This most memorable of Oxford buildings is now the principal reading room of the nearby Bodleian Library. It was built to house the great library belonging to Dr John Radcliffe, medical adviser to Queen Anne. The concept of a rotunda came from architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, but he died before work was started in 1737 and so James Gibbs made the final design. The word camera means’chamber’ or ‘room’.*
*From the Pitkin Guide to Oxford
it’s a wonderful medieval rotunda and it looks a bit like a camera with several lenses around the edges of the dome….peter:)
Before I knew what it was, I thought it might house a telescope
I wonder if this would have been to a similar design if Hawksmoor hadn’t died
That is something we will never know…
What I love about these famous icons all over England, Cherry, is all the history associated with them. I guess that’s what happens when you’re that old.
Visiting the famous icons and other places of historic interest is the way I learned about history
Love the simplicity.
It has a certain appeal about it
Beautiful. Aside from the countryside, that is what I miss most about England-the architecture. Did you recently go to Oxford?
We went at the beginning of November.
Bicycles, bicycles and more bicycles
There were many, many bicycles in Oxford. So many in fact that the reminded me in a way of litter
Magnificent building … always been closed on the 3 occasions I’ve seen it.
I think it was said that he had no children to leave his money to, so this was his legacy.
We didn’t go inside. I am not sure if it is open to the public.