About us

A brief history of the Wren Library

The Wren Library was built over nearly twenty years, from 1676 to 1695. Isaac Barrow, Master of Trinity from 1673 until his death in 1677, secured the services of his friend, architect Christopher Wren, for no charge; the construction was funded by the College with a significant contribution from funds raised by a public appeal.

To accommodate the new building, the north and south sides of Nevile’s Court were extended by an additional eight arches in order to close off the quadrangle. The library would be housed at first-floor level resting on ground-floor arches which provided a covered way to link the two existing cloisters. Work involved also the demolition of a tennis court which stood between the proposed site of the library and the river.

The interior of the library has changed over the centuries, but Wren’s ideas, encompassing everything from shelving, keeping the most precious items safe, and designing the furniture, are still clearly reflected and visible to those accessing this stunning environment today.

A brief history of the College Library

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the need for an undergraduate reading room became evident, and in 1892 the decision to build an annex against the north side of the north cloister of Nevile’s court was taken. The new space was in use by 1897, and served its purpose during the first half of the new century. A series of modifications to the annexe culminated in the construction in 1958-60 of the Reading Room in the structure students can still see today. The underground Basement was built in the 1980s, when the whole of the College Library was renovated with new fittings and furniture. Over the last two decades, librarians working in the College Library have strived to keep the space as welcoming and fit-for-purpose as possible. We look forward to the plans for Trinity 2046, a College-wide renovation project which sees the Library as one of its priorities.

If you wish to read more about the history of Trinity College, this Historical overview will give you plenty of information and further links.

The team

These days, the Library is managed by the Librarian, Dr Nicolas Bell, and the Sub-Librarian, Steven Archer. The team – comprising assistant librarians, archivists, cataloguers, digitisation professionals, and library assistants  – strives to provide excellent services to both the local and international community wishing to access our modern and special collections. Enquiries are welcome by email or by telephone (+44 01223 338488).

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Trinity Street
Cambridge, CB2 1TQ
United Kingdom
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