Antique 18th/19th century Newnham College gate leg table: an interesting history

This is a table that one of my antique dealer friends wanted to get rid of some time ago as more or less unsaleable, and a bit of an embarrassment in his shop - I was very happy to buy it from him. It is an interesting piece when closely inspected. 

When I examined this table in detail I found the sticker illustrated in one of the photographs indicating that at some time it resided in Newnham College in Cambridge (built in 1871) and that the table was refurbished in 1999.

In fact, the table is both 18th and 19th century in date, but is made up from at least two tables. The top is not original to the base - it is slightly too short when you look underneath at the gate supports that rest against the blocks on the underside of the table. The top itself is oval, but the oval is not regular in shape: one side is fine, but the curvature is not correct on the other side, suggesting that not all the five boards that make up the top are all original - they may have been put together in the 19th century out of 18th century timbers.   

When the base is examined from underneath there are various notches and cuts that make no logical sense - some of the base may also have been cobbled together from 18th century wood as the timbers clearly carry some age.

The evidence of reconstruction in 1999 is clearly in evidence when the underside of the top is examined - there are various flat, bracing pieces of steel holding the various parts of the table top together (as shown in one of the photographs|). Some very old, presumably 18th century pegs in the legs for the mortice and tenon joints can be seen, but there are also some more modern dowels in evidence.

This is a very interesting piece of furniture .................... but not for the purist. 

This is the ugly duckling of the table world, but will never turn into a swan - nor should it - it has bags of character, just as it is. This can easily be seen on the table top which is full of marks, stains, scratches and gouges, but has a great patina. 

The table top is somewhat warped, but I have not wanted to do anything to the top (even clean it) as this, in my view, would ruin it.

As this is all made from oak it has a significant weight to it but it can be carried in a medium sized hatchback. 

Collection is from Buntingford (East Herts, SG9)

Please see my other predominantly 18th and 19th century items