Hertford Bridge (Bridge of Sighs)
England's first, and one of Europe's greatest, centres of learning. Oxford's beautiful stone buildings, grand Gothic towers and wide open streets, give the bustling city an instant air of antiquity. No fewer than 653 of its buildings have been listed as historic or of architectural merit.
Henry II paved the way for the first colleges in 1167, when he discovered that the exiled Archbishop Thomas Becket had found refuge in France, and so immediately ordered all English students on the continent to return home. Many then travelled to Oxford to try to re-create the style of learning they had discovered in Europe. Unrest between students and the towns folk caused the university to close in 1209. Its members either returned to the Continent, went to Reading, or moved to a small Fenland town called Cambridge, to found a new University there.
The Oxford traders and merchants lost out when the students left and in 1214 invited them back again, however, the unrest continued and several students died. Eventually the King gave Oxford's chancellor full dictatorial powers over the town, to finally quell the unrest. The first colleges to be established were: University College, Balliol and Merton but many others were soon to follow:
There are now around 40 colleges, some very ancient and other surprisingly modern. You can visit some of the colleges at certain times, however, Oxford has many more interesting places for visitors to explore, including several excellent museums and galleries such as the Ashmolean, which is the oldest museum in Britain.
The Radcliffe Camera, located in the historic heart of the city, is one of England's earliest examples of a circular reading room. The nearby St Mary's Church is not only a beautiful building but a place for quiet prayer and meditation. A climb of its impressive tower will reward you with some of the finest uninterrupted views across Oxford's picturesque skyline and its surrounding countryside. In 1555, St Mary's Church saw three Protestant martyrs: Thomas Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury) Nicholas Ridley (Bishop of London) and the Protestant preacher Hugh Latimer condemned to death for heresy; the most notable victims of the 283 martyrs of Queen Mary's short and bloody reign. They were later burned at the stake in Broad Street opposite Balliol College.
The Thames at Oxford is known as the Isis, based on its Latin name Thamesis. Each May the colleges row against each other during Eights Week. The river becomes like a Venetian carnival and crews try to bump the boat in front of them. The leading crew at the end of four days wins the title 'Head of the River'. At other times, punting remains a popular pastime for both students and visitors on the river. Punts can be hired from Folly Bridge, Cherwell Boat House or from the Magdalen Bridge Boat House, which also provides a chauffeured punting service.
Another important event occurred at Oxford's Iffley Road sports track on May 6, 1954, when a young medical student, Roger Bannister, became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.
Tourist Information Centre:
|15/16 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AS - Tel: 01865 252200|
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