Tom Quad

Tom Quad stands in the heart of Christ Church, Oxford, forming the largest college quadrangle in the city. Built in the 16th century under Cardinal Wolsey, the project was left unfinished after his downfall. The incomplete arches around the lawn still show the original plans for a cloister. Centuries later, the gatehouse was completed with Tom Tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th century. A statue of Queen Anne overlooks the main entrance from the tower. The quad’s construction was funded by dissolving three Norbertine abbeys. Tom Tower dominates the western side, while the east holds the entrance to Christ Church Cathedral. The Deanery occupies much of the east side, and the north contains homes for the canons. The Junior Common Room sits in the north-west corner, and parts of the quad remain home to undergraduates in Bachelors’ Row. At the centre of the quad lies a pond with a statue of Mercury. Tradition once saw sporty students dunking their more artistic peers in the water, though fines now prevent this. A large koi carp, donated by the Empress of Japan, swims in the pond. The fountain’s base was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, better known for his work in New Delhi.