Old Court 1855 Old Court 1855
This very early photograph of the exterior of Hall in Old Court must have been taken after 1854, when the present stained glass was inserted in the oriel window, and before 1857/8 when the main windows were raised and new tracery installed.
The side windows are shown here at the height they were when there had been a flat ceiling in Hall. In 1846 the architect Dawkes added tracery to the plain mullions, which can be seen here. In 1857/8, the side windows were raised to their present height, new tracery added, and stained glass inserted.
The tower for the dinner bell was put up by Dawkes in 1846, replacing an earlier tower. The bell itself is enscribed WB 1655.
In 1846 Dawkes also added the inappropriate louvre, seen here over the centre window, presumably imagining that this was a restoration of an original louvre. A louvre would only have been needed in halls which had a fire in the centre of the room. But Queens' had an original fireplace in the west wall, so it would never have had a louvre. The louvre was removed in the early 1950s (can anyone let me have the exact date?).
The roofs were at this time of slate, with the battlements of ca 1819. The battlements were removed, and the roof changed to tiles, in 1910. Major internal walls are shown protuding above the slate line: this was done as a fire stop.