king's college
The King's College of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Cambridge was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI and munificently endowed. Until 1853 students at King's were exceptional in being awarded University degrees by the College. The original site of the College lay to the north of the current College, between the present Chapel and Senate House Passage. The first College buildings were begun in 1441 on what is now the site of the western quadrangle of the Old Schools.
In 1443 King Henry began to buy up the site of the present Front Court and Back Lawn.He had always meant the College to be built south of the Chapel but this was prevented by shortage of money and the Wars of the Roses. In 1805 the College acquired the ground beyond Queen's Road now occupied by the Fellows' Garden, the Garden Hostel and King's College School.
On his new site east of the river, King Henry planned three domestic ranges closing up to one another and, on the north side, to the Chapel, to form the new court. Between the Chapel and the river there was to be a cloistered cemetery and a bell tower. he Founder's stonework in the Chapel is recognisable by being white (magnesium limestone from Yorkshire), while later work is in Northamptonshire sandstone. Only the east range of the domestic buildings was begun; its foundations are still there under the lawn and can be seen in very dry summers.
In 1724 James Gibbs redesigned the front court, but was able to only build the west range of his scheme, the present Gibbs' Building. The Keynes' Building, the largest scheme undertaken by the College for a century and a half, was completed in 1967.
The College has formal ties with Eton, Winchester and New College, Oxford dating back to 1444 and with Berkeley College, Yale since 1938. King's also has informal ties with Queen Mary College, London.
History of the gardens:
It is possible to trace back to the sixteenth century some avenue-planting of ash, elm and walnut on the College lands that we now call the Backs. By 1690 there were College gardens on both sides of the river, some of which – a bowling green, a hop yard and an area for a pigeon house – had important practical functions, whilst others were more obviously pleasure gardens, such as the small one for the use of the Fellows.
The Back Lawn dates back to 1772 when the College voted for further improvement of the Chapel yard to the west of Gibbs'. The original Fellows' Garden, a small enclosure on the east bank of the river disappeared with the construction of the Back Lawn and it was not until the renewed building activity of the 1820's and 30's that a new and larger garden replaced it.
In 1851 Provost Okes consented to the Provost's close being converted to a "Fellows' pleasure ground" and in 1852 the College agreed to appoint a gardener to look after it. Today, with its relatively informal shapes and pleasing groups of mature trees and lower growing shrubs, the Garden is a typical Victorian design.Its appearance has not changed much in the last hundred years, although when the Garden Hostel was completed in 1950 suitable screen planting of new trees and shrubs were carried out on the west side of the Garden. Use of the Garden by junior members was allowed by the Governing Body in 1935.
Library:
King's College Library has been in continuous existence since the foundation of the College in 1441. As well as preserving many rare book and manuscript treasures, the Library serves the current needs of undergraduate, graduate and senior members of the College.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Tickets:
Tickets cost £5 or £3.50 (children, students and senior citizens)
Admission is free for children under 12 when they are visiting with their family, or for school groups whose school is in Cambridgeshire or within a 12 mile radius of the College.
Please buy tickets at The Shop at King's, opposite the front of the College.
In the summer you can buy tickets at the North gate of the Chapel.
From the entrance to the College, take the path on the right past the end of the Chapel.
Opening times:
During term time
23 June - 11 July 2010
5 October - 3 December 2010
18 January - 18 March 2011
26 April - 17 June 2011 |
Monday - Friday |
9.30am - 3.30pm |
| Saturday |
9.30am - 3.15pm |
| Sunday |
1.15pm - 2.15pm |
| Out of term |
Monday - Saturday |
9.30am - 4.30pm |
| Sunday |
10am - 5pm |
Important note: The Chapel is occasionally closed because of recordings, concerts and private ceremonies. Please check before you visit. During the Easter Term, which is the examination period in Cambridge, the grounds are closed to the public but you can still visit the Chapel.
Liblary:
Opening hours for the general public
Please make an appointment if you would like to visit the library (see contact details).
The library is closed for six weeks in May/June each year for the examination period.
Wheelchair access
There is a ramp at the South Porch of the Chapel, and the grounds have level paths of flagstones or shingle. If you need any help please ask a member of staff.
Local residents
Local residents who live within a 12-mile radius can apply for a free visitor's pass to allow them to walk through the grounds.
GETTING HERE:
By car: If you are driving to Cambridge please note that car parking is limited and expensive. There is no car parking available at King's itself.
By bus/coach: The Drummer Street bus station is ten minutes' walk from the College.
By train: Cambridge is on the line from King's Cross and Liverpool Street stations in London. The journey from London to Cambridge takes about an hour and there are frequent trains leaving for Cambridge from both stations.