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| Radcliffe Camera, Oxford, UK |
Oxford is mostly referred to as a University. And known to be one of the very few prestigious and famous schools in the world. More so, Oxford University is one of the film locations of the successful series films, Harry Potter.
Oxford is a city in the Oxfordshire, England where the University of Oxford occupies the centre of the city, actually, most of the city. Thus, Oxford is a university city.
Oxford University is not a campus school, rather collegiate university made up of 39 colleges and 6 private halls. These colleges and private halls are scattered in the city centre and each college are semi-autonomous. Latter means each college governs and controls their own students/members and have their own school facilities. There is no main campus. The teaching in the Oxford University could had been as early as 1096, but it had just been known in the mid of 12th century when the then King of England, Henry II, banned the English students from attending the University of Paris. In 1209, due to disputes between the students and the non-students, some Oxford teachers and scholars moved to Cambridge and later formed the University of Cambridge. Latter and the the Oxford University were later known as Oxbridge and it was like duopolies the schooling in England. No new founded universities until 1820.
The first three colleges founded in the Oxford University were believed to be built from 1249 to 1264:
1. University College founded by William of Dunham;
2. Balliol College, founded by John Balliol around 1249- John Balliol was the father of the King of Scots (1292~1296);
3. Merton College, founded by Walter de Merton- Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Rochester who initiated the establishments of school regulations followed by the colleges not only in the University of Oxford but also of those in the University of Cambridge.
Thanks to Mr. Google and Wikipedia for learning a bit of the history of the Oxford University.
Our visit to Oxford was not smartly planned. We went to see the film sites of the Harry Potter and wanted to see the the Meadow at the Christ Church. We were in Oxford on the 16th of June 2015, late in the afternoon. We took the train from London and had arrived after an hour at around 4pm. We were walking the cobbled streets of the historic centre finding the entrance to the Christ Church college. We later had realised it was already closed for visitors. Nevertheless, most of the colleges though were closed, we were still happy to be in this university and had to see the marvelous buildings dates back from the 13th century.
We will surely visit again this city I am planning to stay overnight or 2 at the Christ Church to be able to explore the college, most especially the film sites of Harry Potter and the meadow. We will include as well the visit to the Ashmolean Museum, the oldest museum in UK founded in 1683 and houses the collections of my favourites: Michelangelo, Picasso and Da Vinci.
Check out the beautiful buildings we were able to see during our 3 hour stay in Oxford. We missed though the Christ Church, the largest in the Oxford University and with the Cathedral seat of Oxford, there was the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian library- Harry Potter film site too. Must see also the Tower of Five Orders, Bridge of Sigh and the main street, High, lined with historical buildings of the collegiate.
From London, we took the regional train to Oxford from Paddington station. From Oxford station, you could take a bus to the city center. We did walk though, thus, my feet sore. I did not wear closed shoes the next three days we were in England, last 3 days of our Europe trip in 2015. We had arrived London the same day we went to Oxford, from Paris by Eurostar. We had arrived early though but my husband picked up the Brompton bicycle he had ordered while we were at the Waterloo station waiting for him. We waited till noon before we were allowed to go inside the apartment we had rented for our 4 day stay in London. The apartment was few meters away from the Waterloo. We were at the 3rd floor and NO LIFT! 😭. We were planning to take the train from Waterloo to Heathrow going back, but most of the UG stations do not have lift or escalator. We were all struggling with our super big luggage during the transfer from St Pancras International, walked to King's Cross, stairs to the platform, more stairs at the connecting station to our destination. 😭 Thus, we booked two Uber to the airport.
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The Queen's College MCR, Oxford University on High Street,
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
Opposite the University College on the main street, High, is the The Queen's College MCR. The Queen's College was built in neoclassical architectural style in 1341 in honour of Queen Philippa of Hainault, the wife of the then King Edward III of England, The college was ranked 4th wealthiest in 2018, after the Christ Church, St John's and All Souls.
