Emmanuel College, Buildings Surrounding Front And New Courts And The Brick Building

Emmanuel College comprises a complex of buildings dating from the 14th century, with significant development in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

The Front Court West Range was built between 1769 and 1775 by James Essex. It features an Ionic tetrastyle portico with an entrance gateway, flanked by higher ranges. The east front has an arcaded walk of 11 bays, and the building is constructed of ashlar with a plain contemporary interior. An iron gate was added in 1775.

The East Range and Chapel, dating from 1668 to 1777, are also by Christopher Wren. They consist of a cloister with a gallery above and a chapel behind, all in ashlar. The chapel interior contains fine contemporary woodwork designed by Pierce and Oliver and made by Cornelius Austin. A circa 1730 organ case is present, alongside a reredos from 1687 with a painting by Jacopo Amigoni dated 1734, and a plaster ceiling created by John Grove. The cloister gallery is lined with contemporary bolection moulded panelling.

Part of the North Range and Hall forms part of the Founder's Buildings of 1584 to 1589, incorporating earlier work from a 14th-century friary. It was extensively altered in the 18th and later centuries, faced in Ketton stone ashlar by James Essex. The Combination and Lecture Rooms have mid-18th century fielded panelling; an oriel window was added by Sir A.W. Blomfield in 1876. The Hall, fitted between 1760 and 1764 by James Essex, contains a plaster ceiling, although the 16th-century timber roof remains above. A reredos and screen date from 1694, with wrought-iron screen gates added in 1762, alongside 16th and 17th century stained glass.

The Westmorland Building, constructed between 1719 and 1722, was damaged by fire in 1811 and subsequently rebuilt in ashlar with a red brick south front. The building is three storeys high, with 19 bays. Interior fittings are primarily post-fire, apart from three early 18th-century staircases.

New Court’s East Range and old chapel date from 1584 to 1589 and were altered in 1838. They were converted to a library in 1679 and a dining hall in 1930-32 by George Drysdale, with an original timber screen remaining. The West Range, also from 1584 to 1589, was remodelled externally in the early 19th century in a Tudor style. The North Range was constructed in 1824 by James Webster and built in a Tudor style. The interior remains unaltered.

The “Brick” Building, dating from 1632 to 1634, was built by John Westley, a bricklayer, and Henry Man, a carpenter. The building is constructed of brick with stone dressings and is three storeys high with attics, and features 19th-century dormer windows. Internal features include those from the 17th and 18th centuries.