Worcester college lies across the end of Beaumont street.
The college was founded in 1714, and the buildings date primarily from the 18th century.
It is particularly noted for its gardens, and for the Sainsbury Building (1979-83) which is probably the most highly rated 20th century building in Oxford.
To the right, further up Walton street is Ruskin College.
Ruskin college was founded in 1899 by two American admirers of John Ruskin so that working men could study history, sociology and economics in Oxford. It has no connection with the university.
Its history sounds interesting, but at present I have insufficient background.
In any case, it is a remakably plain and uninteresting building, and not worth the diversion.
Beyond Ruskin college things get much more interesting as Walton Street leads into the district of Jericho.
But more of this in the third walk.
Almost at the end of Beamont Street, on the right hand side, before the junction with Walton Street, and built into the stone pillar for the garden railings, is a small plaque marking the location of Beaumont palace.
|
in which King Richard I was born on 8th September 1157" |
Richard the Lionheart, (and also, some say, his brother, Robin Hood's arch enemy, King John) was born here.
I have not managed to locate its position at this end, but recall it here because when T. E. Lawrence was a student here he navigated it underground by canoe.
We will return to Lawrence shortly.
Gloucester Green is a relevantly recent development (1987-90) by the City Council, which incorporates shops, restaurants, and a large square. It creates a lively open space, in an uninspiring part of the city.
On the edge of Gloucester Green is a tourist information centre attached to a pub. Here you can obtain guidebooks, and join walking tours of the city.
The information centre is actually based in the "Old School", an attractive stone building in Arts and Crafts style, which was erected in 1898 under the Oxford Schools Board.
It also included a main bus station for Oxford.
I find the next section one of the less interesting parts of these walks, but at least this whole area provides a good choice of places to eat.
We pass through Gloucester Square onto George Street, where we turn left.
Opposite is the University's social studies department, housed in the old Oxford High School for boys, which was designed by Jackson, and built in 1879-81, after the Examination Schools made his name, and after he extended Brasenose college.
T. E. Lawrence, (Lawrence of Arabia) attended this when it was a school.
Thomas Edward Lawrence was born in Wales in 1888. His father had five illegitimate sons with Sarah Junner, the governess to his four legitimate daughters. Thomas was thesecond illegitimate son. His parents had moved to Oxford, where they lived as husband and wife. Lawrence won an exhibition to study history at Jesus College, Oxford, gaining a First Class Honours in his finals. His thesis on Crusader Castles had involved a lengthy walking tour in Palestine and Syria. Lawrence learned how to influence arab nomadic society while on archaeological trips.
During the 1914-18 war he led arab forces in revolt against the Turks, and in support of General Allenby.
After the war he prommoted arab independence, and became a public hero, but was disappointed in the concessions he was able to obtain for the arabs, and withdrew from public life, serving, until his death in in 1935 in a motor cycle accident, as Aircraftsman Shaw in the RAF.
The old fire station and corn exchange dates from 1894-6, and was designed by H.W.Moore.
This was part of an building boom in central Oxford in late Victorian and Edwardian times.
Opposite the church we are going to turn left into St Michael's street, but first its worth a short diversion along New Inn Hall Street.
Further south, Hannington Hall, was built in 1832 on the site of New Inn Hall, after which the street is named.
Now we turn back, and go right down St Michael street.
The Oxford Union is on the right.
Although it also acts as a social centre for students and ex-students, in essence this is, on its own (fair) assessment, the world's most famous debating society.
It has a complex constitution modelled on parliament at Westminster. It sees itself, with justification, as a training ground for tomorrow's politicians - and attracts pretigious external speakers from around the world for its debates.
With a little too much enthusiasm, in 1979, the former prime minister Harold Macmillan described it as "One of the last bastions of freedom of speech in the Western World".
|
Rule 50: Dogs |
Any Member introducing or causing to be introduced a dog into the Society's premises shall be liable to a fine of £5 inflicted by the Treasurer. Any animal leading a blind person shall be deemed to be a cat. Any animal entering on Police business shall be deemed to be a wombat. |
The present library was built in 1857 as debating room, and a new debating room added in 1878. The buildings are not normally open to the public. The union's own web pages describe them as "Glorious Victorian". Who are we to argue.
They have an excellent web site, which includes some video clips of boisterous debates.
On the left: North Gate Methodist Hall, 1870-71
Face built by Bartholomew Peisley, who with his father, another Bartholomew Peisley, was one of the leading masons in Oxford, and one of the contractors working on Blenheim Palace.
The house is named after the architect of Blenheim - Vanburgh.
Opposite Ship street, across Turl street and into the narrow Brasenose lane.
This is not an attractive strret in itself, trapped between the high walls of Lincoln and Exeter colleges.
However, a fine vista unfolds as we approach Radcliffe square. The dome of Radliffe Camera gradually appears over the roofs to the right.
Bringing this section to a close, as we return to the starting point of our walk.
Radcliffe Square, and the Bridge of Sighs.
 |
||||||
|
|
|
||||