Address: The Queen's College MCR, High Street, Oxford OX1 4AW, United Kingdom
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| Merton College Chapel, Oxford |
Merton College Chapel is the church of the Merton College, one of the oldest constituent college of University of Oxford. The chapel was built before the end of the 13th century, on the same site of the ruined church of St John the Baptist.
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| Merton College Chapel, Oxford |
We went inside this building and asked for the entrance to the Christ Church. Latter was very near from Merton College. However, Christ Church was already closed for the visitors. It was past 4pm then.
Address: 4 Merton St, Oxford OX1 4JD, United Kingdom
The Bear Inn is one of the oldest pubs in Oxford serving since 1242. At present, they serve lunch, dinner and drinks
Address: 6 Alfred St, Oxford OX1 4EH, United Kingdom
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| King Edward Street, Oxford |
Oxford Sixth Form College is a tutorial college in Oxford for students aged 15~19 preparing for A Level, GCSE and BTEC. It is located on the the right side of the street of King Edward, towards Brasenose College on the High street.
Address: 12-13 King Edward St, Oxford OX1 4HT, United Kingdom
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| Oriel College, Oxford (facing Oriel Square) |
Oriel College, Oxford was founded in 1326. It has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford. The architectural style of the building is a bit similar to the University College, Oxford. The reigning queen, Elizabeth II, is the official visitor of the college.
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| Oriel College, Oxford (facing the High Street) |
Oriel College, Oxford has been controversial these past years due to statue of Cecil Rhodes over the main entrance on the side facing the High Street. Cecil Rhodes (1853~1902) was a very successful business man born in UK and was sent to Africa by his parents when he was 17 in the hope the climate would improve his health as he was sickly. He is remembered by the young generation as imperialist and supremacist quoting "if the whites maintain their position as the supreme race, the day may come when we shall all be thankful that we have the natives in their proper place". Prospective students of the Oriel College demand for the removal of the statue.
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| Merton Street, Oxford |
Corpus Christi College, known also as Corpus or ccc, is the 12th oldest college in the University of Oxford founded in 1517 by the then Bishop of Winchester, Richard Foxe. It is located on the street of Merton, on the right side before the Merton College Chapel.
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| Tower of the Five Orders, Oxford |
The Tower of the Five Orders is the main entrance to the Bodleian Library. The building was designed with its columns ornamented with the five orders of classical architecture (in ascending order): Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite. In 1769, Thomas Hornsby, an astronomer, was in this building in 1769 to observed the transit of Venus.
Address: Oxford OX1 3BG, United Kingdom
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| Bodleian Library in Oxford |
Bodleian Library in Oxford was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley (1545~1613), an English diplomat and a scholar. The library is the second largest in UK containing over 11 million works.
Address: Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BG, United Kingdom
In front of the main entrance to the Old Bodleian Library, looking east, is the bronze statue of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke (1580–1630). The 3rd Earl was the co-founder of the Pembroke College, Oxford.
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| Bodleian Library, University of Oxford |
Bodleian library maintains the Oxford Libraries Information System (OLIS). It contains collections of books and manuscripts donated by the founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. Latter even included in his will, funds for maintenance. More so, there is a section for Shakespearean.
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| Radcliffe Camera on the Radcliffe Square, Oxford, UK |
Radclffe Square is cobbled and with laid grass surrounded by railings. The square was named after John Radcliffe, a student of University College and became a doctor to the King. He left his large fortune to the University of Oxford and his college, University College.
Radcliffe Camera is the centerpiece of the Radcliffe square, one of the icons in Oxford. Radcliffe Camera is not a constituent college in the University of Oxford but a reading room for the Bodleian Library, located to the north of the Radcliffe square. These two buildings are connected by a tunnel. It was built in 1749 by James Gibbs designed with the circular drum and dome which makes the building a distinctive landmark and symbol in the city of Oxford. Radcliffe Camera was funded from the legacy left by John Radcliffe.
Getting inside the Radcliffe Camera is by joining the guided Bodleian tour mostly run on the weekends.
