Pagoda?

The University Church of St Mary in Oxford (built between 1280 and 1637) is undergoing its first major restoration project  since the late nineteenth century. The scaffolding is impressive - almost a building in its own right - and it pretty comprehensively disguises (which some of you will recognise as the theme of the week) what is underneath. I think only the cross at the top of the spire and the weathervane really give it away.

history St Mary's stands in the centre of the old walled city, and the university grew up around it. In medieval times  the university had no buildings of its own (scholars lived in houses with their teachers) so it adopted St Mary's as its centre. By the early 13th century the church had become the seat of university government, academic disputation, and the place where degrees were awarded. One chapel was used as a courtroom where the Chancellor of the University "fixed rents, fined sellers of bad meat and even sent a scolding woman to prison". Thankfully neither universities nor churches have the power to do that to us nowadays ;)

Around 1320 the university constructed a small two-storey building abutting the tower. The upper room became the first university library, containing chained books and the university's money chest. The lower room was used by the university's 'parliament'. It's now a rather good organic cafe. /history