Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

OXFO

9

XFORD, as we read in our Chronicles, was, even in the British Age, confecrated to the. Mules. It was called by the Romans Bellofitum. When the place was firft fortified does not appear but the walls, of which fome parts are ftill remaining, were raised upon former foundations, about the time of the Conqueft, by Robert D'Oilie, who erected the Caftle at the command of the Conqueror in 1071; a work of great strength, and confiderable extent, of which the Tower is the only part at prefent remaining: the old building being much decayed, on its fcite, and at the expenfe of the County, a large and commodious Gaol has lately been erected, which, for ftrength and convenience, will hardly be furpaffed by any in the Kingdom. King Henry I, built a Royal Palace on a fpot called Beaumont, on the weft fide Α

of

of the City, remains of which are ftill feen. King Richard I. called Coeur de Lion, was born in this Palace.

The University of Oxford has many fabulous accounts relating to the time of its origin. It moft probably was inftituted foon after the propagation of Christianity in this kingdom. Alfred is fuppofed by fome to have been its founder; but Alfred rather appears to have reftored it, in an age of confufion and ignorance, and to have been the father of that establishment and security, which, notwithstanding some temporary shocks and interruptions, it has maintained ever fince. Alfred erected certain Schools or Halls, and affigned penfions to the ftudents. The first College of the Univerfity, incorporated by royal charter, was that of Walter de Merton, A. D. 1274; about which time, 15,000 fcholars are reported to have been refident here: but in the reign of Henry III. the University is faid to have confifted of double that number.

In the City and its environs were feveral Monafteries, the principal of which were St. Fridefwide's, and Ofeney Abbey. The Bishopric, which was heretofore part of Lincoln Diocese, was erected by King Henry VII, in 1542.

The fituation is on an eminence, rifing gradually from its extremities to the centre. It is encompaffed by meadows and corn fields. The meadows, which are chiefly to the fouth and weft, are about a mile in extent; beyond which are hills of a moderate height, bounding the profpect.

The eaftern profpect has likewife fome hills at a little distance; the valley growing confiderably narrower towards the fouth: but the north is open to corn fields, and enclosures for a confiderable extent, without any hill to intercept the air. It is wafhed by a number of ftreams: on the eaft, by the different branches

branches of the Cherwell; on the fouth and weft, by thofe of the Thames: all which meet and join a little below the City, forming one beautiful river. The foil is dry, being on a fine gravel, which renders it not lefs healthful than pleafant.

Before the Colleges were erected, the Students were inftructed in the houfes of citizens, or in inns or halls, fupported by benefactions from rich perfons, or their own patrimony.

The Town, including the Suburbs, is a mile in length from eaft to welt, and almoft as much in breadth from north to fouth, being three miles in circumference; but it is of an irregular figure; and feveral airy spaces are comprehended within these limits, befides the many courts and gardens belonging to the refpective Colleges.

The City, properly fo called, formerly furrounded by a wall, with baftions at about 150 feet distance from each other, is of an oblong form, and about two miles in circumference. Magdalen College, with the eaftern as well as the northern fuburbs, which contain the parishes of Holywell, Magdalen, and St. Giles, with Balliol, Trinity, St. John's, and Wadham Colleges, are without the old walls, of which fome part remains as a boundary to New Colleges beginning near the caft end of the High-Street, and continuing almoft to the Clarendon Printinghoufe, where there was a Portal and a Chapel; fome remains of which are still vifible.

The principal Street of the City runs from east to weft, the entire length of the Town, but under different names; the High-Street, beginning at Magdalen Bridge, includes at least two-thirds of that length; the remainder is to the end of Castle-Street. The High-Street is perhaps without a rival, being of a fpacious width and length, adorned with the fronts

A 2

« PreviousContinue »