The Robinson Tower at the Holywell entrance to New College was designed by Basil Champneys and built by Benfield & Loxley in 1896–7. It is shown on the right here in Champneys' architectural drawing that was published in the Building News of 16 June 1899.
It is jointly Grade II listed (1300697) with Champney's range to the east and Scott's early range to the west. The relevant part of the description reads simply: “The Robinson Tower ... East of the West block built 1896 to designs of Basil Champneys in Clipsham ashlar. 4 storeys. Gabled slated roof. 5 stage gate-tower.”
Before the college built its new buildings on Holywell Street to the north of the city wall, this was the back entrance into the college. The 1772 Survey of Oxford lists a gateway measuring in width 4 yards 1 ft 3 in between the houses that were numbered 86 and 87 Holywell Street.
The tower is named after Alfred Robinson, Bursar and Fellow of New College, died of influenza on 22 February 1895 at the age of 53, and Jackson's Oxford Journal reported on 22 June 1895 that a fund to erect a memorial to him had already reached over £2,200. The object of this fund was a marble memorial tablet in New College Antechapel and a portrait by Professor Herkomer to hang in the college Hall, but the balance was to go towards a tower over the Holywell entrance to the college. In 1896–7 Champneys duly built the Robinson Tower in Clipsham Stone, and fitted in an extra two staircases on the right to join up with Scott’s new buildings to the west.
Inside the college, there is this inscription over the entrance, reading: “Ad diuturnam memoriam Alfredi Robinson AM huius Collegii Columinis haec Turris aedificata est AD MDCCCXCVIII” (To the lasting memory of Alfred Robinson, MA, pillar of this College, this Tower was built in AD 1898”). In the middle are the college arms with the motto MANNERS MAKYTH MAN.:
The photograph below shows the Robinson Tower from inside New College:
There is a Green Man carved beside this entrance:
