Isn’t Merton House a fascinating piece of history? It stands here on Queen’s Road. Merton House is part of St John’s College. The college acquired it in the 1960s. The building has significant historic importance.
Merton Hall is Grade II listed. Its construction occurred in stages from the early 16th to 19th centuries. Together with the adjoining School of Pythagoras, Merton Hall presents an attractive architectural composition.
Merton House is next to the School of Pythagoras. The School of Pythagoras is the oldest secular building in Cambridge. It was built around 1200 before the University of Cambridge existed.
Merton College, Oxford, owned the School of Pythagoras and later Merton Hall from 1266 until 1959. Walter de Merton founded Merton College, Oxford. He was also Lord Chancellor to Henry III and Bishop of Rochester. He began establishing a scholarly foundation in Oxford in 1261.
By 1270, Merton’s foundation held estates across England. This included the Stone House in Cambridge. Merton’s primary objective was to support the scholars of his Oxford foundation. Oxford was volatile during the thirteenth century. Scholars sometimes migrated to other towns and cities.
The first major migration of scholars from Oxford to Cambridge occurred in 1209. By 1226, enough scholars resided in Cambridge to form an official organization. Cambridge had a small but thriving academic community by the time Merton purchased the Stone House in 1270. This made it suitable for scholars fleeing possible persecution and civil disturbance.
Merton intended the Stone House to become a domus scholarium. But the need never arose. After Merton’s death in 1277, tenant-farmers and bailiffs managed the Stone House. They were appointed on behalf of Merton College. Merton College also obtained property in Chesterton and Grantchester. This totaled about 180 acres. A small team of agricultural laborers cultivated it.
In the 16th century, a small manor house was added to the west side of the School of Pythagoras. This became known as Merton Hall. It is now used for graduate student accommodation.
A survey from 1959 describes the building as L-shaped. The external angle points due South. The wings are described as extending due East and due North. In 1374, an agreement was made to rebuild the West wall. They also rebuilt a length of the South wall. Masons were to build four buttresses. They also had to rebuild the broken vault and the steps leading up to the hall.
Merton Hall was in disrepair in the 16th century. It suffered much destruction in the 18th and 19th centuries. The piers and vault of the undercroft have been almost entirely destroyed. The North Wing was built in the 16th century. It was lengthened in the second half of the 17th century.
In 2009, an extensive program of repairs was completed on Merton Hall. Structural timber framing, joinery details, and services received careful attention. The structural frame’s weakness required major intervention. This involved opening up floors, walls, and roofs. Despite the challenges, much of the building had already stood for nearly five centuries.
From 1910, the gardens became a major attraction. The proprietors of the Cambridge University and Town Roller Skating Rink leased the gardens. Complications arose between the lessees and Merton College. The use of the gardens for public entertainment was discontinued.
Today, Merton House stands as a testament to its rich history. It has evolved through centuries. It continues to be an integral part of St John’s College.