Thomas Holt (English architect) facts for kids

Thomas Holt was an English architect and master carpenter who lived in the 1600s. He is famous for designing many important buildings at the University of Oxford.

Holt was a skilled builder from either Halifax or York. He is known for creating significant buildings in the Renaissance architecture style at Oxford.

Designing Oxford's Buildings

Wadham College

Thomas Holt designed the entire structure of Wadham College. This college was built between 1610 and 1613. As a master carpenter, he was responsible for the special hammerbeam roof in the college's main hall. This type of roof uses strong wooden beams that stick out from the walls, making the hall look grand and open.

The Examination Schools

Starting in 1613, Holt also designed the large quadrangle (a courtyard surrounded by buildings) for the examination schools at Oxford. These buildings are now part of the Bodleian Library, a very famous library. Holt added new and interesting architectural features to these buildings. He finished the schools quadrangle in 1624, which was the year he died.

Other buildings at Oxford might also have been designed by him, but we are less certain about those. However, he probably helped create plans for many of them.

About His Life

On October 30, 1618, Thomas Holt was officially registered as a special person at the university. He was 40 years old at the time. He was described as a "Faberlignarius Coll. Novi", which means "carpenter of New College."

Holt passed away on September 9, 1624. He was buried in the churchyard of Holywell parish church in Oxford. A monument was built there to remember him. His daughter later married Dr. Samuel Radcliffe, who was the head of Brasenose College.