Radcliffe Camera, Oxford

I found this landmark to be bigger than I expected. Located near the Bodleian library, the camera (just another word for 'room') serves as a reading room for the library. It is not open to the public but you can walk around the exterior.

This beautiful building is one of the highlights in Oxford and it’s located on Radcliffe square. It was built in 1737

In fact it is the reading room of the Bodleian Library but it is not open to the public so you can’t get inside. I never been inside but I’ve been told that there is space for more than 600.000 books!

When you look at this building, you wouldn't expect it to be just a university reading room. But this grand circular structure, first intended as a science library and founded by the royal physician to William III, Dr John Radcliffe, cost as much as 40,000 pounds to build in the years 1737-1749. The architect was none other but James Gibbs, also famous for designing the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
The Camera - the word means simply a chamber or round building - now serves as the main reading room of the Bodleian Library. A tunnel with a conveyor belt connects the two buildings to facilitate the transfer of books. 600,000 books are also stored in rooms beneath Radcliffe Square. Not to disturb the readers and for the safety of the books, the public are not admitted inside. Never mind, the other buildings of the Bodleian will make it up to you, don't miss them!

Photo by Barbara Molland

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Radcliffe Camera is a library now, as long as you from Broad Street, High Street or other direction, you step on ancient stony streets and one of them leads you in front of Radcliffe Camera. It just makes you think not only about the architect of such a masterpiece, but also about the hands which built every precise detail of the building. You can touch the stony wall which were touched by the masters of their craft several centuries ago...
Botanic Gardens are located at High Street, near Magdalen Bridge. I visited this place in October but the Gardens were still full of greenery, some trees and flowers were in blossom. These Gardens have one of the largest collections of flowers and herbs, it's a place good for relaxing and lazy walking.
Christ Church is located at the Broad walk and St. Aldate's, you can go inside and see where the Oxford students live and eat. The dining hall is stunning...
Magdalen College, located at High Street and Longwall Street. You have to pay for your admission but it is definitely worth it. There is also a large park with animals and if you are lucky, you can touch them as some of them are not very shy.
Museum of Natural History, located at Parks Road, admission is free, worldwide natural history collection in a splendid Victorian high gothic building.

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This was Oxford University's first central library and the main one. It is the copyright deposit and research centre. Every book ever printed is to be found here.
It has nine other libraries in seperate locations in Oxford. Included buildings are Duke of Humfrey's library, the old school's quadrangle with the Great Gate and Tower, the Clarendon Building and the Radcliffe Camera. It is not open to the public.
The Radcliffe Camera, now under scaffolding and being refurbed was built between 1737 and 1749 to house the library of Dr. John Radcliffe. It was incorperated within the Bodeian Library in 1860 and is a Grade 1 listed building.

The Radcliffe Camera - which is the reading room of the Oxford University's Bodleian Library - is probably the most unusual library building I have ever seen (along with the old building of the Bodleian) in terms of architectural excellence.

Built as far back in time as 1748 by James Gibbs as a memorial o the physician Dr. John Radcliffe (1650-1714), it has the classic shape of a Baroque rotunda with all the appropriate decorations.

One of the highlights of Oxford is the Radcliffe Camera on Radcliffe Square. It's a beautifullt made building and is well preserved. The Radcliffe Camera is part of the Bodleian Library. Unfortunately it is not allowed to visit the Camera. Not that you need to the building looks amazing on the outside too.

"Radcliffe Camera, whose dome gathers the surrounding spires and towers together like a hen her chicks, was built in 1737-1749 from the munificence of Dr. John Radcliffe. The doctor was said to have made twenty guineas a day for years, and to have received 1000 guines from Queen Mary and 1200 from King William III. . . "

from _John Betjeman's Oxford_, a wonderful guide book.

The Radcliffe Camera was designed as a library, and still serves that purpose. Its architect was James Gibbs, who was also responsible for two of London's finest 18th century churches, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and St. Mary-le-Strand.