On Friday,
February 5, we travelled to Oxford, the rival university of Cambridge.
The University did begin slightly before Cambridge, but like Cambridge
it does not have a specific beginning date. In the 12th century,
there were scholars that lectured to groups of students and by 1200 there
was an organised college. The courses were similar to that of the
University of Paris.
Geoffrey
Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales, mentions the living conditions
of an Oxford scholar in his “Millers Tale," which we have read.
Other people that were in Oxford that we have studied are Erasmus and Sir Thomas More. They were both there in the 1490’s. Three figures from Cambridge also spent a brief time in Oxford: Cramner, Latimer, and Ridley were all burnt at the stake in Oxford for their religious beliefs. We studied the three of them in history and in English. There is a monument where Cramner and Latimer were burned in Oxford, which we saw.
There are many well-known people that have studied at Oxford. Among them are many prime ministers, including the current one, Tony Blair. Margaret Thatcher attended Oxford. Also Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland), Aldous Huxley (author of Brave New World), the famous Dr. Samuel Johnson, T.S. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), C.S. Lewis, John Locke, Cardinal Newman, Oscar Wilde, Percy Bysshe Shelley all attended the university.
Oxford is a most beautiful town set along the banks of the River Thames. Among its ancient colleges are Christ's, Magdalene, and Oriel. Christ College is especially beautiful because of a cathedral of grand dimensions. John Locke was a student there and was buried inside of the cathedral. We spent most of our time, however, at Oriel College because Dr. O'Shaughnessy is an alumnus. Oriel College is one of the oldest colleges. One enters into a courtyard that is impeccably kept, except the chalk that commemorates rowing victories against the other colleges and against Cambridge. Dr. O'Shaughnessy gave us a tour of his Alma mater. The most impressive room was the old library that was built in the eighteenth century and contains books up to four hundred years old. It had a strange odor, as if something was decomposing. All old libraries smell that way in England. Later, we all got dressed up for Formal Hall. Dr. O'Shaughnessy and Dr. Moore even wore academic gowns. A gown is the normal dress for Formal Halls; luckily we are exempt here, and Hughes Hall does not follow that tradition. Before we went to eat, we went to Dr. O'Shaughnessy's former tutor, Dr. Catto, who threw us a party in his college rooms. He was kind enough to make sure that he got around to speak to each of us individually. Then we went to Formal Hall. The hall is adorned by dark wood paneling with portraits of famous graduates. Sir Walter Raleigh was the most famous alumnus to be honored with a portrait. A sword reputed to be Sir Walter Raleigh's sword was hanging beneath his portrait. For dinner we had delicious soup followed by roast chicken over vegetables. After dinner, we went to the senior Common Room which is usually exclusively for faculty for coffee. They gave us the royal treatment. All in all, Oriel College was very beautiful and very hospitable.
Before heading to the hotel, all of us quickly stopped by a charming placed called The Turl. It is the hot place to go for the college crowd. If you are ever in Oxford and want to socialize with the local students, The Turl is the place to be.