We parked at a Park and Ride south of Oxford. It took us almost directly to Christ Church, one of the famous colleges that make up Oxford University. We were in town the final week of school, so many places were closed for study or events.
We walked from Christ Church up to the High Street in town. We had to go through a tricky gate.
We wandered about and saw some famous sights, like the Radcliffe Camera, part of the Bodleian Library.
In the center of the library is a statue of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who served as Chancellor for the university.
Down one street is a copy of the Bridge of Sighs from Venice. Students use it to go to classes, so I am sure they sigh a lot on the bridge.
We walked into the quad of one of the smaller colleges, Saint Edmund Hall.
Back on the High Street, we saw Magdalen College where C. S. Lewis taught before getting snagged by Cambridge in 1954.
We tried to visit the Botanical Gardens but a private event was going on.
We had lunch and headed further north, stopping at Hardwick Hall. The original hall has fallen into ruins that are still on the estate.
Bess of Hardwick (1527-1608) was born into a well-to-do family. After three marriages, she had increased her wealth substantially and built a new hall, with a wall and gardens around it. The locals had a rhyme for it, "Hardwick Hall, More glass than wall."
The initials "ES" seem cryptic at first, but Bess of Hardwick's full first name is Elizabeth and one of her marriages made her Countess of Shrewsbury.
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| Christ Church College |
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| A bit of the actual church at Christ Church |
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| Christ Church's field |
We walked from Christ Church up to the High Street in town. We had to go through a tricky gate.
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| Figuring out the gate |
We wandered about and saw some famous sights, like the Radcliffe Camera, part of the Bodleian Library.
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| Radcliffe Camera |
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| All Souls College next to the library |
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| Brasenose College is on the other side |
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| Some fancy decor on another college |
In the center of the library is a statue of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, who served as Chancellor for the university.
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| William Herbert |
Down one street is a copy of the Bridge of Sighs from Venice. Students use it to go to classes, so I am sure they sigh a lot on the bridge.
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| Oxford Bridge of Sighs |
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| More fun architecture |
We walked into the quad of one of the smaller colleges, Saint Edmund Hall.
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| Hall Quad |
Back on the High Street, we saw Magdalen College where C. S. Lewis taught before getting snagged by Cambridge in 1954.
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| Magdalen College |
We tried to visit the Botanical Gardens but a private event was going on.
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| I bet your garden gate isn't this fancy |
We had lunch and headed further north, stopping at Hardwick Hall. The original hall has fallen into ruins that are still on the estate.
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| Original Hardwick Hall |
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| Another angle on the ruins |
Bess of Hardwick (1527-1608) was born into a well-to-do family. After three marriages, she had increased her wealth substantially and built a new hall, with a wall and gardens around it. The locals had a rhyme for it, "Hardwick Hall, More glass than wall."
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| I bet your front gate isn't this fancy |
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| Front of the hall |
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| Back of the hall |
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| Detail of one of the corners |
The initials "ES" seem cryptic at first, but Bess of Hardwick's full first name is Elizabeth and one of her marriages made her Countess of Shrewsbury.
More intriguing is a statue of Mary, Queen of Scots. Bess and her third husband, George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, became custodians of Mary in the late 1560s.
We wandered around the garden a bit and admired the flowers.
Even though there was no playground, my son had a good time.
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| Mary, Queen of Scots |
We wandered around the garden a bit and admired the flowers.
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| Bright and happy |
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| Soft and sombre |
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| A corner full of color |
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| A mushroom tree? |
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| More of the garden |
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| View from the back of the house |
Even though there was no playground, my son had a good time.
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| A happy tourist |
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