Page images
PDF
EPUB

of three Colleges, St. Mary's and All-Saints Churches, terminated at the eaft end with a view of Magdalen College Tower, and a beautiful bridge. Every turn of this ftreet presents a new object, and a different view, each of which would make an agreeable picture in perspective; whereas, had it been ftraight, every object would have been seen at one and the fame inftant, but more forefhortened than at prefent.

The fecond street is that which runs from fouth to north, croffing the street already defcribed. The fouth fide is called Fifh-Street, and the other the Corn-Market; from whence we pafs into Magdalen Parifh, and St. Giles's, which form a very spacious ftreet, and in fome refpects is preferable to either of the former, it having the pleasure and advantage of the country, though connected with the town. One end of this street is terminated by St. Giles's Church, and adorned with the front of St. John's College.

On the east fide of Fish-Street (commonly called St. Old's, by corruption from St. Aldate's) ftands Chrift-Church College, the magnificent front whereof is extended to 382 feet in length. On the fame fide is the TOWN HALL, where the Town and County Seffions, and the Affizes, are held; which was rebuilt at the expenfe of THOMAS ROWNEY, Efq. late representative in Parliament, and High Steward of the City.

The principal Bridges are, 1. Magdalen Bridge, over the Cherwell, being 526 feet in length, by which we enter the town from London, 2. High-bridge, in the western suburb, over the Ifis; confifting of three Arches, 3. Folly-bridge, as it is commonly called, in the fouthern fuburb, on the fame river, where formerly stood an arched entrance, over which was the celebrated Friar Bacon's Study; it confifts of three arches, and is, like the reft, entirely built

with

[ocr errors]

with ftone. This is the entrance from Abingdon and various parts of Berkshire.

year

of

We must not here omit the many elegant and ufeful improvements that have taken place, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament obtained in the 11th his prefent Majefty.-The narrow and incommodious paffage at Eaft Gate has been opened, which renders this part equal to the magnificence of the HighStreet; and in the year 1779 a new Stone Bridge, at this entrance of the Town, was erected at the expenfe of upwards of Eight Thousand Pounds.

In pursuance alfo of the faine Act of Parliament, on the north fide of the High-Street, between St. Martin's and All-Saints' churches, was erected the New General Market, 347 feet long, and 112 wide, equal to any thing of the kind in the kingdom. The City of Oxford, with its fuburbs, and liberties, confifts of fourteen parishes.

1. St Mary's.

2. All Saints.

3. St. Martin's, or Carfax. 4. St. Aldate's, or St. Old's. 5. St. Ebb's..

6. St. Peter's in the Bailey. 7. St. Michael's.

8. St. Mary Magdalen's. 9. St. Peter's in the Ealt. jo Holywell.

11. St. Giles's.
12. St. Thomas's.
13. St. John's.
14. St. Clement's.

Only three of the churches belonging to these parifhes are worthy obfervation, viz. St. Mary's, AllSaints, and St. Peter's in the East.

St. Mary's ftands on the north fide of the HighStreet, and is the Church ufed by the University on Sundays and Holydays. It is well proportioned and handsomely built in the Gothic ftyle. The Porch is in a more modern tafte. The Church consists of three ailes, and a large chancel, which is paved with black and white marble. The Vice-Chancellor fits at the weft end of the middle aile, on a throne elevated some

[blocks in formation]

few steps; a little below which fit the two Proctors; on either hand the Heads of Houfes and Doctors; below these the young Noblemen; and in the Area, on benches, the Mafters of Arts. At the weft end alfo, with a return to the north and fouth ailes, are galleries for the Bachelors and Under-graduats; and under the middle ones are feats for the Ladies. The Tower and Spire, which rifes to the perpendicular height of 180 feet, is a noble and beautiful structure, and contains a ring of fix large bells. The room on the north fide of the Chancel, lately repaired in the ftyle of the reft of the Church, is now the Common Law School, where the Vinerian Profeffor reads his Lectures.

