Cambridge and Its CollegesThompson, A. Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton)
History
Cambridge and Its Colleges
Thompson, A. Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton)
University of Cambridge
The Great Court of Trinity represents the earlier foundations of King’s
Hall and Michael House. Of these, the latter was the older, and its
buildings occupied a position nearly corresponding to the south-western
angle of the present court. It may safely be supposed that, up to the
last half of the eighteenth century, some remains of the original
building were allowed to exist, although Dr Nevile had probably faced
them in accordance with his general design. In 1771, however, James Essex
made a radical alteration in this corner, and the only part which was
thought worthy of preservation was the kitchen. This quaint room, entered
by a passage from the hall-screens, still survives, and may be regarded
as the nucleus of the modern Trinity. The next relic of importance is
the King’s Tower, which now blocks up the west end of the Chapel, and
occupies the centre of the north side of the court. It stood originally
a little south-east of its present site, and opened at the junction of
two lanes, one of which ran diagonally from the old church of All Saints’
to the Cam, while the other, coming from the present Trinity Lane, was
bounded on the west by the small court of Michael House. Now, of course,
the tower, removed and rebuilt, shows very little trace of antiquity,
and the oldest part of it is the statue of Edward III., which stands
above the gateway, and bears the inscription “Tertius Edwardus fama super
aethera notus.” This may be ascribed to the reign of Edward IV. Later on,
in the reign of Henry VII., the foundation of the great gateway was laid,
and a chapel for the scholars of King’s Hall was built.
[Illustration: Trinity College]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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