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| Brasenose College |
On the west side of the Radcliffe square is the medieval Brasenose College, one of the constituents colleges in the University of Oxford founded in 1509. The south side of the Brasenose College faces the High Street.
Address: Radcliffe Sq, Oxford OX1 4AJ, United Kingdom
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| All Souls College, University of Oxford |
On the east side of the Radcliffe square is the All Souls College and its library, Codrington library. The college is a mix of gothic and classical architectural style and was founded in 1438 Only graduates are accepted in this college and who had undergone the entrance examination that had once considered to be the hardest in the world.
Address: Oxford OX1 4AL, United Kingdom
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| University Church of St Mary the Virgin |
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
Anglicnan Church
The, High St, Oxford OX1 4BJ, United Kingdom
CofE place of worship with an ornate 14th-century spire plus regular musical recitals and events.
On the southern side of the Radcliffe Square is the University Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary's or SMV for short). This is the official church of the University of Oxford with a history record as early as the second century. The church is considered as the first building in the University of Oxford. The main body of the church was rebuilt in the 16th century. At present, the oldest part of the building is the tower, dates back around 1270 and the beautiful tall spires were added in 1320. The porch at the southern side, facing high street, was designed in baroque architectural style by Nicholas Stone. The tower is open to public for a fee and offers panoramic view of the university, especially around the Radcliffe square.
It was in St Mary the Protestant Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy in 1555~56. The martyrs were later imprisoned and burnt at the stake outside the city walls. A cross mark in granite was placed on the road in the western end of Broad street, opposite Balliol College.
A bridge was built in 1914 to connect the two buildings of the Hertford College. The bridge was later called the Bridge of Sigh, just like the one in Venice
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History of Science Museum and The Sheldonian Theatre on
Broad Street, Oxford |
The History of Science Museum was built in the 17th century and houses scientific instruments from the middle ages to the 19th century.
The Sheldonian Theatre was built in the 17th century. and is use for concerts, university ceremonies and lectures and recently, drama.
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| Clarendon Building, University of Oxford |
The 18th century Clarendon Building is part of the Bodleian Library facing Broad Street. It previously housed the printing press of the university until 1975. The building is at present use as working place of the staff of the library.
In the picture, we can see on right part of the Sheldonian Theathre. Latter is located between the Clarendon Building and the History of Science Museum
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Wadham College Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PN, United Kingdom |
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Wadham College Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PN, United Kingdom |
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Oxford Martin School Research institute 34 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3BD, United Kingdom |
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School of Archaeology, University of Oxford 1 S Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3TG, United Kingdom |
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| Rhodes House, University of Oxford |
Rhodes House was commissioned by the Rhodes Trust in memory of Cecil Rhodes and had been used as research centre for the British Empire and Commonwealth, of African and the United States of America. The construction started in 1926, funded from the will left by Cecil Rhodes, of which administered by the Rhodes Trust. From the funds left by Cecil Rhodes, Rhodes Trust sponsored University scholarship from 1853~1902. The building, located in S Parks Rd, houses significant collections of portraits, busts and paintings.
The famous Albert Einstein held three lectures at Rhodes House in 1931. During the second lecture, on 16 May, the blackboard he used was saved by the chemistry don in the University of Oxford, Edmund Bowen. The blackboard had been considered an iconic object and presently displayed in the Museum of the History of Science in Oxford.
Back to London, I may have so tired, I had to do the laundry. I opened all our luggage and put out all the dirty ones, sorted out, thus clothes were all over the sofa area. While the machine was spinning, we went to bed and went up again after 3 hours to replace the laundry. Stressful? 😁, We had joined the local tour to Stonehenge and Bath the next day.
We really miss travelling. It has been a year and over the last time we were in Europe. Notwithstanding the pandemic, we are still busy at work not having enough time to update the blog. I would try to finish blogging our 2015 Europe tour. Stonehenge and Bath on the 17th June, Harry Potter studio on 18th, walked around London on 19th and our last day on the 20th at the London Tower.
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