Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and mainly funded by its namesake Gilbert Sheldon, The Sheldonian Theatre is featured on our Assam tea packets.

Completed in 1668, the theatre was the first building to use the "geometrical flat floor" roof design, and marked a departure from the more usual gothic style buildings common in Oxford at the time.

Gilbert Sheldon was both Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of Oxford University. Despite attempts by Sheldon to raise funds from other parties, he ended up funding the majority of the Theatre himself. Designed as a secular venue to hold graduation ceremonies and the like, as an alternative to St. Mary's church, the Theatre now also hosts conferences, University meetings and music recitals as well as formal University ceremonies.

Further Reading :

- Sheldonian Theatre entry in Wikipedia
- The Official Sheldonian Theatre Website