The Waynflete Building was built at the east end of Magdalen Bridge, on the site of some College properties, to provide extra student accommodation. Work began on it in 1958, to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the founding of the College, and continued until 1963. The architects were Booth, Ledeboer and Pinckheard, who were also responsible for the new ‘Big School’ of Magdalen College School .
The inscription on the Cherwell side of the Waynflete Building reads as follows:
A • D • MCMLX • COLL • B • M • MAGD • IN • HON • WW • FUND • POST • AN • D • HOC • AED • FI • FE • EX • ALUM • MUN
In unabbreviated form, this reads:
“Anno Domini MCMLX Collegium beatae Mariae Magdalenae in honorem Willelmi Waynflete fundatoris post annos D hoc aedificium fieri facerent ex alumnorum munificentia”
And in English:
“In the year of our Lord 1960 the College of St. Mary Magdalen had this building built in honour of its founder William Waynflete after 500 years, out of the generosity of its Old Members”
We are salvaging the lettering and it features prominently in the new design as an homage to the original building.
