Trinity Hall

TRINITY HALL was founded by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich, in 1350, as the Hall of the Holy Trinity, for scholars of canon and civil law; and it continues to be peculiarly the legal College. It is the only one of the original colleges which has retained the title of "Hall," having done so probably in part to distinguish it from Trinity College. (The other colleges with "Hall" in their title Clare Hall was founded in 1965 and Hughes Hall was renamed as such in 1949). The main court was completed soon after the foundation.

The Chapel was probably erected later, about 1500, for, as in the case of Clare Hall, the services were celebrated in the neighbouring Church of St. John Baptist, and subsequently, in 1445, in an aisle built on the north side of the Chancel of St Edward's Church.

The chapel was altered and re-faced in 1730, extended eastward in 1864, and decorated in 1876. The stained glass in the windows was placed by Mrs. Geldart, wife of the then Master.

The Library, on the north side of the pleasant garden court, was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is well worth a visit as it has preserved its ancient aspect better than any other in the University.

There is a manuscript history of the College compiled about 1750, from various sources, by Wm. Warren, a former fellow and benefactor.

The Library also contains a manuscript giving an account of the monastery and churches in Canterbury and various other information relating to that city (it was edited in the Rolls series of English historical works by the late Archdeacon Hardwick); an ancient Bible in good preservation; a copy of Dymoke's treatise against the twelve Heresies of the Lollards, which was once the property of Richard II.; and a copy of the "Chronica Mundi" printed in Nuremburg in 1493, with quaint illustrations of the work of Creation, of the Deluge, and of various towns in Europe, also a map of Europe.

The first or principal court is part of the original building, but was re-faced with Ketton stone, in plain Italian style with sash windows, about 1738.

The eastern side was destroyed by fire in 1852, and rebuilt by Salvin. The western or library-or garden-court, approached through the screens, is open towards the river.

On the north side of the garden court is the Master's Lodge, which has been recently considerably altered, in order to make room for the enlargement of the College hall.

There is a delightful fellows' garden running from the Master's Lodge down to the river.

The southern part of the front of the College forming the eastern side of the New Court, to the south of the main Court, was built by Waterhouse in 1872.

The combination room is a quite modern building-the gift of the late Master, Mr. Latham. It was built by him in 1896, shortly after the enlargement of the hall. The old combination room, which is adjacent to the Library, was built in 1563, and rewainscoted in 1730.

It now forms an annexe to the Library, and serves the purpose of a reading-room for students. The Hall was rebuilt in 1730 on the site of the Old Hall, and was enlarged in 1892.

In the Hall are portraits of Sir Nathaniel Lloyd and other masters of the College including those of the late Master, Mr. Latham, and of Sir Henry Maine, his predecessor, also of Chief Justice Cockburn, Henry Fawcett, Bulwer Lytton and others. A new and elegant building (the Latham buildings), in Elizabethan style, for the accommodation of fellows and students has recently been erected on the north side of the College near the river.

Grayson & Ould, of Liverpool, were the architects, who also carried out the alterations in the Master's Lodge and College Hall. It is to the munificence of Latham that the College owes not only the new combination room, but the enlargement of the Hall, and the alterations in the Master's Lodge; he also contributed a very large sum towards the erection of the Latham Buildings.

Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, was Master of the College till his death in 1558. There is a portrait of him, by Holbein in the Master's Lodge. Glisson, the anatomist, was a member of this College, as well as of Caius. Lord Howard of Effingham, the Earl of Chesterfield, Thomas Bilney, Chief Justice Cockburn and Leslie Stephen were also members of "The Hall."

Website: Trinity Hall