Norwich Holy Trinity College of Scholars. Named after the Holy Trinity. Founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich. Sisters’ College – All Souls College, Oxford. Men and women – 370 undergraduates, 270 postgraduates. The Black Death that struck England in the 1340s had a devastating effect, wiping out almost half the population. The clergy, despite their piety, was not immune. William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich, found that he had lost nearly 700 parish priests and, to solve the problem, set about founding Trinity Hall in 1350. The institution was designed to restore the priesthood, promoting divine worship and science civil rights, which the bishop hoped would benefit the diocese of Norwich and surrounding areas. Pressing Need for Lawyers As medieval England became more bureaucratic, the need for lawyers who understood both the laws of God and the laws of the crown increased. The training of priests and lawyers in the 14th century was similar and Trinity Hall quickly established a reputation and legal tradition which continues to this day. Trinity Hall backs onto the River Cam, in a central location sandwiched between Clare to the south. and Trinity College (which it predates by almost 200 years) to the north. It is part of the collection that forms “The Backs”. The compact rough diamond-shaped venue consists of several courts as well as the spacious Latham Lawn which sits on the banks of the River Cam. To the east of the lawn, three interconnecting courts adjoin Trinity Street: Avery Court, Front Court and North Court. Henry James remarked: “If I were called upon to mention the prettiest corner in the world, I would heave a thoughtful sigh and lead the way to the gardens of Trinity Hall.” Traditionally, the ear...... middle of paper ......atham Building in 1910, followed by the Thornton Building. Both face the lawn, adopting a magnificent Victorian Elizabethan Revival style in red brick with classical trim. North Court retains some original fabrics, but is now dominated by the Gothic works of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Idyllic setting The award-winning Jerwood Library, built in 1999, sits in an idyllic setting overlooking the River Cam and manages to look both modern and ancient at the same time. at the same time. Traditional materials and methods have been used by Freeland Rees Roberts to create a lovely building which fits in perfectly with its neighbours. The fragmented shapes created with the red brick and glass give it a soft contemporary appearance. Students can often be seen sitting and reading on a large ledge leaning against the glass, a picturesque river on one side, 30,000 books on the other – it doesn't get any better.!