Peterhouse

PETERHOUSE is the oldest and the smallest college in the University of Cambridge and was founded by Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely, in 1284, near the Church of St Peter, without Trumpington Gate - whence its name.

The church stood on the present site of St Mary-the-Less; and Hugh de Balsham moved his scholars, whom he had at first placed at St John's Hospital, to two hostels which he purchased on the south of the church, granting the church to them for their place of worship.

Subsequently the College, by purchase, acquired adjacent property which belonged to the White Canons of St Gilbert of Sempringham, to the "Friars of Penitence," called also the "Friars of the sack," and partly to other holders, so that the domain at length extended from Little St Mary's Church southward, as far as the present Scroope Terrace, and from Trumpington Street to Coe Fen.

The north side of the first court, in Italian style, was built in 1738. The poet Gray occupied rooms in this building.

The second or largest court, which was refaced in 1754, is the oldest part of the College, and was built in the early part of the fifteenth century.

It was entered from the Churchyard of St Mary-the-Less by a gateway opposite the hall. Some part of the hall, and a plain pointed doorway at the south end of the passage behind the hall screen, and some windows on the west of this in the wall of a passage leading to the kitchen, are remains of the original structure, built, before 1307, with money supplied by a bequest from Hugh de Balsham. This, therefore, is the oldest piece of collegiate building in Cambridge.

The third court, in modern Gothic style, was built in 1825 by the munificence of the Rev. F. Gisborne, a former fellow of the College.

The Library was at the southern part of the western side of the second quadrangle, approached by a spiral stone staircase, built about 1440, which remains. The present library on the south side of the first court was built in 1593, and was extended towards the street in 1633. It is a handsome room, with good oak bookcases.

The Gothic Chapel was begun in 1628 by Dr. Matthew Wren (uncle of Sir Christopher Wren), then Master of the College, and afterwards Bishop of Ely.

The original decorations were cleared away by Downing, the great Puritan church-disfigurer, and the interior remained plain till recently redecorated. The windows contain much fine stained glass, indeed, the eight side windows are scarcely surpassed by any. The cross on the altar was presented by Mrs. Porter, wife of the late Master.

The chapel is connected at the west end with the buildings on either side by a gallery, over an open arcade, offering a very picturesque and characteristic specimen of the architecture of that period.

The gallery on the south side, built 1633, led to the master's lodge, which was on the south side of the college till 1725, when the house on the opposite side of the street, now used as the Master's Lodge, was bequeathed to the college, by Dr. Charles Beaumont, son of Dr. Beaumont, Master of the College.

The Hall is a well-proportioned room with handsome panelling and open curved roof. There are portraits of former masters, of Lord Kelvin, Professor Tait, Dr. Ruth, Lord Ellenborough, and others.

The stained glass in the oriel gives a genealogical tree of the arms of the masters of the College. The tracery on the walls, by W. Morris, was done at the time of the sexcentenary of the College in 1884.

The Combination Room, on the ground floor, was elegantly panelled at the same time as the refacing of the south front, and though rather low is a charming room.

The stained glass in the windows by Morris, from designs by Burne Jones, offers some very good modern specimens. The figures and flowers in the oriel, representing the good women of Chaucer's legend, from designs by Burne Jones, are exquisite. In one window are figures of the founder and of Edward I., who gave the charter.

A turret-staircase, which forms a conspicuous feature on the south side of the college, near the hall, gave access to the garden from the master's chamber.

This chamber occupied the usual position over the combination room, and the staircase enabled the master to pass from his chamber to the hall, and to the parlour or to the combination room, as well as to the garden.

The south front of this College, next the fellows' garden, of which this turret-staircase is a feature, was refaced in 1868, in excellent style, by Gilbert Scott, jun., and forms one of the most picturesque features of the Cambridge Colleges.

Famous alumni include Michael Howard MP, actor James Mason and comedian David Mitchell of Peepshow fame.

Website: Peterhouse