![[Thumbnail image of Old Schools, East facade]](oldschoolseelev.jpg){kind=small} Old Schools, East facade |
For those unfamiliar with this area of Cambridge, it would doubtless help to explain that the Old Schools are adjacent to, and immediately West of, the Senate House quadrangle. Thus, although part of the Old Schools, this building would normally be perceived as the West range of the more public Senate House quadrangle composition.
Various schools and offices were replaced in 1754-8 by this library building in the Palladian style. The architect, Stephen Wright, was introduced to the job by the then Chancellor of the University, the Duke of Newcastle, who was also to commision from Wright the building of Clumber in Nottinghamshire in 1770.
Gibbs had already completed the North range of the Senate House quadrangle, in the guise of the Senate House itself, and he had drawn up plans for the West and South ranges. Wright modified these plans and presented the library as the West range of the modified plans. The South range never did materialise.
The facade facing the Senate House quadrangle is faced with Portland stone. There are seven bays, one bay on each side being considerably recessed. The middle window, and the two recessed windows, are of the Venetian style favoured by the English Palladians.
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