ABSTRACT
The Clerk of Works, being concerned about the sagging of the longitudinal beam, cut through its plaster covering midway in search for a possible fracture. The construction laid bare was so unexpected that the College authorities gave permission for further investigation. The results showed such a bold departure from traditional methods as to make it highly probable that this carpentry was devised by Sir Christopher Wren himself. It is evident that, had Wren chosen to use two rows of columns, placed under the ends of the classes, the difficulties would have been greatly lessened. The scheme may have been devised in the first instance in order to prevent the outer ends of the classes from dropping when loaded with books, but it also relieves the pressure of the girders on the ends of the cantilevers.
