Newnham’s ‘Jewel Box’ Post-Modern library Grade II listed

“A jewel box of a design” was how Historic England described the Katharine Stephen Rare Books Library, giving it a Grade II listing as part of the nation’s heritage.

The “sensitive and striking” Katharine Stephen Library was built in in 1981-1982 to the designs of distinguished architects Joanna van Heyningen OBE and Birkin Haward. It was designed to store the College’s collection of around 6,000 rare books, manuscripts and artefacts.

Historic England describes the Katharine Stephen Library in full as “an early and well-preserved example of Post-Modernism, and an early work by this important practice, … a perfectly proportioned building with a geometric clarity and a crispness of detailing that is visually arresting; it has a jewel box of a design that references its surroundings, north Italian Renaissance architecture and European Post-Modernism; it has been critically acclaimed, notably by James Stirling who wrote that ‘it has achieved an incredible presence, which to me is the definition of monumental’.”

The Katharine Stephen Library was inspired by the college’s original library, designed by Basil Champneys in 1896-1898 (Grade II*), with its ‘Wedgwood bowl’ barrel-vaulted roof, velvet window seats and gallery. Van Heyningen’s building deliberately echoes the vaulting and proportions of the earlier library, creating a visual link. Historic England describes Post-Modernism as “characterised by its plurality, engagement with urban context and setting, reference to older architectural traditions and use of metaphor and symbolism.” Our building is clearly an excellent example of this approach.

The library was named after Katharine Stephen (1856-1924), Principal between 1911 and 1920, and for many years responsible for the College library. Her love of books and the arts ran in the family – Katharine Stephen was the cousin of Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf.

This brings Newnham College to a total of ten Grade II and II* listed buildings: a wonderful setting for our students, Fellows and staff to live and work.

(Please note that, because of its function as a rare books library, the Katharine Stephen Library is not open to the general public.)