Oxford University – A 900 years Old tradition in Learning

On an English summer afternoon we excitedly gathered for an Oxford University Walking Tour to explore the historic University of Oxford- a 900 years old tradition learning centre; whose horizon is lined with Spires, turrets and limestone buildings! The famous Oxford Walks have been powered by storytellers, photographers, historians & enthusiasts several times yet the charismatic effects remain!

A Peep into the Past

As we strode ahead i stepped into the Time Machine to the year 1096 when some form of special education was present in Oxford that developed fast when King Henry II barred students from attending the University of Paris! Once it received the first Royal Charter the 11^th century institution became a formal University from the 12^th century! One muses if ancient Indian Universities of Takshila and Nalanda could have survived, could they have been at par!

Harry Potter’s Hogwarts

Oxford walks are much-loved by the character Harry Potter fans. The series writer J K Rowling’s books sell in millions as well as the films based upon them are a great rage. Several parts of Hogwarts are filmed in Oxford University. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft is the fictional setting of the Harry Potter series founded by witches and wizards around the 10^th century; so what better setting than Oxford University could a movie require? No wonder movie Sorcerer’s Stone( Christ Church & Bodleian Library), movie Goblet of Fire( New College Cloister) were filmed here, both colleges of Oxford University!

Library in Bodelian University Oxford

The 19^th century Blackwell Bookshops- 2.5 Miles of shelves

On our Walk we passed 3 Blackwell Booksellers stores in a row and a memory jog took me to the year 1846 when the first Blackwell bookshop was opened by a family member on Broad Street that continued to grow to 30 bookshops serving universities, libraries businesses, government and individual customers too!

Few of Blackwell Bookstores that exist in Oxford since 1846 , one has 2.5 Miles long Shelves

Further in the year 1966, famous Norrington room in Blackwell Bookshop on Broad Street holds a mind boggling figure of 160,000 books across 2.5 miles of shelving holding Guinness Book of record for the world’s single largest room selling books!!

Stone building of a old Blackwell Book store

New constructions of Blackwell music and Book stores in Oxford University

Bridge of Sighs-Romantic & Mystic

Subsequently we spotted the unusually named Bridge of Sighs – a skyway joining 2 parts of the Hertsford college– the Hertsford bridge which possibly takes its name from its similarity to the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice Italy!! Yet a much photographed tourist spot and a distinctive landmark of Oxford! One can reflect on if the students coined this romantic name because of its elaborate style- beautiful and intriguing!

writer at the intriguing name landmark of Oxford University- Bridges of Sighs

Edmond Halley Comet House

 Few photographs later i noticed a comet painted outside a home whose black slate address plate read Edmond Halley  1656-1742 and who hasn’t read or heard about the famous short- period Comet, visible to naked eye from Earth ,appearing every 72-80 years, once in one’s lifetime!! The Comet has records of appearance since 240 BC but the pattern was noticed and recorded by Edmond Halley, the 17^th century mathematician and astronomer ; Queen’s College Oxford  being his Alma Mater. An exciting school memory!

Edmund hailey home- Haileys comet

The Halley’s Comet sign outside Astronomer Mathematician Edmond Halley’s 18th century house

The writer outside Edmond Halleys home in Oxford University

Oxford’s Best Kept Secret

Back from the trip to the unexplained universe of Halley’s Comet, we walked into a Helen’s Passagetowards the students and visitors favourite haunt Turf Tavern- an Education in Intoxication further described as ‘Oxford’s Best Kept Secret’!! A board announced humorously that it is alleged that when Bill Clinton studied here in the 60’s, he ‘Did not Inhale’ while smoking ‘Illegal Substances’! On our way out we were impressed with the cleanliness of the lanes filled with beautiful Hydrangeas!!

Oxford’s best kept secret- the Turf Tavern!

Famous Turf Tavern pub in Oxford- Gallery

A board announced humorously that it is alleged that when Bill Clinton studied here in the 60’s, he ‘Did not Inhale’ while smoking ‘Illegal Substances’!

Harry Potter at School of Divinity- Bodelian University

We walked back briskly towards the Bodleian Libraries with its majestic elegant architecture entrance to the early 15^th century School of Divinity– the oldest surviving ‘purpose built lecture and discussion room!  Eminent Bodelian Library is one of the oldest libraries of UK holding engrossing manuscripts and several prominent personalities have studied from here.

Oxford is a haven for Harry Potter fans so i couldn’t help but think of the movie ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’  when Harry Potter sneaks under an invisibility cloak into the Hogwarts Library which is actually the Duke Humfrey’s Library inside the Bodeleian  Library! He awakens in the Hogwarts infirmary which is School of Divinity!

Entrance to the Duke Humfrey Library- a Reading room in the Bodleian Library

 Architectural Marvels of 17^th & 18^th century

Up ahead was the south facade of the English Baroque architecture Sheldonian Theatre in the centre of Oxford, built by the famous architect who build London as well- Sir Christopher Wren, way back in the year 1664. It is presently used for music concerts, lectures University events and more.

Next to the above 2 monuments is the neoclassical Clarendon building from early 18^th century. The Oxford University Press was in the basement of Sheldonian theatre and when the theatre was in use the compositors couldn’t work there so the Claredon building came up!

The 18th century Sheldonian Theatre

University Church of Saint Mary- 1^st Building of Oxford University

We were overwhelmed to be reach the mid 13^th century University Church of Saint Mary the Virgin which is the centre from which the Oxford University grew and its parish consists almost exclusively of university and college buildings. I stepped onto my Time machine to be in the year 1252 when the Church was adopted as the first building of the Oxford University!!

In the year 1252 when the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin was adopted as the first building of the Oxford University!!

18^th century Radcliffe Camera to Rad Cam for Students

Back in present our Walking group found itself at the Radcliffe square with the backdrop of the 191m majestic Spire of the University Church of Saint Mary. It was buzzing with activity for this cobbled square was the centre of Oxford’s activity!

Bordellian college

On one side is another fabulous landmark of Oxford –the Radcliffe Camera building where ‘camera’ is Latin for ‘Room’. I recalled reading that the 18^th century Baroque style, 3 storey, circular, neo- classical building is part of the Bodelian library and a popular Reading-room.

Another landmark-18th century,Radcliffe Camera buiding where camera in Latin means ‘a room’

President Radhakrishnan at Oxford

Subsequently we eagerly walked to the All Souls College close-by as it had a connexion with our second President Dr Radhakrishnan whose birthday is celebrated as Teacher’s Day till today! Next our Oxford Walk headed for the interestingly named History of Science Museum to unfold the record of the scientific past!

We gazed up at silhouettes of spires in the sapphire blue sky to recall Victorian poet Matthew Arnolds who described Oxford as ‘the city of Dreaming Spires”.