University College was founded in 1249 by William of Durham and was the earliest college of its kind in the country. There were claims that the college was possibly founded even earlier by King Alfred.
Dr John Radcliffe left money in his will for the founding of a new quad. The rear elevation of Front Quad became the west elevation of Radcliffe Quad when it was built in 1716. The architecture was identical, as Radcliffe had requested, even down to the small ogee gables. The college’s frontage to the High Street was doubled in length and another almost identical gate tower was built.
The statue is of Dr Radcliffe, his staff wreathed by a serpent. His head is cocked to one side, looking over the wall to the Master’s garden.