Radcliffe Camera, Oxford (must see)

The Radcliffe Camera, despite its name, isn't a camera in the technical sense; rather, it is the first circular library ever constructed in the United Kingdom. In this context, "camera" is synonymous with "chamber."

John Radcliffe, a royal physician, expressed his desire to build a library at the University to house his collection of scientific materials. This led to a debate among several colleges over which of them should have the honor of hosting the library. Ultimately, none of the colleges were chosen.

To make room for the library, several terraced houses on Cattle Street, the Black Hall, and some outbuildings from Brasenose College were demolished. Constructed in 1749 by James Gibbes in the English Palladian architectural style, the exterior of the Radcliffe Camera appears to have three stories. The ground floor is rusticated, while the first floor is divided into sections by ten pairs of Corinthian columns. Above this section is a lantern and a dome covered in lead.

Inside the building, the first floor serves as an open gallery that runs along the walls. There is a 2-meter-high statue of John Radcliffe, sculpted by John Rysbrack. In 1912, an underground archives room was established, connected to the Bodleian Library through a passage.

The Radcliffe Camera houses an impressive collection of over 600,000 books and now functions as a reading room affiliated with the Bodleian Library. Unfortunately, it is not accessible to the general public.