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History of Oxford
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History of Oxford
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The origins of Oxford are not actually known with any certainty, being as they are, shrouded in the mists of time, but various ideas have been submitted (and disputed) regarding its genealogy. Medieval historian, John Rous wrote in his 1490 work, 'Historium Regum Angliae', that Oxford was originally King Mempricius' city, Caer-Memre, built on the River Thames somewhere between 1400 and 1500 BC. However, other historians from Rous' time were more inclined to support the popular legend that Oxford was in fact founded by the Trojans, after they landed on British soil in around 1100 BC.
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Oxford University, founded in 1214, is the oldest and best university in Britain. Over 30 individual colleges make up the university, and each has become affiliated to the central university at different points in time from the 13th century up to today. There is no "campus" as such, but you will find a cluster of very beautiful historic buildings that are used by all the colleges - the Bodlean Library, the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonain Theatre, the Ashmolean Museum in the centre of Oxford. The individual colleges are scattered around the centre as well. Each college is protected by a high wall, which is entered through the porters lodge at the main gate. Once inside a veritable Pandora's Box opens up with courtyards and grass quadrangles, old buildings, the college chapel, its library, the students rooms. The only way to see what a college is like is to go inside a few.
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In the 14th century there came a decline in prosperity and the Black Death (1349) dealt a heavy blow to what was, until then, an expanding population. One of the consequences of this decline was a surplus of land which was quickly bought up and used for the foundation of further University colleges in the 14th century. There followed a rapid building programme and massive reorganisation of the university structure, which brought a measure of isolation from the town where scholars were previously hosted in private houses. Teaching was now to be in the hands of the individual colleges. Another social and religious upheaval was to have a remarkable influence on the development of the University, namely the Reformation. With Henry VIII came the dissolution of religious institutions and in Oxford this meant that the property held by the religious congregations was to pass into the hands of the colleges. This, of course, favoured the University. Christ Church, for example, was built upon the site of St Frideswide's (1546), then followed Trinity (1555), St John's (1555), Gloucester Hall (1560, which later became Worcester College).
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The last three decades of the eighteenth century were years of reform and modernisation in which the city was given a new face-lift. The year 1771 marked a radical reform of local government in Oxford and the initiative was of the University, revealing once again the close interaction between the two. The eleven parishes of the city were united and the administration of the city became the joint responsibility of representatives from the University and citizens of the city. In an attempt to make way for the increase in local traffic the north and east gates were demolished and Magdalen Bridge reconstructed. The church of St Clements was also demolished.
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| Once again the city of Oxford has shown its ability to adapt to changing circumstances and that it has been able to free itself from the centuries-old and sometimes uneasy tradition of depending on the academic institutions for its economic success. Furthermore, it has also demonstrated that it is in tune with developments in other cities and that it is has been able to implement modern schemes without sacrificing its own peculiar character. It is the combination of factors that makes Oxford a high priority in the list of places to visit for the tourist. Among these are its rich history, its largely unspoilt character, the academic institutions and the abundance of other historic monuments and its literary associations. |
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