Bodleian Library. Opened in 1602 the library is the oldest public library in Europe. The Bodleian although justly the most famous library was not the first library in Oxford. The library is of course named after Thomas Bodley (1545-1613) See Sir Nicholas’ Stone’s well known monument to him in Merton College Chapel. The Library may have been the work of John Akroyd of Halifax and John Bentley. In the big panel is depicted James 1st seated under a niche. The whole appearance of the face on the inner courtyard is magnificent and bears close study.
Merton college.