Dreams and Romance.
All my prior impressions of Oxford had come through books, anecdotes and television, and provided me with dreams enough.... The city of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited, of Lewis Carol and Alice in Wonderland, of Christopher Wren and J.R.R. Tolkein. Of spires and towers. Of students, sunning on lawns in animated discussion, or punting on the river in quite relaxation. Of gowns and oak panelling. Of past times and traditions....yes, dreams and romance.
From Carfax Tower.
....and here I am, atop Carfax Tower, staring at this realm of dreams and romance with a pounding heart and an open mouth. I really am here!
(My guide for this journey, as for so many others, is The Hutchinson (Hutch), who will not only keep us on the right path, but keep us moving along....it's too easy to loose hours in contemplation!.)
It's all there. Spires, towers, cuppolas. All waiting to be threaded through, exlored and enjoyed.
Cornmarket Street.
Setting out along Cornmarket Street we are immediately into the hustle and bustle of the shopping area. A tantalising view of the Tom Tower in the distance begs us to stride out.
There are crowds, there is traffic. There are old buildings tastfully refurbished with new uses. There is architectural rape and pilage. A document of how we use and abuse our heritage, a record of what we thought was right and justified, at one time or another....
St. John's - Detail 1
....and just look around and compare the workmanship that goes into a sreet lamp, a sign post or a pedestrian crossing, with something like this. A detail on the walls of St. John's College, two minutes walk from here. You could stroll straight past and miss it, so let's raise our eyes (and glasses) to craftsmanship, and....
St. John's - Detail 2
....and what is this all about then? The goofy, smiling face flanked by evil looking beasties. There must surely have been some reason, some story....maybe we should take time out and dream up something? But not just now. Hutch says we still have places to go and things to see!
So it's back to Cornmarket Street, moving straight forward to St. Aldate's, and that distant Tom Tower....
The Tom Tower.
Wow! Would you look at that. Sir Christopher Wren's Tom Tower. It was completed in 1682 and is the main gateway into Christ Church College. Old Tom, is the name of the bell housed in this magnificent structure. In 1682 there were 101 students at Christ Church, and to this day, the bell is rung 101 times at 9.05 p.m. still calling those students to their beds!
The Gateway.
We come to look, and see, and admire these buildings and their history.... and we seem to have a great respect for a way of life that has existed here for centuries. We stand on the edge, and peer into the inner sanctum, not daring to step over the line and intrude....
The sword in the stone.
Continuing a short way down St. Aldate's we turn left into the Christ Church Memorial Gardens, laid out in 1925, and dedicated to all the Oxford folk who died in the first world war. Somber thoughts....
Christ Church Memorial Garden.
....and maybe the mood of the day is fitting for musing on war, and those who have died in service. Also I consider the 'beauty and the beast' nature of man. Here we are surrounded by uplifting works of creativity and great beauty, a testament to what man is capable of , whilst being reminded of the terrible destruction that he has wrought....
Moving on....
....still, we must move on, and we catch our first glimpse of Christ Church's Meadow Building. We will return here later, to have a look around this famous college.
The Broadwalk.
Away from the bustle of the City now, and into more peacful surroundings. The Broadwalk leads through meadows and playing fields, with open views of Merton College....
Magdalen College.
....and the distant Magdalen College....
