Merton College Library

Merton College Library is one of the earliest libraries in England and the oldest academic library in the world still in continuous daily use. The library is housed in several parts of the college, and houses a priceless collection of early printed books and more than 300 medieval manuscripts. The main collection runs to approximately 70,000 volumes.The oldest part, known as the Upper Library, is on the first floor of two orthogonal ranges of buildings that were built around 1373 by William Humberville as part of the completion of Mob Quad, one of the first collegiate quadrangles.The Upper Library was improved in the 16th century under Warden Sir Henry Savile. Large dormer windows were added to the roof to allow more light in, and Thomas Bodley reorganized it in the new Continental style; the old book chests and lecterns were replaced by book shelves — among the first to be used in England — with benches between them. The Upper Library still retains these 16th-century fittings.It also contains a number of book chests, some chained books, one of Elizabeth I's Welsh Bibles, a matching pair of 16th-century globes , and a collection of astrolabes and other early scientific instruments. Although the main academic library is housed elsewhere, the Upper Library is still regularly used by members of the college, and is open to visitors by arrangement. The library also has important collections of papers and manuscripts from three former Mertonians: mountaineer Andrew "Sandy" Irvine and authors T. S. Eliot and Max Beerbohm.

Address and contacts of Merton College Library

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Merton College Library

Oxford
United Kingdom
Email
Contact Phone
P: 01865 276308
Website
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Summary

Merton College Library is Oxford based place and this enity listed in Landmark category. Contact phone number of Merton College Library: 01865 276308

Landmark & Historical Place category, Oxford

Merton Field
Oxford null United Kingdom

Merton Field is a grass playing field north of the main part of Christ Church Meadow and south of Merton College in central Oxford, England.To the west are Merton Walk and Christ Church, one of the Oxford colleges. To the east is the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. To the south is Broad Walk a wide path on the northern edge of Christ Church Meadow. To the north, Dead Man's Walk skirts the edge of Merton Field following the line of the old city wall and Grove Walk leads to Merton Street, between Corpus Christi College and Merton College. The tower of Merton College Chapel dominates the view north from Merton Field.Near to the eastern end of Dead Man's Walk is a plaque marking the first hot air balloon ascent in Britain, made by James Sadler (1753–1828). He ascended from Merton Field on 4 October 1783, landing in Woodeaton to the northeast of Oxford.

Oxford Castle
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