Note 180 — Chapter II · THE COLLEGES

The king’s design did not at first include the connexion of Eton and King’s. The foundations of a college and chapel for a rector and 12 scholars were first laid opposite Clare, between Mill Street and the Schools, on April 2, 1441. Within three years this foundation was changed into a society which, like Eton, is under a Provost and which was bound to provide the free education of poor Etonians. Here Henry imitated William of Wykeham, and the statutes which he drew up follow the lines laid down by the founder of Winchester and New College. The original “mean quadrant” was used till 1828 when it was sold to the university for the library extension on that side. The chapel fell down in 1536. A wall and gateway on the west, remain. The new design had the original court and Clare on the north, Austin’s hostel and Whitefriars on the south: the chapel was to form the north side of a quadrangle measuring 230 × 238 feet (cf. the measurements of Corpus); and, as in previous colleges, the west side was to contain the hall and provost’s lodging, a library and lecture rooms. The south and east sides were to be for the chambers and the latter was to have a gateway and tower. The present Queens’ College is on the site of the Whitefriars’ house; and the old gate of King’s which led from the chapel yard to Queens’ Lane used to be known as “Friars’ gate.” (For a full account of this most interesting design the reader is referred to Messrs. Willis and Clark’s book.)

For the modern buildings four separate ranges were designed, the first to be erected being the Gibbs’ building on the west: the southern side and the screen have been built since 1824, Wilkins being the architect; on this side are the hall, combination room, and library, and the Provost’s lodge. Sir Gilbert Scott erected the building on the south east, which was projected after 1870.