Established in 1546 by Henry VIII, Trinity College was created by the merger of several older colleges, including Michaelhouse and King's Hall. 

Beyond King Edward's Gate (1418), parts of the old King's Hall buildings are still identifiable. Trinity Great Court is the largest court in Cambridge and was laid out around 1600.

 A passage leads into Nevile's Court (1614), with its chapel and statues of distinguished scholars. Wren's library, with its old oak bookcases and fine lime woodcarvings, was added later