It was John Betjeman, the famous Poet Laureate, author and broadcaster, and a former secretary of the Oxford Preservation Trust, who wrote of Pembroke:

How empty, creeper grown and odd

Seems lonely Pembroke’s second quad

Still when I see it do I wonder why 

That College so polite and shy

Should have more character than Queen’s

Or Univ, splendid in the High. 

So why not come and see for yourself as part of the Oxford Preservation Trust Open Doors weekend, particularly as this year marks Pembroke’s 400th anniversary?

The tour will start with Old Quad which originates from the College’s foundation in 1624, after which construction began. It is surely one of the most beautiful of Oxford quads with its colourful window boxes. In the corner you will see the recently unveiled memorial to JRR Tolkien, who spent 20 years at the College as Professor of Anglo-Saxon, during which time he wrote The Hobbit and much of Lord of the Rings. It was also home to Pembroke’s most famous alumnus, Samuel Johnson, who took up residence above the main gateway in 1728.

The tour will then take you into Chapel Quad, no longer “creeper grown”, to see the richly decorated Chapel, the 19th Century Dining Hall, and then on to the unassuming North Quad which encompasses the now closed Beef Lane and features the ‘other side’ of the 17th and 18th Century buildings on Pembroke Street. 

Finally, you will cross the bridge over the Medieval City Wall and Brewer Street to see the 21st Century Rokos Quad and the collection of medals and trophies awarded to Roger Bannister, famous for breaking the 4-minute mile in 1954 and who was Master of the College 1985-93. 

Pre-book (open for guided tours only)

Booking for this event will open on Thursday 22 August for members of OPT and on Thursday 29 August for non-members. 

Accessible