Gate of Honour Gonville & Caius College

Images of Britain: Gate of Honour at Gonville & Caius College in Cambridge

The Gate of Honour at Gonville & Caius College in Cambridge is topped by a hexagonal tower displaying six sundials. The sundials are bronze and enameled, and date back to 1963, the 400th anniversary of the refounding of the college.

They are designed by Dr Message and Dr Powell and replaced the original sundials from 1557 which had deteriorated and almost disappeared. The college is one of the oldest in Cambridge, being founded in 1348 as Gonville Hall. By the 16th century it had fallen into disrepair and was refounded by an alumni, John Caius who also added more buildings including the gate of Honour.

The gate can only be used by graduating students who pass through on their way to the neighbouring Senate Building to receive their degrees. The college is often simply referred to as Caius, pronounced "keys", and has produced 15 Nobel Prize winners so far.