Oriel College Oxford

The East range of the First Quad at Oriel was completed just before the Civil War in 1642. With its Dutch gables, its Decorated windows, its Tudor bay windows and its High Renaissance centre piece it appears as the work of many hands over many generations. But I dont think it is. The unnamed Designer was not hide bound by any desire to emulate another age, by being Gothick or Classical, he put things together as he thought they were appropriate and would go well together. The result is very successful and he should be applauded for his free spirit and originality. Oriel also has a court by Basil Champneys, who did a fine set of buildings for Newnham in Cambridge and produced his masterpiece in the Rylands Library in Manchester. The higher building on the right is the tower of Merton Chapel.