Radcliffe Camera (Oxford)
The Radcliffe Camra is one of the most distinctive of the many elegant buildings in the historic city of Oxford.
It stands in its own little square, behind St. Marys Church in The High. On the opposite side is the New Bodleian, and on the other two sides are Brasenose College and All Souls College.
The Radcliffe Camera is a most handsome building, in the form of a classical rotunda. It has an octagonal base, surmounted by a large dome.
It was built in the 18th century by James Gibbs, and is generally regarded as his masterpiece.
The Radcliffe Camera was founded by the court physician Dr. Radcliffe as a separate library, but is now part of the Bodleian. It is the earliest example in England of a round reading room.