During the years 1839-1841 the picturesque Old Commoners was demolished. It was built by Dr Burton, and formed an irregular quadrangle. On the west side were the head-master’s house, an excellent ball-court, and upper and lower cloister galleries, built over a small cloister; on the north was “Wickham’s” buildings, containing the Hall of the juniors, various dormitories, and the residence of the tutors; on the south were upper and lower conduit galleries, part of the ancient “Sustern Spital,” and divided into dormitories above, and below into apartments for the matron, and three “Continent Rooms” or sick bays. On the ground-floor, to the west of the inner entrance, were the “Hatches,” from which the bread or “sines,” and cans of beer, called “jorams,” were issued; the kitchens, etc.; opening into a small court, containing a dormitory, known as “New Room.” On the other side were the prefects’ and the tutors’ studies. On the east side of Commoners’ Court was the wall of the college stables, and a range of fine elm-trees, destroyed with one exception during a violent summer-storm in 1836. Underneath the survivor was the “long bench,” so frequented in “standing-up time.” The entrance-gate stood where the west gate of modern commoners is at present. Parallel with the east side of the court, and to the southward of the tutors’ studies, was the “dining hall;” and above it was a set of sleeping-rooms, upper and lower hall galleries. On the westward of the hall was “the conduit.”—WALCOTT’S _William of Wykeham and his Colleges_.] Besides the Warden, fellows, masters, and boys, there were twelve “Choristers,” who must by no means be omitted, as they formed an important part of the internal economy. I suppose they were called Choristers because they had not to sing; certainly if ever that was a part of their duty, it had entirely lapsed. Their office was to wait on the boys, in hall and chambers, till seven o’clock, and especially to go on errands in the town,—the boys themselves never being allowed to go there, except when invited by friends on saints’ days. These little Choristers wore chocolate-coloured tail-coats and trousers, with metal buttons; and, on the whole, I think their life must have been a weary one. In Commoners’, the number of boys fluctuated between one hundred and one hundred and thirty. The building called “Commoners’,” in which they slept and had their meals, skirted the west side of College, and had its entrance also in College Street. It would be useless to describe the buildings of Commoners’ as they existed in my time; they were not in any way remarkable, and are now entirely removed, and other and more commodious edifices, though, perhaps, not much more beautiful, built in their place.