Gates by a blacksmith named Fuller
Wrought iron
Created 1779–80
Acquired by St Catharine’s 1780–81
St Catharine's is the only College in Oxford or Cambridge with a central court that is visible to the public from the street, and this has become symbolic of the open and welcoming culture enjoyed by students, staff and Fellows.
Earlier in the College's history, the buildings around Main Court were orientated towards the west (Queens' Lane) and there was an intention to enclose Main Court with a library block to the east. When this idea was dropped, a new Porters' Lodge was built on Trumpington Street in 1765, changing the orientation of the College from the west to the east.
The eastern side of the College's Main Court now comprises railings with a central gateway topped with a St Catharine's wheel. The metalwork was commissioned from a blacksmith named Fuller, according to the College's audit book. The gates were briefly removed during the Central Spaces building project (to avoid damage from construction traffic) and reinstalled upon the project's completion.
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Today, the main entrance used by the College community and visitors is through the Porters' Lodge found on the ground floor of the Woodlark building. However, the gates play an important role in College life and are opened for special events in the College calendar, including open days and processions to Senate House so graduands can collect their degrees.
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