Oxford Camera

Radcliffe Camera, Radcliffe Square, Oxford, OX1 3BG, GB

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Funded by a £40,000 bequest from royal physician Dr John Radcliffe upon his death in 1714, the Radcliffe Camera's striking circular design is a masterpiece of architect James Gibbs, who also designed St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Construction began in 1737 and the magnificent Palladian-style structure, often simply called the "Rad Cam," was completed in 1749, initially housing the Radcliffe Science Library. Its distinctive round form, a notable departure for libraries of that era, quickly established it as an iconic symbol of Oxford, a focal point amidst the university's historic colleges. Today, this Grade I listed building functions as the main reading room for the Bodleian Library, a testament to centuries of academic pursuit.

Now an integral part of the central Bodleian Library complex, the Radcliffe Camera houses around 600,000 books in its underground rooms, including the History Faculty Library. It is linked to the Old Bodleian Library by the Gladstone Link, an underground library and passageway. While primarily a working library for University of Oxford students and staff, visitors can admire its grand exterior in Radcliffe Square at any time. To experience the interior, including its impressive reading rooms, pre-booked guided tours are available through the Bodleian Libraries, often encompassing other historic parts of the university's library system. Its unique architecture has also made it a popular backdrop in films and television series.

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