History

The Sheldonian Theatre, located in Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1669 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, chancellor of the University at the time and the project's main financial backer. It is used for music concerts, lectures and University ceremonies, but not for drama until 2015 when the Christ Church Dramatic Society staged a production of The Crucible. There are thirteen square pillars topped by head-and-shoulder busts marking the front boundary of the Sheldonian and erected when it was built in 1662-8. When the Old Ashmolean (now the Museum of the History of Science) was built next door in 1679-83, another four matching heads were carved to go in front of that; Oxford, England(Photo by: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)