Christ Church is one of the architectural highlights of Oxford university. Christ Church literally means the temple, house or Church of Jesus Christ. Originally Christ Church was part of the Abbey of St Frideswide but was taken over by Cardinal Wolsey at the height of his power. After Wolsey’s fall from grace it was rename the Henry VII college. After the establishment of the Church of England, in 1546, it was refounded as Christ Church Cathedral (formally titled The Dean, Chapter and Students of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth) more popularly known as Christ Church College.

Christ Church in the winter afternoon sunset

Main Quad at Christ Church

Christ church cathedral and quad

The morning light streaks through the gates of the Bodleian library. Through the gate is the Radcliffe Camera sqauare, which is closed to traffic and cobbled in the traditional style. It is often felt to be the ‘heart of Oxford’ The square certainly offers impressive views of the University Church, All Souls College and the Bodleian library.

Flooded Cricket pitch by Magdalen Bridge

Flooded botanic gardens

Rain stopped play. Flooding onto cricket pitch.

I took this after a rare snowfall in Oxford. It is towards the end of the afternoon with the sun setting. The photo has the impression of being in black and white (even though it is actually in colour). The dark branches point earily towards the centre of town, with just a few spots of blue sky appearing in top right hand corner.

This shot could hardly be different. Taken in the height of summer it radiates colour, light and lushness. It is a classic view of Oxford.

The Radcliffe Camera was designed by James Gibb in the English Palladin style. It was built between 1737-1749 initially to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It was paid for from the will of John Radcliffe.

Radcliffe Camera in snow

Gargoyle and Radcliffe Camera Square

Radcliffe Camera and Mackeral Sky

Panorama of Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Camera and All Souls on right.

Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Camera with the Bodleian in the background.

St Marys Church from Radcliffe Camera

Radcliffe Camera and All Soul’s College

Magnolia bush in full bloom

Radcliffe Camera with a light dusting of snow

Radcliffe Camera is a makeshift bike park for all the many bikes who come into the centre of Oxford

The imposing circular library and Brasenose college behind.

Radcliffe Camera and the University Church at night.

A moonlit All Souls and Radcliffe Camera.

The Radcliffe Camera is now used as an extension of the main Bodleian library, it houses many books in English, history and philosophy.

Related

• All Souls College
• Panoramas of Oxford

An estimated 20,000 people cycle into Oxford every day. It is the second most popular city for cycling after Cambridge. Despite the heavy number of buses, some parts of Oxford are conducive to cycling. For example, in the historic heart of Oxford many roads have been closed to cars creating more space for cyclists. Another feature of Oxford is the lack of car parking facilities, this makes cycling into town more convenient. Though if you look around, there also appears to be a shortage of cycle parking facilities.

A traditional style Oxford bike, parked underneath the bridge of sighs opposite the Sheldonian theatre.

What Use: Gain the world but lose your soul?

The Westgate Car park reminds me of the Communist architecture. Built (presumably) using utilitarian principles of cost savings and efficiency, it completely neglected any aesthetic qualities. The pathetic paint on the outside is a token gesture at trying to brighten up the most drab of all places. It stands as a monument to 1960s planning and a disdain for beauty.

Make Tea Not war.

Oxford is renowned for its beautiful buildings, but, in the post war period Oxford wanted to have some ugly buildings as well. We really transcended ourselves in creating some ugly buildings. These are some ugly buildings – it is even more painful when contrasted against some of the older more beautiful buildings of Oxford

This is the Westgate centre and carpark. Notice the beautiful, colourful old houses in the background. They only serve to highlight how ugly the Westgage centre is. What this picture can’t convey though is the foul smell that always seems to eminate from this dark place.

Buses provide a little colour to the grey buildings

Since Oxford had so many beautiful buildings, in the 1960s they thought – Why don’t we try to also have the most ugly buildings as well? The Westgate library is a really good example of how to ruin your city centre with the most ugly possible building.

Merton College Flats. In most surroundings these flats would be OK. Nothing special but not offensive. The problem is this corner of Oxford is stunning in its architecture and beautiful buildings. These flats are unsympathetic to the surrounding buildings and architecture.

A great example of the contrast between old and modern. The old fashioned pub is architecturally a delight. The new ‘Cult’ Building sticks out like an unpleasant eyesore. The contrast is shocking.

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The Sheldonian theatre and a full moon.

At night the buildings of Oxford look very atmospheric and beautiful. These shots were taken with a full moon on a cold March evening. There is often an atmosphere of revelry at night as students unwind after a long day in the library. On broad street, traffic volumes fall significantly leaving the road dominated by pedestrians and cyclists. In the heart of Oxford, cars are noticeable by their absence at night.

Broad Street fairly empty at night

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Radcliffe Camera on left, University Church ahead. Brasenose college on Right

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The full moon creeps up behind the Radcliffe Camera.

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Radcliffe Camera Library, with Brasenose College beyond.

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Queens Lane, with All Soul’s College beyond the old wall.

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1. Oxford University is the oldest university in the World.

2. In 1214 Oxford was recognised as a university by the Church and the first Chancellor was appointed

3. National Boat Race, Oxford University always gets to the final

4. There is no building called Oxford University. Residents of Oxford enjoy laughing at American tourists when they ask. So where’s the university? The university is a collection of different buildings and colleges. Some of the most important university buildings include the Exam schools on High street and the Bodleian Library

5. Women were first admitted (gaining full membership) into Oxford University in 1920.

6. Women did come to the university to all female colleges earlier. Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville opened in 1879, followed by St Hugh’s in 1886 and  St Hilda’s in 1893.  St Anne’s, which in 1952

7. In the 13th Century there were riots between students and townspeople. Leading to a long standing rivalry between “town and gown”

8. Oxford is one of the 2 most prestigious universities in England. The other one being Hull university [1]

9. A tradition on May morning is for students to jump off Magdalen Bridge and into the river.

10. It is a tradition of the evening before May Morning for townspeople to put shopping trolleys and other sharp implements in the river below the bridge.

11. It is a tradition that on May morning many students are taken to local hospitals with broken legs and arms. Students are supposed to be clever, but this tradition suggests that maybe they are pretty stupid.

Recently Magadalen Bridge has been closed off to prevent students jumping in and injuring themselves.|

[1] Source: Blackadder IV. Episode The Spy.

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