Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

The most photographed piece of architecture in Oxford, it actually bears closer resemblence to the Rialto Bridge in Venice & its strange for me to see a road under the bridge after travelling the watery passageways of Venice by gondala. The bridge links the old & new areas of Hertford college so the students don't get wet & it saves time.

There are, apparantly, several 'bridge of sighs' around the world. The most famous is of course in Venice, whereby prisoners were said to 'sigh' as they entered the Doge's palace prison.

There are also such named prisons in Lima, Cambridge and Frankfurt, and a jokily titled 'Bridge of size' somewhere else ( I gleaned this bit of information from wikipedia, that reliable source of information which literally means 'wanting to have sex with baskets')

The Oxford version is no doubt architecturally beautiful, but it only spans a small road. Typical of Oxford students that they can't be bothered to walk down a flight of steps, open a door, cross the road, open another door and go up another flight of steps. Too difficult for the little dears.

Makes a nice photo though.

The Bridge of Sighs, aka. Hertford Bridge, links the two quadrangles of Hertford College. During my visit, there were a group of tourists studying the information board about the bridge looking confused. It seems that they didn't realise they were standing directly under it! You can probably make them out on the picture of my Oxford main page! :-)
The 'bridge' was constructed in 1914 and designed by Sir Thomas Jackson.

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The Bridge of Sighs (1913-4) is a noted landmark west of the town centre, located along New College Lane. The bridge is named after the famous Italian bridge "Ponte di Sospiri" in the enchanting city of Venezia. Due east in Oxford, near Abingdon, is the Thames riverfront. Around here are beautiful Venetianesque brick buildings, as captured.

Hertford Bridge in New College Lane, Oxford, England is often referred to as the "Bridge of Sighs" because of its supposed similarity to the famous bridge of the same name in Venice. However, Hertford Bridge was never intended to be a replica of the Venetian bridge and many believe it looks more similar to the Rialto Bridge in the same city. The bridge links together the Old and New Quadrangles of Hertford College. The bridge, and much of its current architecture, was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson. It was completed in 1914, despite its construction being opposed by New College.

Everything in the centre of Oxford is within easy reach, you can just walk and absorb the atmosphere. From time to time you can see Oxford students wearing their gowns and taking pics with their families :)

If you don't know where to look?, you will miss this beautiful piece of architecture known as the 'Bridge of Sighs'. It is really called The Hertford bridge, but that doesn't have the same nice ring to it does it?. It is hidden well beyond the main streets of Oxford, it's such a shame, it really is one of the beautiful parts of Oxford to see.

It has obviously been copied from the Bridge in Venice, but it is still a wonderful sight to behold.

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The Oxonian 'Bridge of Sighs', as it is popularly called, was designed by Sir Thomas Graham Jackson in the style of the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Its proper name is Hertford Bridge as it connects two parts of Hertford College: the new buildings across New College Lane with the old part of the college. Though matching the style of those buildings, the Bridge of Sighs was constructed as late as 1913. Very young for Oxford!