Oxford

Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is famous the world over for its University
and place in history. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and
since the 9th century an established town, although people are known to have lived in the
area for thousands of years.
Nowadays, the city is a bustling cosmopolitan town. Still with its ancient University, but
home also to a growing hi-tech community. Many businesses are located in and around the
town, whether on one of theScience and Business Parks or within one of a number
of residential areas.
With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for both the tourist and resident to
do. Whether its visiting one of the many historic buildings, colleges or museums, going out for a
drink or a meal, taking in a show or shopping till you drop, Oxford has it all and
oxfordcity.co.uk will help you find it.
Whether youre visiting for business or pleasure you will find a wide range
of hotels, guesthouses,apartments and self-catering accommodation.
But, if you find you do want more, then Oxford is a just a short hop away from many other
attractions and the capital city itself, London.
Oxford is a city in South earth and the county town of Oxfordshire. With a population
of 150,200 it is the 52nd largest city in the United Kingdom, and one of the fastest growing and
most ethnically diverse.[8][9]
Oxford has a broad economic base. Its industries include motor manufacturing, education,
publishing, and a large number of information technology and science-based businesses, some
being academic offshoots.
The city is known worldwide as the home of Oxford University, the oldest university in
the English-speaking world.[10]
Buildings in Oxford demonstrate examples of every English architectural period since the arrival
of the Saxons, including the mid-18th-century Radcliffe Camera. Oxford is known as the "city of
dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold.
Oxford was first settled in Saxon times and was initially known as "Oxenaforda", meaning
"Ford of the Oxen"; fords were more common than bridges at that time.[11] It began with the
establishment of a river crossing for oxen around AD 900. In the 10th century, Oxford became an
important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several
occasions raided by Danes.

Oxford was heavily damaged during the Norman Invasion of 1066. Following the conquest,
the town was assigned to a governor,Robert D'Oyly, who ordered the construction of Oxford
Castle to confirm Norman authority over the area. The castle has never been used for military
purposes[dubious discuss] and its remains survive to this day. D'Oyly set up a monastic community in the
castle consisting of a chapel and living quarters for monks (St George in the Castle). The community
never grew large but it earned its place in history as one of the oldest places of formal education in
Oxford. It was there that in 1139 Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain, a
compilation of Arthurian legend
In 1191, a city charter stated in Latin
"Be it known to all those present and future that we, the citizens of Oxford of the Commune of
the City and of the Merchant Guild have given, and by this, our present charter, confirm the donation
of the island of Midney with all those things pertaining to it, to the Church of St. Mary at Oseney and
to the canons serving God in that place.
"Since, every year, at Michaelmas the said canons render half a mark of silver for their tenure
at the time when we have ordered it as witnesses the legal deed of our ancestors which they made
concerning the gift of this same island; and besides, because we have undertaken on our own part
and on behalf of our heirs to guarantee the aforesaid island to the same canons wheresoever and
against all men; they themselves, by this guarantee, will pay to us and our heirs each year at Easter
another half mark which we have demanded; and we and our heirs faithfully will guarantee the
aforesaid tenement to them for the service of the aforesaid mark annually for all matters and all
services.
"We have made this concession and confirmation in the Common council of the City and we
have confirmed it with our common seal. These are those who have made this concession and
confirmation."
(There follows a list of witnesses, ending with the phrase, "... and all the Commune of the City of
Oxford.")
Oxford's prestige was enhanced by its charter granted by King Henry II, granting its citizens the
same privileges and exemptions as those enjoyed by the capital of the kingdom; and various
important religious houses were founded in or near the city. A grandson of King John established
Rewley Abbey for the Cistercian Order; and friars of various orders
(Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Augustinians, and Trinitarians) all had houses of varying
importance at Oxford. Parliaments were often held in the city during the 13th century. The Provisions
of Oxford were instigated by a group of barons led by Simon de Montfort; these documents are often
regarded as England's first written constitution.

