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| 4 Oct 2024 | |
| From the Archives |
In this final part of our series about the design and creation of the Memorial Buildings, we describe the figures depicted on the building in 1897.
Six figures were chosen to adorn the façade. They were sculpted by Andrea Carlo Lucchesi, who was paid £186 15s for his work.
Despite the magnolia trees that hide much of the Musā frontage, all six can be seen - two full-length statues and four figures in medallions.
On the left stands William of Wykeham and, on the right, Queen Victoria who celebrated her own Diamond Jubilee four days after the Quingentenary celebration (See A Brief History of Musā, Part Two).
Between them are four medallions depicting Old Wykehamists.
William Grocyn (Coll, 1463-65) was a 15th Century philosopher and part of a small group of Renaissance scholars that included Erasmus of Rotterdam as well as his Oxford pupils Thomas Linacre, John Colet, Thomas More, William Lily and William Latimer.
Thomas Ken (Coll, 1652-56) was an eminent cleric during a turbulent period for the Church of England. His most senior appointment was as Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was the most prominent of the non-juring bishops who refused to swear allegiance to William III.
His portrait hangs in College Hall.
John Colborne (Commoners, 1789-94), later Lord Seaton, was a professional soldier of the Napoleonic Wars, who played a crucial role at the Battle of Waterloo in command of the 52nd Regiment. Later appointments included Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey and Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. On his retirement he was promoted to Field Marshal.
Roundell Palmer (Commoners, 1826-29), later Lord Selborne, was a 19th Century lawyer and politician, with a distinguished career as a judge before serving twice as Lord Chancellor in Gladstone's governments. He was the first person to be received Ad Portas (1873) in the modern version of the ceremony. His son, William Palmer, later also Lord Selborne, was Warden 1920-25.
All four OWs are included in Malcolm Burr’s OW biographies (All from the Same Place, More from the Same Place and Yet More from the Same Place). These four biographies can be read here.
