Bodleian Library and Schools Quadrangle Including the Divinity School and the Convocation House

BODLEIAN LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS QUADRANGLE INCLUDING THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND THE CONVOCATION HOUSE, RADCLIFFE SQUARE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1047185
Date first listed:
12-Jan-1954
List Entry Name:
Bodleian Library and Schools Quadrangle Including the Divinity School and the Convocation House
Statutory Address:
BODLEIAN LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS QUADRANGLE INCLUDING THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND THE CONVOCATION HOUSE, RADCLIFFE SQUARE
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Date:
2005-02-14
Reference:
IOE01/13772/09
Rights:
© Mr Chris Tresise. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1047185
Date first listed:
12-Jan-1954
List Entry Name:
Bodleian Library and Schools Quadrangle Including the Divinity School and the Convocation House
Statutory Address 1:
BODLEIAN LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS QUADRANGLE INCLUDING THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND THE CONVOCATION HOUSE, RADCLIFFE SQUARE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
BODLEIAN LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS QUADRANGLE INCLUDING THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND THE CONVOCATION HOUSE, RADCLIFFE SQUARE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Oxfordshire
District:
Oxford (District Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SP 51550 06415

Details

RADCLIFFE SQUARE 1. 1485 The Schools Bodleian Library and Schools Quadrangle including the Divinity School and Convocation House SP 5106 SE 9/147 12.1.54. I GV 2. RCHM 1. (1) Divinity School built 1424-1490. The master-masons were Richard Winchcombe in 1429 and Thomas Elkyn in 1439. The fan-vaulting was constructed in 1480-3, William Orchard being the master-mason, William Byrd was paid for the insertion of the North doorway in 1669. The upper storey was added by 1489 as Duke Humphrey's Library; It was restored and altered 1598-1602. The whole building was partially restored, again using Headington stone, in 1660 and also repaired in 1701-2. (For the sculptures of the vault, see Arch. Jnl LXXX (1914), 227. (2) The Schools Quadrangle. The West range, built 1610-12, contains the Arts End of the library on the upper storey and the Proscholium on the ground floor. The other three ranges were built 1613-24, John Akroyd and John and Michael Bently, being master-masons. Built originally in Headington freestone. Extensive restorations made in 1878-85 in Clipsham stone to the upper storey, pinnacles and the whole tower of the Five Orders. Further refacing of the interior, of the quadrangle on the South made in 1949. (3) The West cross-wing was built 1634-6 and its West window rebuilt in 1877. The upper storey forms the Selden End of the library and the lower storey contains the Convocation House and the Chancellor's Court.

All the buildings in Radcliffe Square form a group of the highest importance being the centre of the University of Oxford.

Listing NGR: SP5154506409

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
245750
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London in Journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Vol. 80, (1914), 227

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Bodleian Library and Schools Quadrangle Including the Divinity School and the Convocation House

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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