Post-medieval Oxford - Oxford City Council

The colleges
The growth of the university in the 16th-17th century involved a large increase in the
undergraduate population that necessitated new building in colleges and encouraged
the appearance of new foundations. Colleges saw the colonisation of attics with
‘cock-lofts’, and the raising of upper storeys and new buildings. The rebuilding and
furnishing of chapels are notable, while the growth of a new style of communal life
led to the provision of [senior] common rooms in colleges in the later 17th century.
New foundations
Jesus College
Jesus College was founded in 1571 by Dr Hugh Price, prebendary of Rochester
Cathedral, and originally provided for a Principal, eight fellows and eight scholars and
was primarily intended to promote Welsh attendance at Oxford (Salter and Lobel
1954: 264). During the Civil War, the college was commandeered and used as a
garrison. The college was founded on the site of White Hall, a former academic hall
(Allen 1998: 105). The college comprises two quadrangles on Turl Street; the First
Quadrangle dates primarily to the 16th century when the East and South Ranges
were constructed (LB Ref 8/317M; N). The North Range consists of the 17th century
Chapel (LB Ref 8/317K) and Principal’s Lodgings (LB Ref 8/317J) built on the site of
the former Lawrence Hall. There is a 19th century extension to the Principal’s
Lodgings to the north of the First Quad (LB Ref 8/317P) and the Principal’s garden is
enclosed by the north wall of the college (LB Ref 8/317Q). The 17th century West
Range includes the kitchen and buttery (LB Ref 8/317O). The 17th century Inner
Quadrangle is located to the rear of the First Quad and mainly comprises the
scholars rooms (LB Ref 8/317B; C; D; E; F; G). A new block was added to the
college at the start of the 20th century, replacing the former stables north of the Inner
Quad (LB Ref (8/317A).
Few archaeological investigations of note have been undertaken at Jesus College
and evidence largely comprises of stray finds including post-medieval pottery and wig
curlers (UAD 1417). A number of wall paintings have been recorded within the
college dating from the 16 th to 18 th centuries (UAD 191; 680).
Pembroke College
Pembroke College was founded in 1624 on the site of the medieval Broadgates Hall
which had previously been in use as a graduate hall. It was officially founded by
James I with generous grants from Thomas Tesdale and Richard Wightwick (Salter
and Lobel 1954: 294). Originally poorly endowed, the college originally supported ten
fellows and ten scholars. It made use of existing buildings, together with a new set of
chambers on the south side of what became the main quadrangle. The Chapel and
Library were initially in the south aisle of the nearby St Aldates Church, later replaced
with an 18th century chapel in Chapel Quad. The present front quadrangle (Old
Quad) was not completed until 1670-99 (Tyack 1998: 106).
The modern college comprises of three quadrangles and also includes 16-26
Pembroke Street, a line of 17th-18th century domestic houses now used as
Staircases 12 to 17, and the line of the former Beef Lane. The earliest building is a
former Almshouses begun by Cardinal Wolsey c1525 (LB Ref 12/583C), which was
re-fronted in the 19th century, becoming part of the college in 1888 and is now used
as the Masters Lodgings. The 17th century Main Quad, re-fronted in the 19th century
(LB Ref 12/583B) includes the chapel and the old Broadgates Hall while the Chapel
or Back Quad (LB Ref 12/583A) was completed in the 19th century. The North Quad
is a 20th century addition following the closure of Beef Lane and the demolition of the
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