2012
SP5106 : Former library in St Mary the Virgin
taken 13 years ago, near to Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Former library in St Mary the Virgin
Reopened as a parish centre in 2012 after many years of disuse, this room doesn't look much, but it is the oldest surviving building in Britain to have been used as a library.
Around 1320 a two-storey building was added to the north side of the chancel of Oxford's principal parish church. The ground floor (now a coffee shop) became the Convocation House for the University, and the upper storey housed the collection of chained books bequeathed by Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, which formed the first university library, nearly three centuries before its revival by Sir Thomas Bodley.
By the later 15th century the library had outgrown these premises and was moved the short distance to the purpose-built Duke Humfrey's library above the Divinity School, which became the nucleus of the present Bodleian Library.
Around 1320 a two-storey building was added to the north side of the chancel of Oxford's principal parish church. The ground floor (now a coffee shop) became the Convocation House for the University, and the upper storey housed the collection of chained books bequeathed by Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, which formed the first university library, nearly three centuries before its revival by Sir Thomas Bodley.
By the later 15th century the library had outgrown these premises and was moved the short distance to the purpose-built Duke Humfrey's library above the Divinity School, which became the nucleus of the present Bodleian Library.
University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is situated on the north side of the High Street. It is the centre from which the University of Oxford grew and its parish consists almost exclusively of university and college buildings.
St Mary's possesses an eccentric baroque porch, designed by Nicholas Stone, facing the High Street, and a spire. Radcliffe Square lies to the north ,and to the east is Catte Street. The 13th-century tower is open to the public and provides good views across the heart of the historic university city, especially Radcliffe Square, the Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose College and All Souls' College.
St Mary's is Grade I listed. Link.
Wikipedia: Link
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TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
- Grid Square
- SP5106, 4325 images (more nearby 🔍)
- Photographer
- Tiger (more nearby)
- Date Taken
- Saturday, 22 September, 2012 (more nearby)
- Submitted
- Wednesday, 26 September, 2012
- Subject Location
-
OSGB36:
SP 516 062 [100m precision]
WGS84: 51:45.1598N 1:15.2252W - Camera Location
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OSGB36: SP 516 062
- View Direction
- Southwest (about 225 degrees)
