Newnham’s Porters’ Lodge has been moved to enable new en-suite accommodation, conference facilities, a gym and a café to be built.
The Porters’ Lodge, or ‘Plodge’, opened in 1949 after the entrance of the College was moved from the Pfeiffer archway in Newnham Walk to Sidgwick Avenue in response to the rapid growth in student numbers.
The 67-year-old Plodge has now been temporarily relocated to the ground floor of Clough, a building which is also accessed via Sidgwick Avenue.
The Plodge will remain there for the duration of the building project, which will begin in September and is expected to last for less than two years.
The ornate wrought-iron gates, which were gifted by a former student to the College and feature the Cohen family crest in honour of former Principal Ruth Cohen, which are currently sited outside the Porters’ Lodge, will remain part of the Sidgwick Avenue frontage.
The Portland stone surround which incorporates the Newnham Coat of Arms in the pediment currently framing the doorway of the Plodge, will be reinstated around a garden doorway to the Pfeiffer building which was also extended as part of the 1949 redevelopment.
Strachey, an accommodation block, will be demolished as will the Porters’ Lodge and part of Fawcett, another accommodation and office building. They will be replaced with high quality social areas, a new Porters’ Lodge, a gym, a café, conference facilities, supervision rooms and a suite of modern offices.
A total of 86 student bedrooms will be removed and replaced with 90 en-suite bedrooms. Planning permission was granted for the scheme in March this year.
Jenny Raine, Bursar, said: “The closure of the Porters’ Lodge marks the end of an era in the history of Newnham College and the exciting start of the next chapter of its development.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been working tirelessly to ensure that the new Porters’ Lodge is opened on schedule. We are very much looking forward to watching the building project develop to help us meet the needs of our students and Fellows in the future.”
A drinks party was held for academics, students and staff to mark the closure. The old front door to the Porters’ Lodge has now been locked (July 20 2016) and external signage will be in place to direct visitors to its new location.
Students, staff, Fellows and the Design Team gather outside the Porters’ Lodge to mark its relocation
Jenny Raine, Bursar, far right, thanks everyone for their work at a drinks party to mark the closure of the Porters’ Lodge after 67 years
Cheryl Bowran, Head Porter, centre, with some of her team of Porters.
From left to right: John Reddington, Amie Ladley, Callum Collins, Dick Keep
Cheryl Bowran, Head Porter, in the partially dismantled Porters’ Lodge
Marcus Delph, from the maintenance department, puts the finishing touches to the temporary Porters’ Lodge in Clough
The empty Porters’ Lodge just before the furniture was removed and relocated
A general view of the Porters’ Lodge which appeared in The Architect and Building News in 1949 to chart the development of the College
The famous Pfeiffer archway on Newnham Walk which was previously where the Porters’ Lodge was located until 1949
A view of the Porters’ Lodge
Cheryl Bowran, Head Porter, peeps out of the imposing doors of the Porters’ Lodge for the final time before they are closed for the building work to begin
The room where the pigeon holes were located before they were stripped out and moved