View of the high range of hall windows from the courtyard.

The 9 round-arched windows, with 3 lights each, are likely in their original position facing the courtyard. There were probably no windows on the E side, for defensive reasons, so the hall in its medieval phase, at least, would have been dark.

There are 9 relatively modern windows on the W side of the hall with 5 lights on 2 levels (2 windows in each bay apart from a single window in the NW bay). The E wall has 5 older windows with 8 lights (7 in the NE bay).

There was also a 4-light window in the S wall that was blocked when the Almshouses were extended.

Used by kind permission of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Exterior of the main courtyard wall of the great hall with SW bay.

A 5-sided bay (15' 6' wide by 12' 6' deep) is located at the S end of the W wall overlooking the main courtyard. The windows of the bays are arranged on 3 levels with 3 lights each on 3 of the sides. On the remaining 2 inner sides there is a single window of 2 lights on 3 levels.

The stained glass panes with coats of arms of former students are of a later date. Originally the windows were filled with heraldic stained glass, later damaged, removed for repair and lost (<i>VCH Lanc</i> 7.11).

On the opposite side, at the S end of the E wall, there is a parallel bay, which faces onto the kitchen courtyard.

According to the VCH there were originally windows on the E side to the N of the fireplace.

The windows are of uniform design providing good light for the hall. The bay alcove contains a window composed of 5 lights on 2 levels. Each light is 3' 4' high and 1' 1 1/2' wide.

The larger high end light has the same dimensions and has 7 lights on 2 levels. On the W side of the high end is another 3-light window.

There is a boarded up window on the SE side of the alcove wall that is still visible from the outside. It has 3 lights. Along the E wall is a 4-light window also of the same dimensions.