Old Hall Ceiling Old Hall Ceiling
This photograph shows the riot of colour on the walls and ceiling of the Hall. The decorative scheme is that designed by the architect G.F. Bodley in 1875, as restored by College staff in 1961.
The wall decoration is not wallpaper, as many observers imagine, but paint on plaster. The 1961 redecoration was achieved with the aid of stencils, and is in some ways merely an impression of the original design of 1875 (surviving in just one spot, out of sight), which has many freehand decorative features.
The stars set into the roof are each made of lead, weighing about 3 lb each, and decorated with gold leaf.
The angels attached to the wall plate seem to be of mixed ancestry. Their bodies are crudely carved out of what appears to be the remnants of a cut away original tie-beam, securely jointed into the wall plates and rafters. The heads are a separate piece of wood (which might be of a different period), stuck on to the body. The wings are completely independent, and appear to date from 1875.
The classical panelling of 1732-4 was decorated by Bodley in 1875 as dark green. This was changed in 1961 on the advice of S.E. Dykes Bower to black with gold leaf highlights. The motto Floreat Domus can be clearly seen.
At the top of the side walls a Latin Grace runs around the Hall, repeated four times.