Old Court Gatehouse

Gatehouse

The Gatehouse was part of the original college, built in 1448. Apart from the addition of a flagpole, it is in its original condition.

The idea that a college should have a gatehouse, and the pattern of four octagonal turrets at the corners, seems to have have originated with the Old Court of King's College, 1441, now part of the University's Old Schools, opposite Clare College in Trinity Lane. The design of the Queens' gatehouse has much in common with that of the King's one (those parts of which that are original), and it is possible that the same master mason was responsible for both, one Reginald Ely. Gatehouses at later colleges (for instance, St John's) follow the same general design as the Queens' one.

The top window of the gatehouse belongs to one of the most sought-after undergraduate sets in college: it is reached by a steep spiral staircase in the left hand turret.

The lower window is that of the former college Muniment Room, or strong room, where the college archives were kept. It has an ancient tiled floor and vaulted ceiling. It was converted in the 1960s to residential use, and is now a Fellow's room. The college archives were moved to the University Library.

The original vaulted roof of the gateway itself is very fine, and incorporates images of St Margaret and St Bernard, patron saints of the college. The pattern of the vaulting of the gateway shows similarities with that of the earliest south side-chapels at the east end of King's College Chapel, again suggesting the involvement of Reginald Ely. The oak gates are original, from 1448, though the wicket gate cut in them is later.

Photo: © Brian Callingham, in the evening sun in summer 1997, taken from scaffolding erected to repair the dinner bell on the roof of the Old Hall.