Oxford is only 25 miles north of us, so we decided to take a day trip in September during the annual "Open Oxford" days where many of the colleges are open free of admission.
Earlier that week, Tyler went for the day to Oxford as part of a field trip with his school. He toured New College and part of the Bodlean Library.
When the family went, we toured one of the most famous of the 38 colleges, Christ Church. The entire university system in Oxford has been a stage set for the Harry Potter film franchise, and it was neat to see many of the backdrops and inspirations for the film.
It seems the city of Oxford is a never-ending parade of beautiful medieval and gothic architecture stretching back to the founding of the university in the 1100's. Most, if not all, of the colleges have their own chapel, dining hall and quad where students can live.
Quads, the oldest one built in the 1200s, were originally intended to protect the students from townsfolk. Apparently, the haughty and typically rich students didn't mix well with the regular people in the town. After a spate of murders in medieval times, the pope actually wrote a letter to England asking for restraint so not so many students would be killed...
It was a rainy day we were visiting, so it was a pleasant diversion every time we had a chance to duck into a room. The most interesting was the (dining) hall which was lined with portraits of famous figures from the school's past.
The students of the college are able to eat all their meals here together with the professors as well. At dinner, there is a formal seating where the headmaster says a few words before the entire hall begins the meal. Teachers and staff still at a head table raised a few steps above the students (very much like the Harry Potter movies). The most prominent portrait directly above the head table is none other than Henry VIII, who founded Christ Church in the 1500s.
Around lunch time we ducked into the cathedral at Christ Church and stayed for about an hour.
There was an organist recital as the kids did a sewing craft set up by a few elderly ladies. Afterwards, Claire did a rubbing of a bronze cross while Callum listened to the story of the old 1300s stained glass windows depicting Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket being murdered in 1170. Henry VIII had almost all windows depicting him destroyed while he was in power because he symbolized the church standing up to the monarchy.
We then walked across campus and around town looking for a tea shop. Apparently, the rents on the storefronts was too high, because we couldn't find any. We ducked into a covered market and bought a box of scones and then sat inside Starbucks enjoying the warmth and dryness.
After the scones we rode the bus back out to the park and ride just in time for Claire to melt down and nap on the way home. Another wonderful day trip in England.
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