After the Reformation, the schools appear for some years to have been almost deserted and in ruins, until,
Imposts, Proscholium of the Divinity School.
in the reign of Elizabeth, in the year 1597, Sir Thomas Bodley, a gentleman of a Devonshire family, who had been educated in the University, (and who had afterwards travelled through most parts of Europe, and been employed by Queen Elizabeth in many important matters,) resolved, as he tells us himself, to “set up his staff at the Library-door at Oxford,” and restore the place to the use of students. He commenced the same year the restoration of Duke Humphrey’s Library, which he repaired and refitted, and to which he added a new roof; and afterwards, in 1610, commenced building the Library which now bears his name, but which he did not live to see finished[J]. This new building he placed at the east end of, and transversely to, the Divinity School, the north-east and south-east buttresses being built into the new wall, and leaving in front of the east door the Proscholium or covered walk already mentioned, popularly known as the “Pig-market.” Of this Wood says, “In which Ambulachrum do stand such that are candidates for, or sue after, their graces to the Regents sitting in the Congregation House adjoining.” The reason of this being, that any requisite questions might be put to them previous to granting the degrees,—a practice which was discontinued when the system of public examinations was introduced[K]. It was necessary,
Bosses, Proscholium of the Divinity School.
therefore, in making the new building, to retain this space, and the present groined room was formed accordingly. It is lighted by a window at each end, one of which is not, nor has ever been intended to be, glazed. It has a vaulted ceiling, with bosses at the intersections, the alternate ones being shields, with the arms of the founder[L]. Some of the bosses are of good design and execution, but others are of late character. The general effect is good, but the details, particularly the moldings, are of very debased character.
The buttresses of the Divinity School are panelled the greater part of their height, and one of these, as has been mentioned before, is built in, and forms part of Bodley’s new wall, so that the panelling is visible on both sides; but on the east end it is carried forward on the face of the wall, as far as the point from which the porch seems to have projected; and it is tolerably evident, from the remains of the shafts which have been cut away, and from other marks on the wall, that this porch must have been groined. It seems to have been the wish of Bodley to have his new building to agree in character with the old, and he therefore had the whole of his building panelled in the same manner as the Divinity School. This forms the west side of the Schools’ Quadrangle[M], and is different in character from the rest of the buildings. The width of the quadrangle of the schools is greater than the length of the front of the Bodleian, and therefore a few feet had to be added at each end of Bodley’s work. This may be seen inside these
GOTHIC BUILDINGS OF OXFORD
