Second Court

Second Court was built in the years immediately after 1599, to the designs of Ralph Symons of Westminster and Gilbert Wigg of Cambridge. Their drawings are still in the College's possession.

Features to notice:

  • the harmonious proportions and local brickwork of the Court in general; it is the finest example of this style of architecture in Cambridge.
  • the Shrewsbury Tower in the west range.  It bears the arms of the Countess of Shrewsbury, a major contributor to the cost of building the Court, and also a statue of the Countess dating from 1671.
  • the oriel window in the north range.  This contains a roundel of stained glass showing Queen Henrietta Maria, whose engagement to the future Charles I was ratified by King James I and by envoys from the King of France in the room below the window.
  • the doorway beneath the north-east turret, which was the entrance to the old Master's Lodgings.
  • the date, 1599, on the lead gutters of the north range.

Through the archway in the Shrewsbury Tower lies Third Court.