Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/152

Rh OXFORD. UO OXFORD. gate for malpractices at the election of the city members. In 1787 a very large and curious conduit, adorned with allegorical figures and inscriptions which was built for the purpose of distributing through, the town water from the Isis, and stood at Carfax (a word derived from guatuor fades, as it faced the four ways or roads which meet at this point) was taken down for the enlarge- ment and improvement of the High-street, and removed to Nuneham Park. On 2nd January, 1790, the Oxford canal was opened for the first time, and on 14th August, 1795, a very severe thunderstorm burst over the city, which injured the spire of St. Mary's Church, destroyed two private houses, and wounded many of the inhabitants. In 1799 the Dukeof York visited the city, and afterholding a review of the university and city volunteers, was made an honorary D.C.L., and was presented with the freedom of the city in a gold box. Similar honours were con- ferred upon the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, the Prince Regent, and other distinguished personages, in 1814. Upon that occasion they were royally enter- tained by the University, and great rejoicings took place not only in Oxford, but throughout the kingdom, in consequence of the peace, which was proclaimed on 20th June in that year. In 1839 the Royal Agricul- tural Society of England held its show at Oxford, and in 1847 the British Association met there. In 1841 the city was visited by Queen Victoria ; and in 1860 the Prince of "Wales matriculated as a member of the Uni- versity, and resided during his academical career at Frewen's Hall, in New Inn Hall-lane. The city has four principal entrances : one from the E. by the coach road from London over the Magdalen Bridge ; a second from the N. by Worcester and Birmingham roads along St. Giles's-street ; another from the railway stations over Folly Bridge, which crosses the Isis on the southern lide ; and the fourth along what is termed the " Seven- bridge-road," on the western sideof the city. The latter entrance is from the Bath road, and the name given to it arises from the fact that it consists of a causeway built along low-lying meadows, which are so intersected by the Isis, that its various branches have to be crossed by seven stone bridges in the space of 1 mile. Of these four entrances into the city the first-named is the most remarkable, and the view which it presents to the spectator is unsurpassed for beauty by that of any city in the world. Upon passing over Magdalen Bridge, a stone structure crossing the river Cherwell, we have on the right the tower of Magdalen College, and on the left the Botanic Gardens. From this point com- mences the High-street, a thoroughfare of which it has been justly remarked that " for variety and magnifi- cence of public buildings no city in Europe can otter a competition with it." It continues in a graceful curve up to Carfax (or the City) Church, having on the right Queen's College, All Souls' College, St. Mary's (or the University) Church, and All Saints' Church, while on the left is University College, and the rest of the street both on the right and left is occupied with shops, dwelling- houses, and an old-established and well-known hotel called the " Mitre." The northern entrance into the city is also exceedingly fine, and leads along a wide street, having rows of trees planted on each side, past St. John's College ; on the left the Taylor and Randolph buildings, a noble institution, founded for the cultivation of modern languages and the fine arts, and the Randolph Hotel, built in 1865 by a company in consequence of the Great Western railway having decided on making Oxford the site of their railway manufactory. Opposite to these are the back buildings of Balliol College, and in the centre of the street the Martyrs' Memorial and St. Mary Mag- dalene Church. Near the S. front of this church, and the tower of that of St. Michael's, formerly stood the celebrated Docardo, the name given to the N. gate of the city. When the fortification fell down the room over the gateway was used as a prison, and here it was that Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer were confined previous to their execution. From this point a street of shops and hotels, called Corn Market-street, runs southward to Carfax. Here it joins the High- street, which lies to ils E., and Queen's-street, which runs W. Here these three streets are joined by St. Aldate's, still running S., and thus are formed the four ways, which, as has been already stated, give the name to Carfax. At the northern end of St. Aldate's, on the left-hand side proceeding from Corn Market-street, are the townhall and the post-office, and on the same side, at the southern end, stands the magnificent college of Christ Church, and nearly opposite to it St. Aldate's Church and Pembroke College. Returning to the N. end of Corn Market-street, a street called Broad-street runs eastward, having Balliol and Trinity Colleges on the left, and on the right a narrow street called Turl-street, which connects it with the High-street. In this latter street are Jesus College on the right and Exeter and Lincoln on the loft, while at the corner of the street where it joins the High-street stands All Saints' Church on the left, and on the right the Mitre Hotel. Still proceeding along Broad-street, we have on the right, adjoining a portion of Exeter College, the Ashmolean Museum, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the Clarendon. Contiguous to this latter are the "Schools" and the Bodleian Library, having behind them a large square, with the circular building of the Radclifie Library within it, while to the W. lies Brasenose College, to the E. part of All Souls', and to the S. St. Mary's Church and the High-street. At the back of All Souls' stands Mag- dalen Hall, and behind that again ia New College-lane, leading to New College, the gardens of which ex- tend to Holywell-street and the " Long Wall." From New College the lane bends southwards, and after pass- ing the side of Queen's College and St. Edmund Hall, runs as Queen's-lane into High-street, having Logic- lane opposite to it. From the end of Broad-street, Park- street runs northwards, having Trinity and St. John's Gardens on the left and Wadham College on the right, while still further on, but standing back from the main road, is the University Museum. A street of private houses, called Holywell-street, runs from the King's Arms Hotel, at the S.E. corner of Park-street, and, continuing in a semicircular form as Long Wall, leads past the "Grove" of Magdalen College to the foot of the High-street, close to Magdalen College and bridges. Crossing the High-street, we have a walk leading to Christ Church Meadows and Merton Fields, while still further westward, a street called King-street leads from High-street into Merton-street. Here are situated St. Albau Hall, Merton College, with its celebrated chapel, which is also the parish church of St. John ; while at the end of the street, and abutting upon the back of Christ Church, stands Corpus Christi College. From hence Oriel -street leads again northwards into the High-street, having Oriel College and St. Mary Hall on the right and Bear-lane on the left. This latter leads into Alfred-street, in which the Masonic Hall is situated, and Blue Boar-lane, which runs into St. Aldate's at the S. corner of the post-office. Again, going northwards along St. Aldate's, and crossing the High-street, the first street on the W. side of Corn Market is New Inn Hall street, which takes a sharp bend to the S. about midway-. Between this bend and the church of St Peter-le-Bailey, which stands at the S.W. extremity of the street, stands New Inn Hall, and close by are Frewen's Hall, already noticed as having been the resi- dence of the Prince of Wales, and the buildings of the Union Society, or reading and debating rooms of the members of the University, which latter, however, are entered by a court leading from Corn Market- street. After passing the end of a narrow street, called George-street, we come to Gloucester-green, on which stands the city gaol, and beyond that is Beaumont- street, at the end of which stands Worcester College. The street which runs in front of Worcester College is called Worcester-street to the S., and runs down to the canal and the Seven-bridge-road, while to the N. it runs as Walton-place to the workhouse, the Uni- versity printing-office, and St. Paul's Church. Hence a street running eastward leads into St. Giles's, close by the Radclifle Infirmary and Observatory. All tho col-