Radcliffe Camera, University library in Oxford, England
The Radcliffe Camera is a circular domed building in English Baroque style on Radcliffe Square in Oxford, England. Three levels of classical columns and windows surround the central reading room, while additional collections occupy underground chambers.
James Gibbs designed the building between 1737 and 1749 using funds from physician John Radcliffe's estate. The library later became part of the Bodleian Library and received Grade I listed status for its architectural importance.
The name recalls physician John Radcliffe, whose bequest funded construction and whose vision of a public library took shape here. Today students work beneath the great dome at long wooden desks, surrounded by shelves filled with volumes on literature and the humanities.
A valid Bodleian Library card is required to access the reading rooms. Visitors without a card can admire the exterior from the square, as entry is limited to registered readers.
The dome consists of two shells: an outer vertical structure and an inner curved ceiling. This double construction reduced weight and allowed greater spans, which was advanced for 18th-century building techniques.
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