A college library reimagined for the whole of Hertford’s community.
It’s been an exciting and eventful time at Hertford College as our library renovation project moves forward. Our library is the centre of our academic community, and the older building no longer adequately served our students, nor properly protected our books and archives. All of that is changing, right now.
This build has our values at its heart: access, academic excellence, and sustainability. Like Hertford, it will be open and welcoming, a place of opportunity. And in the Hertford spirit, it is a unifying, collaborative project for the whole college and wider community.
Our world-class library will have more and better study spaces and upgrade our archival facilities. Its design will significantly reduce our energy consumption, increase biodiversity, provide access for those with limited mobility and open much-needed event space.
Enabling is the key word for this project – enabling growth of Hertford’s programmes across access, outreach, wellbeing and sustainability.
Watch Senior Project Manager Peter Beilby talking about the project here.
A message from our Interim Principal:
Hertford is in the midst of its largest transformation in the past century.
Right now, the south-west corner of the Old Buildings quadrangle is home to numerous machines, digging, piling and cementing the foundations of this astonishing development.
Working within the constraints of our historic buildings and a limited footprint, we are building new, more and better study spaces and completely renovating the library infrastructure and furnishings, bringing the experience of our students and the environment for our archives and rare books up to modern standards.
A lift will provide access to all floors and to the dining hall, greatly improving access for those with reduced mobility, whilst a roof terrace will allow us to look beyond the college walls and across Radcliffe Square.
Progress is continuing, and we hope that the quad will be returned to its former, but greatly enhanced, glory in the early part of 2027.
This time-lapse video bears witness to the transformation of our quiet oasis to a complex building site over the second half of 2024. You can find out more details of the library developments here and help ensure that Hertford college continues to thrive, by supporting the library project here.
With the first hint of spring this week, a major milestone has been achieved within the quad. The first part of the basement slab has been poured and now progress on the walls and structure can continue in earnest.
Under the former chapel, the contractors have installed further levels of temporary works to enable the excavation and removal of the remaining gravel. Oxford Archaeology continue to excavate in the ‘extension’ area. A number of archaeological features are being uncovered, recorded and then removed. Later concrete obstructions and features are being broken out by the contractors.
In the West Range, the floors on the second floor are being levelled and new reclaimed boards are inserted as necessary.
Work is underway to create the new connecting doorway from the West Range into the Hall with the removal of the 19th Century window infill.
‘The library is the centre of Hertford’s academic community. Working in the library gave me a real sense of companionship and community – I knew that people were watching out for me, and the whispered library chats helped to break up the day. In the lead up to finals, I claimed one of the good seats by the window and camped out there for about eight weeks. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to pay that back by naming a seat in the new library.
Whether you were a regular library user, like me, or only an occasional visitor, I’m sure you’ll remember that the current building leaves something to be desired. The college have ambitious plans to create an exceptional space for students and provide the world-class facilities they deserve.’
Rachel Hunter (Law, 2012)