Oxford

We fell in love with Oxford as soon as the bus rolled into town! It's like stepping into another century--with the exception of the ubiquitous McDonalds, KFC and Gap, among others. Practically every corner has a massive building built several centuries ago.

Oxford is famous for its gargoyles. The one to the right is a medieval bagpiper--one of a dozen

carved into an organ screen in the

anteroom of the Chapel at Magdalen (say 'Maudlin') College. These are

reputed to have inspired C.S. Lewis' stone statues in the Narnia Chronicles. More gargoyles are to be found on walls in the quadrangles. About 20 feet above the ground in a wall looking into one of the quads is a 15th pulpit--still used annually on the Feast of St. John the Baptist (June 24).

Being a good Anglican, I was thrilled to see the Martyrs' Memorial, commemorating the burning at the stake of Ridley, Lattimer and Cranmer, for their adherence to the Church of England, during the reign of Roman Catholic Mary Tudor in 1555-6. Cranmer is the one with the Bible in his hand.

We also visited Oxford's oldest building, a Saxon Tower built in 1040, which was once connected to the Bocardo prison, where the 3 bishops were held. We even saw the door to Cranmer's cell.

The Church of St. Michael at the North Gate attached to the Tower houses a 15th century window, a 14th century font and a 15th century pulpit (still in use), from which John Wesley preached in 1726.

Being Lord of the Rings and Narnia fans, we couldn't resist lunching at the Eagle and Child,

where the Inklings met to discuss their writings over pints. The corner in which they sat has their framed pictures on the wall above. A very cosy pub!