Oxford Inscriptions: inside All Souls College
All Souls College is normally open 2–4pm on weekdays and Sundays and entry is currently free,
but is closed to the public over Easter, Christmas, and for the whole month of August
Details here
The two inscriptions shown here, however, can only be seen on special opening days
(1) Inscription in Fellows' Garden
FONTE NOVO GAUDETE |
Rejoice at this new fountain |
The mallard with the inscription shown above and the fountain to which it relates are in the Fellows' Garden of All Souls College (NOT normally open to visitors).
Once every hundred years the Fellows of All Souls College go on a mallard hunt to commemorate the duck that apparently indicated to Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, where the college should be built, singing this song.
Martin Litchfield West (1937–2015) who donated this new fountain in 2005 had served as Lord Mallard on the night of 14 January 2001: description here.
The “Fawcett Fountain” presumably refers to James Fawcett (1913–1991), Fellow of All Souls from 1961 to 1969.
(2) Inscription in All Souls College Library
This library (known as the Codrington Library until November 2020) is NOT normally open to visitors.
The history of the library can be found here
IN MEMORY / OF THOSE / WHO WORKED / IN SLAVERY / ON THE / CODRINGTON / PLANTATIONS / IN THE / WEST INDIES