University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th-century records. As the University took
shape, tension between the hundreds of students living where and how they pleased led to a decree
that all undergraduates would have to reside in approved halls.Of the hundreds of Aularian houses
that sprang up across the city, only St Edmund Hall(c. 1225) remains. What put an end to the halls
was the emergence of colleges. Oxford's earliest colleges were University
College (1249), Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264). These colleges were established at a time when
Europeans were starting to translate the writings of Greek philosophers. These writings challenged
European ideology, inspiring scientific discoveries and advancements in the arts, as society began
to see itself in a new way. These colleges at Oxford were supported by the Church in the hope of
reconciling Greek philosophy and Christian theology. The relationship between "town and gown" has
often been uneasy as many as 93 students and townspeople were killed in the St Scholastica Day
Riot of 1355.
The sweating sickness epidemic in 1517 was particularly devastating to Oxford
and Cambridge where it killed half of both cities' populations, including many students and dons.[14]
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford is unique in combining a college chapel and a cathedral in one
foundation. Originally the Priory Church of St Frideswide, the building was extended and
incorporated into the structure of the Cardinal's College shortly before its refounding as Christ
Church in 1546, since when it has functioned as the cathedral of theDiocese of Oxford.
The Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy in 1555 and subsequently burnt at the stake, on
what is now Broad Street, for their religious beliefs and teachings. The three martyrs were the
bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, and the Archbishop Thomas Cranmer.[15] The Martyrs'
Memorial stands nearby, round the corner to the North on St. Giles

The city centre

As well as being a major draw for tourists (9.1 million in 2008, similar in 2009),[44] Oxford city
centre has many shops, several theatres, and an ice rink. The historic buildings make this location a
popular target for film and TV crews.
The city centre is relatively small, and is centred on Carfax, a cross-roads which forms the
junction of Cornmarket Street (pedestrianised), Queen Street (semi-pedestrianised), St Aldate's and
The High. Cornmarket Street and Queen Street are home to Oxford's various chain stores, as well
as a small number of independent retailers, one of the longest established of which is Boswells,
which was founded in 1738.[45] St Aldate's has few shops but has several local government buildings,
including the Town Hall, the city police station and local council offices. The High (the word street is

traditionally omitted) is the longest of the four streets and has a number of independent and high-end
chain stores, but mostly University and College buildings.
There are two small shopping centres in the city centre: The Clarendon Centre[46] and The Westgate
Centre.[47] The Westgate Centre is named for the original West Gate in the city wall, and is located at
the west end of Queen Street. It is quite small and contains a number of chain stores and a
supermarket. The Westgate Shopping Centre is to undergo a large and controversial refurbishment;
the plans involve tripling the size of the centre to 750,000 sq ft (70,000 m2), a new 1,335 space
underground car park and 90 new shops and bars, including a 230,000 sq ft (21,000 m2) John
Lewis department store. There is to be a new and improved transport system, a complete
refurbishment of the existing centre and the surrounding Bonn Square area. The development plans
include a number of new homes, and completion is expected in 2011, although this is being delayed
due to the current financial climate.
Blackwell's Bookshop is a large bookshop which claims the largest single room devoted to book
sales in the whole of Europe, the cavernous Norrington Room (10,000 sq ft)

Other attractions

Ashmolean Museum

Bodleian Library

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

The Headington Shark

Modern Art Oxford

Museum of the History of Science

Oxford Botanic Garden

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Pitt Rivers Museum

Sheldonian Theatre

St. Mary The Virgin Church

Parks and nature walks

Oxford is a very green city, with several parks and nature walks within the ring road, as well as
several sites just outside the ring road. In total, 28 Nature Reserves exist within or just outside of
Oxford ring road, including:

University Parks

Mesopotamia

Rock Edge Nature Reserve

Lye Valley

South Parks

Shotover Nature Reserve

Port Meadow

Cutteslowe Park

Music
Oxford, and its surrounding towns and villages, have produced many successful bands and
musicians. The most notable Oxford act is Radiohead, who hail from nearby Abingdon, though other
well known local bands include Supergrass, Ride, Swervedriver, Talulah Gosh and more
recently, Young Knives, Foals and Stornoway. These and many other bands from over 30 years of
the Oxford music scene's history feature in the documentary film Anyone Can Play Guitar.
OxfordOxford[77] is a weekend festival in South Park in September which hosts local Oxford talent,
threaded amongst internationally acclaimed artists. The event also hosts a film day and a community
day.
In 1997, Oxford played host to Radio 1's Sound City, with acts such as Bentley Rhythm
Ace, Embrace, Spiritualized and DJ Shadow playing in various venues around the city.
It is also home to several brass bands, notably the City of Oxford Silver Band, founded in 1887