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William Orchard William Orchard, who died in 1504, was a freemason and citizen of Oxford. He was master of works at Magdalene College; other contracts included those with St Frideswide, Oxford, and St Bernard’s, the Cistercian studium. William lived in a house which he rented from Balliol college; he is also known to have leased land from Magdalene. He has been described as one of the greatest architects of the age, who was also a quarry-owner and commanded a high social position. William certainly had some
contact with the Cistercians at Oxford. He paid the abbot of Rewley ten shillings for the use of a crane,
to lift stone and mortar over the wall; according to the terms
of a contract which he made with Abbot Huby of Fountains, on behalf
of the studium of St Bernard’s, William was to provide the
college with stone for two years, and the abbot was to ensure that
the soil was removed to expose the stone. It is not clear if William
was any directly involved responsibility with the building work.
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