Oxford Colleges
by barryg23
Oxford University is not a University in the traditional sense. Instead of having a central campus, Oxford is made up of Colleges. There are about 40 Colleges in all, each with its own history, traditions, architecture, size, and character. This picture shows the Front Quad of Lincoln College, one of Oxford's older Colleges, dating from 1427.
In my year here as a student, I studied at St. Anne's College, one of Oxford's newest colleges, dating from the 19th Century. Quite a far cry from Balliol, Merton & University, the three colleges who all claim to be Oxford's first. All three date from the 13th Century.
See charm by Head of the River & Folly Bridge
by marinarena
The romantic feel walking by the river!
It would have been most fond to share a kiss around here. The Head of the River is a hotel and pub off of St Aldates street. It is arguably the most scenic part of town with the Folly Bridge steps away.
Folly Bridge
Oxford, OX1 4LB, United Kingdom
+44 1865 721600
Walking Back To The Train Station...
by coceng
These last few photos were taken by me as I was walking slowly, back to Oxford Train Station...
From The Bridge Of Sighs as the photo above, I took the long way route through Holywell Street & then Longwall Street, before I came to High Street.
Took the photo which you can see on the left...I could also see The Church of St. Mary's Tower !
'Hell's Passage aka St. Helen's Passage' 2
by shutterlust
Another fun, likely improbable, story regarding Hell's Passage goes like this:
A long, long time ago, when students of the university had a curfew to obey (which, of course, they didn't), students and proctors would set up a certain agreement. Many of the students, as opposed to studying, would frequent the Turf Tavern. There are two entrances/exists to the Turf which are particularly appropriate for a quick getaway. The agreement was that the proctor would always enter from the front (i.e. the one with the Bath Court hotel in it now) so that the students would station a look-out at that entrance (the back end of the Turf Tavern) and when the proctors would turn up, they would yell to the rest of the students in the pub and they would all 'run like hell' out the other entrance towards the Bridge of Sighs - hence, Hell's Passage.
Cute story, but likely rubbish.
Now that's what I call art...
by sourbugger
Somewhat annoyingly, I was looking for this piece of art, but got a bit lost, so I have yet to describe it from the flesh, as it were.
The story of the shark and the battle for it's retention against the combined forced of Oxford's planning department is a good read. The owner also did battle with the same foe over a giant pair of can-can dancers legs which he erected outside the local cimema which he also bought.
I especially like this quote from Bernard Leven, one of my favourite writers about the shark in question :
In 1992 He wrote in The Times about the Shark, describing it as a "splendid lark" :
There is nothing about smiling in the analects of the planning committee of the Oxford city council, and that august body ruled that it must come down, giving as the reason that it had been put up without planning permission, or more likely just because it was delightful, innocent, fresh and amusing — all qualities abhorred by such committees.