Duke Humfrey's Library, Oxford: 15th Century Gem
The stunning Duke Humfrey's Library is the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
The Bodleian Library is one of Oxford’s most famous landmarks and it’s among the oldest in Europe.
It’s easy to visit and incredible to see - anyone visiting Oxford should make a stop here.
The library as a whole can be seen from the outside (which is already an impressive sight) but there are also guided tours throughout the day.
The Bodleian Library has a continuous history dating back to the year 1602, although its root might be even older!
The first purpose-built library, however, dates back to the 14th century.
Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, created it when he donated his collection of chained books.
This initial library, situated above the north side of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin on the High Street, grew with subsequent donations.
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, gifted a collection of manuscripts between 1435 and 1437 – which required a larger building.
A bigger room was built above the Divinity School – the room that is today known as Duke Humfrey’s Library.
Duke Humfrey's Library is named after Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, a younger son of Henry IV of England.
He was a connoisseur of literature and commissioned translations of classical works from Greek into Latin.
When he died in 1447, he donated his collection of 281 books to the University.
This was considered a very generous donation, as the university at the time only had 20 books and all classes were taught via oral lectures.
Prior to Gutenberg’s circa 1450 invention of the movable type press, books were hand-copied and were only for the very wealthy.
The library was constructed as a second storey to the Divinity School between 1450 and 1480 in order to house the collection.
In 1550, during the Reformation, the King's Commissioners despoiled the library in order to destroy the vestiges of Roman Catholicism in the country.
The books were probably burnt, and in 1556 the furniture was removed by the university.
Only three of Humfrey's original books remain in the library.
The Library was refitted and restored from 1598, and between 1610 and 1612, the east wing (now the Arts End) was added.
The books in the oldest part are in housed in oak bookcases at right angles to the walls, with integral desks.
The ceiling consists of panels painted with the arms of the university.
Up until the opening of the new Weston Library in 2015, Duke Humfrey's Library functioned as a reading room for maps, music and pre-1641 rare books; it now serves as an additional reading room for users of the library.
The Library consists of the original medieval section (1487), the Arts End (1612), and the Selden End (1637).
The beautiful library was also used for many library scenes in the Harry Potter movies.
The iconic scene where Harry enters the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library was filmed here.
It is the main reading room for researchers of codicology, bibliography and local history, as well as it containing the University Archives and the Conservative Party Archive.
Duke Humfrey’s Library offers seating in silent study conditions and a historic setting.
There is reader seating available in the bays off the main body of Duke Humfrey’s Library and in Selden End.
Readers with all types of University and Bodleian Reader cards can use this room.
If you’d like to visit the library, the address is: University of Oxford, Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG.
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