Library of the Week: Wren Library, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, England

Sir Christopher Wren designed the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge University, and it was completed in 1695 under the Mastership of Isaac Barrow, a friend of Wren’s. A local master mason, Robert Grumbold, supervised the building work and chose exterior stone with a pinkish tinge that catches the evening sun quite beautifully.

The library has exquisite classical proportions and maximizes space and light by having bookcases below window level. On the first floor are a series of marble busts of college alumni, including Sir Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon. At the far end of the library is a statue of Lord Byron by Thorvaldsen. This was originally intended for Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey but was refused; Trinity was glad to accept it.

Some of the College's most notable manuscripts are displayed in the Wren Library, including an eighth-century copy of the Epistles of St Paul, John Milton's shorter poems in his own handwriting, and the original manuscript of Winnie-the-Pooh. A modern library and reading room are not open to visitors.

Editor's Desk

Dear Ravenclaws, welcome and welcome back to the Tower!

I am Soprano1, Ravenclaw's Chief Archivist and Editor-in-Chief, and I'm so excited to start my sixth Term in the House Cup.

::Peck flyflyfly::
::Learn everything about Ravenclaw Tower::
::Tell Soprano1::
::She write it down!::

And that's Peck, my wee tiny owl friend, who absolutely helps me with my research.

Soprano1 watches sadly as Peck crashes headlong into the bookshelf.


Well.  He tries, anyway.

We're starting the Term with two challenges already underway: the Head of House challenge to make hats for TangledSkein's mom, who is battling cancer, and the Diagon Alley Design-Along, a Year-long competition to help us all bring out the creative designer buried (in my case very deep) in our hearts.

We have a beautiful, excited crowd of new First Years, who will soon be wandering the halls of Hogwarts looking lost and confused; they each have a Mentor through the Flying Lessons program run by the wonderful TriGirlJ, who I'm sure will be introducing us to our new First Year class over the coming weeks, right here in the blog!

Next time I'll be able to introduce the blog staff to you and let you know what we have in store.

Meanwhile, what did you do on your holidays?  Here's what I did:

Mitten-Glove-Glittens

Penguin Army

Totoro

Yeti Socks

Peck's Flashy Holiday Bow Tie

Mittens

Winner

Congratulations Ravenclaws! It was a game well played and I am proud to be counted among you. Here is a reward for you that you can claim if you like. :)

Lets not forget to pop into the houses of all of the fabulous players and offer our thanks for a game well played. :)