St. Catharine’s College, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RL

Illustration by Andrew Cadey

The Main Court of St Catharine's College, Cambridge is architecturally renowned for its unique three-sided open layout, a departure from the traditionally enclosed, four-sided quadrangles of Oxbridge. Masterminded primarily by master mason Robert Grumbold (an associate of Sir Christopher Wren), the comprehensive brick rebuilding of the court commenced with a foundation stone in 1674. Work progressed symmetrically through the late 17th century, concluding with the completion of the Chapel in 1704 and the subsequent addition of the Ramsden Building on the northern wing by 1757. The original plan intended to enclose the eastern side along Trumpington Street with a library block, but this was abandoned. This spatial pivot left the fourth side open to the street, permanently orienting the college's architectural presence outward.

The open configuration is elegantly anchored by the Main Court Gates, which were commissioned from a local blacksmith named Fuller and installed around 1780. These decorative, neoclassical iron railings and gates feature a central gilded St Catharine’s breaking wheel at the cresting, a direct nod to the college’s patron saint and coat of arms.

Limited first edition print run of 75