under it is a second, or " lower library," formed Hby "sing the cloisters, and the two libraries together contain above 60,000 volumes, exclusive of the MS8. NEW COLLEGE was founded in 1380 by William of Wyke- ham, Bishop of Winchester and Lord High Chancellor of England (who aloo founded Winchester College), and it has served as the model for the foundation of all similar societies, both in Oxford and Cambridge, ever since. Previously to this time the six colleges which had been already established were little more than halls on a large scale, but upon the opening of New College, in 1386, on " 14th April, being the vigil of Palm-Sunday, the first warden and fellows entered the college at 3 of the clock in the morning, and with solemn procession and litanies commended themselves and their studies to the care and protection of the Almighty." The chapel, hall, cloister, groined gateways, doors, and windows remain pretty nearly as they were when it was first built, except in the principal quadrangle and the garden court; the latter of which was finished in 1684, from designs, it is supposed, copied from the palace of Versailles, while the former had a third und an upper story added to it in 1675. Tho chapel lies on the left of the main quadrangle, and the choral services which take place there attract vast numbers of persons to hear them. The ante-chapel, which is 80 feet long by 35 broad, is supported down the middle by two staff-moulded pillars, and contains some very curious old monuments in brass and stone, some modern tablets and monuments in marble, and some ancient stained windows representing patriarchs, prophets, saints, and martyrs, placed here by the founder. The W. window was executed by Jervais in 1777, from car- toons by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and contains in the upper part stained-glass representing events in the life of Jesus, and in the lower, which is divided into seven compartments, allegorical figures of the four cardinal and three Christian virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, Faith, Hope, and Cha- rity. The Gothic screen over the organ loft is beau- tiful both in design and execution, and on each side of the organ (which is considered one of the finest in England) are the carved stalls of the warden and tho sub-warden, while in front of the stalls, round the chapel, are placed the ancient carved-oak seats, which have been in use since tho college was founded. The inner chapel contains some splendid painted windows, those on the left having been executed by Pecbitt, of York, while those on the right are principally Flemish, and are said to have been painted from de- signs by Rubens' pupils. The communion-table, which is of dove-coloured marble, is 12 feet long by 3 broad, and stands upon a flight of marble steps extending the whole width of the chapel. Over it are compart- ments in marble, containing sculptures in alto relievo representing the Salutation, the Nativity, the Descent from the Cross, and the Resurrection, by Westmacott. Carved and sculptured canopies and pinnacles occupy the rest of the E. wall, and in the left-hand corner stands the richly ornamented silver-gilt crozier of the founder. Adjacent to the chapel are tho cloisters, surrounding an area 130 feet long by 85 broad, and containing many curious old stone carvings, pillars, and monuments. N. of the cloisters is tho tower, which was built on tho site of one of the bastions of the city wall, not only as a belfry, but for purposes of defence in case of need, and having its wall 6 feet in thickness at the base. The hall is a spacious room, 78 feet by 35, and is adorned with some paintings (one by Annibal Carracci) and numerous portraits, while the canopied cornice at the upper end of the apartment, the screen of draperied panel-work at the bottom, and the wainscot and windows round it, are richly embla- zoned and decorated with the arms and escutcheons of the founder and the various benefactors of the society. Tho library is on tho E. side of the quadrangle, over the gateway which divides the old and new buildings. It consists of two rooms, 70 feet long by 22 broad, and contains some very fine printed books and M8S. Tho garden-court is separated by an iron gate and palisad- ing, extending 130 feet in length from the gardens. These are surrounded by a terrace, well stocked with various shrubs, plants, and flowers, and studded with groups of trees. On the 8. side is a bowling-green, now principally used for archery; and views are obtained from the gardens of St. Peter's Church, Magdalen Tower, and the remains of the old city wall, by which the college is partly surrounded. LINCOLN COLLBOB was founded