Trinity's Surly Front

I was appointed to a lectureship in pure mathematics at Trinity College Dublin in 1986, and took up the post in October 1986. The visual appearance of the college was very different then. Some impression of the appearance of "Trinity's surly front" can perhaps be gleaned from the three following poor-quality scans of slide photographs taken sometime within the first year following my arrival in Dublin.

For the first five years after my arrival in Trinity the School of Mathematics occupied House 39 in New Square, but was subsequently moved to its current location in the houses alongside Westland Row, notwithstanding the very forceful objections of many of the academic staff of the School. An appeal was made to the Visitor, and heard by the Visitor and Chancellor of the University. The result of the appeal did not forestall the move of the School of Westland Row, but, in consequence of the appeal, a computer room was made available to students of mathematics for a limited period, located close to the present location of the Samuel Beckett Theatre, to compensate for the loss of the former terminal room in House 39. The following photograph of the former location of the School of Mathematics in House 39 dates from around 1988:

Trinity College Dublin celebrated the quatercentenary of its foundation in 1992. The following photographs were taken at the time of the celebrations:

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