New College, Oxford

New College was founded by William of Wykeham during the year 1379. The site for the college was acquired from multiple sources ranging from the city of Oxford, to other colleges around it. The college possessed many building other than its own, a testament to William of Wykeham’s experience in administration as the Bishop of Winchester and the High Chancellor of England. During the reign of Edward III, Bishop Wykeham was responsible for the supervision of royal building works. His reputation quickly rose and led to him being in charge of many royal manors. His work with New College was done so well King Henry VI modeled his own colleges after his.

At the time of its founding, New College was the largest of the existing Oxford buildings, being larger than all the others combined. The building was a shining example of the perpendicular style of English gothic architecture. It developed out of the decorated style of the 13th and 14th centuries and lasted until the 16th century. The style was fully developed in the works of master masons Henry Yevele and William Wynford, who actually worked on New College himself.

There are four main components to the college: the hall, the chapel, the city wall, and the gardens.The hall is where the dining room is situated. Throughout the years there have been multiple renovations to this section of the building, with the most recent being completed in 2015. The chapel is more significant; its stained glass windows have works from portraitist Sir Joshua Reynolds, and even works by El Greco. The organ in the chapel is quite grand, being built by the firm of Grant, Degens, and Bradbeer in 1969. The bell tower contains one of the oldest rings of ten bells, which are rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers. The City wall is the oldest structure, being that it was originally on site to begin with. At the time of its construction, William Wykeham promised to maintain the city wall and never change it from where it stands. The gardens are said to be modeled after the Palace of Versailles.

The College today continues to be a stand out building in the Oxford set of buildings. It is one of the most visited buildings of all the Oxford buildings.On of the gardens of the college was actually even used in the very popular Harry Potter movies.

Buxton, John, and Penry Williams. New College, Oxford, 1379-1979. Oxford: Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford, 1979. Print.

Smith, Alic Halford. New College, Oxford, and Its Buildings. London: Oxford UP, 1952. Print.

"About New College | New College." About New College | New College. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.