Merton College
Merton Street, Oxford, OX1 4JD, GB
Rating: 4.5 ★ (123 ratings)
Details
Mob Quad, completed between 1288 and 1378, stands as a prime example of early collegiate architecture and is Merton College's, and arguably Oxford's, oldest quadrangle. Within this historic space, you'll find the Old Library, dating from 1373, which holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning library for university academics and students in the world. Founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton, the college itself has a claim to be the oldest in Oxford, notable for being the first to establish statutes and a self-governing structure. The 13th-century chapel, originally St John's parish church, showcases Early English period architecture with its impressive east window and a tower completed in 1450. Don't miss the grand Fellows' Quad, finished in the early 17th century, and the intriguing medieval ironwork on the Hall door, the college's oldest surviving building.
Merton College boasts serene gardens, offering a tranquil escape, with the Fellows' Garden providing views over Christ Church Meadow and featuring an ancient mulberry tree. This institution has been a significant English intellectual centre, a tradition continued through figures like J.R.R. Tolkien, who was the Merton Professor of English Language and Literature from 1945 to 1959 and reportedly found inspiration for the Ents of Middle Earth in the Fellows' Garden trees. The poet T.S. Eliot also spent a year studying at Merton. The college’s more modern additions include the T.S. Eliot Theatre, opened in 2010, providing state-of-the-art facilities. Visitors can typically explore the four main quadrangles and the chapel, with guided tours sometimes offering access to the Old Library, particularly in the summer months.
Location
Opening Hours
Monday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Tuesday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Wednesday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Friday: 2:00 – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Contact
+44 1865 276310
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