The Church of All-Saints, fituated in the HighStreet, is an elegant modern ftructure, much in the ftyle of many of the new churches in London. It is beautified, both within and without, with Corinthian pilafters, and finished with an attic story and baluf trade. There is no pillar in the church, though it is 72 feet long, 42 wide, and 50 high. The ceiling, altar, pulpit, &c. are finely executed. The fteeple is remarkable in the modern manner. Its architect was Dr. Aldrich, formerly Dean of Chrift Church. The Church of St. Peter in the Eaft, ftanding near the High-Street, was partly built by St. Grymbald, 800 years ago; and is reported to be the firft Church of ftone that appeared in this part of England. It was formerly the Univerfity Church; and even at prefent, with a view of afcertaining their original claim, the University attend their fermons in it every Sunday in the afternoon during Lent. The tower and eaft end are curious pieces of antiquity. In the year 1760 this Church was beautified and new pewed at the expenfe of the Parish; and in 1768 by a libetal fubfcription from the Inhabitants and fuch Heads

of

of Houfes as live in the Parish, the Organ was rebuilt by Meff. Green and Byfield of London.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF THE UNIVERSITY.

The PUBLIC SCHOOLS, with one fide of the Library on the weft, form a fquare of 105 feet: the principal front on the outfide is about 175 feet in length; in the middle of it is a gate, with a magnificent tower. Three fides of the upper ftory of the Quadrangle are one entire room, called the PICTURE GALLERY, near the middle of which is a Statue in Brafs of PHILIP Earl of Pembroke, by the fame Artift who caft the equeftrian ftatue of Charles I. at Charing Cross: it is alfo furnished with the Portraits of moft of the Founders of the Colleges, many learned and famous men, feveral large Cabinets of Medals, and fome Cafes of Books, being intended as a continuation of the Bodleian Library. Dr. Tanner, Bishop of St. Afaph, gave his valuable Collection of Manufcripts to the University, together with a fum of money to erect proper Cafes for them: they are depofited near the entrance into the Gallery; as are Mr. Willis's and Mr. Godwyn's, together with other Collections of Books and Coins.

Dr. Butler, formerly Prefident of Magdalen Col→ lege, and the late Duke of Beaufort, were at the Expense of new wainscotting the Gallery, fince which the Pictures have been cleaned and repaired, more advantageoufly difpofed, and their number greatly increased by late Benefactors.

[ocr errors]

The UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, ufually called the Bodleian, from Sir Thomas Bodley, its principal Founder, is a large lofty ftructure, in the form of a Roman H, and is faid to contain the greatest number

of Books of any Library in Europe (except that of the Vatican), a Catalogue whereof is printed in two folio volumes.

[ocr errors]

The ground, on which the Divinity School is built, was purchafed in the year 1427; the Buildingbegun at the expense of the Univerfity, and, after fome intermiffion, carried on and completed by Humphrey Duke of Gloucefter. It is esteemed a moft excellent piece of Gothic architecture, being well proportioned, and finifhed in high tafte, especially its roof. Over the Divinity School the Duke erected the Library, which he furnished with many choice volumes procured from Italy in the years 1440 and 1443, befides confiderable additions bequeathed at his death three years after.

In the year 1597 Sir Thomas Bodley repaired the old Library of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, and in 1599 fitted it for the reception of Books. An additional eastern gallery was begun by him in the year 1610, and another gallery on the weft, projected by him, was erected afterwards. He furnished the Library with a numerous collection of books, procured, with much care and expenfe, from all parts of the world.

Sir Thomas Bodley died Jan. 28. 1612, leaving an eftate for the maintenance of a Librarian, &c. as well as for the neceffary repairs of the Library: he added alfo a body of Statutes for the regulation of his new inftitution, which were afterwards confirmed in Convocation.

Many large and valuable collections of Greek and Oriental Manufcripts, as well as choice and usefu} Books, have been added to this Library by later Benefactors; particularly the Earl of Pembroke, Archbifhop Laud (to whom alone it is indebted for its ineftimable Oriental Manufcripts), Sir Thomas Roe Sir Kenelm Digby, General Fairfax, Dr. Marshall,

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »