A Bibliophile's Visit to Oxfordshire â List of places ... - Thedms.co.uk
A Bibliophile's Visit to Oxfordshire â List of places ... - Thedms.co.uk
A Bibliophile's Visit to Oxfordshire â List of places ... - Thedms.co.uk
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A Bibliophile’s <strong>Visit</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Oxfordshire</strong> – <strong>List</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>places</strong> with<br />
literary <strong>co</strong>nnections<br />
For centuries one <strong>of</strong> only two seats <strong>of</strong> higher education, Oxford has<br />
shaped many writers - <strong>of</strong> both fact and fiction. This list suggests just a few<br />
interesting locations with literary <strong>co</strong>nnections.<br />
Our online shop s<strong>to</strong>cks a host <strong>of</strong> helpful publications including Oxford's<br />
Famous Faces, Oxford Rogues and Women in Oxford.<br />
Tolkien’s Tree<br />
Why not take a literary themed Oxford Official Guided Walking<br />
Tour, e.g. one focused on CS Lewis and Tolkien, Alice, William Morris and<br />
the Pre-Raphaelites, Harry Potter, Morse/Lewis or Children's S<strong>to</strong>ries<br />
including Philip Pullman's 'Lyra' books.<br />
You can also dis<strong>co</strong>ver some famous literary <strong>co</strong>nnections at the Museum <strong>of</strong><br />
Oxford.<br />
Please see also '<strong>Bibliophile's</strong> Oxford', a day's itinerary on foot in Oxford<br />
city, and the ‘Alice in Oxford’ Factsheet on our website.<br />
Dylan Thomas’ summerhouse<br />
For some <strong>of</strong> these <strong>places</strong> the Landranger series <strong>of</strong> maps No’s 164 and<br />
surrounding maps would be helpful, along with a good road atlas. And a<br />
bike?<br />
Oxford<br />
Bodleian Library<br />
Look for the 9 new carvings high on the wall, including the Dodo, Tweedledum and<br />
Tweedledee, Aslan and Three Men in a Boat, the winning entries in a design <strong>co</strong>mpetition for<br />
schoolchildren, organised jointly by the Bodleian and Oxford Preservation Trust.<br />
Botanic Garden, High Street<br />
Sit under the black pine, Tolkien's favourite tree, or on Will and Lyra's bench.<br />
Broad Street<br />
Find the cross in the ground opposite Balliol College where Thomas Cranmer, crea<strong>to</strong>r <strong>of</strong><br />
the Book <strong>of</strong> Common Prayer, was martyred. <strong>Visit</strong> the University Church <strong>of</strong> St Mary the<br />
Virgin where the 3 Protestant martyrs were tried.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
Christ Church Meadow<br />
Stroll round the Meadow when all is tranquil at dusk, just before it closes. You may see<br />
rabbits, including white ones… watch where you step…<br />
Exeter College, Turl Street<br />
Exeter College is the site <strong>of</strong> Inspec<strong>to</strong>r Morse's 'death'. Stand on the pavement outside Jesus<br />
College <strong>to</strong> avoid bikes. Spot the name <strong>of</strong> Marilyn Butler, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> English Literature, and<br />
first female Head <strong>of</strong> a former all-male <strong>co</strong>llege, carved on the <strong>co</strong>llege wall. (Clue - look at the<br />
carvings <strong>to</strong> the right <strong>of</strong> the entrance - what letters do they begin with?)<br />
High Street or Bardwell Road<br />
Hire a punt for the quintessential Oxford experience on the rivers Cherwell or Isis (if you're<br />
very <strong>co</strong>nfident). TE Lawrence ('Lawrence <strong>of</strong> Arabia') once <strong>to</strong>ok a punt down the<br />
underground Trill Mill Stream which emerges at Christ Church Meadow. 'Tis said a punt<br />
<strong>co</strong>ntaining 2 skele<strong>to</strong>ns was once dis<strong>co</strong>vered in the darkness. Not re<strong>co</strong>mmended.<br />
Holy Trinity churchyard, Heading<strong>to</strong>n Quarry<br />
CS Lewis’ grave<br />
Holywell Cemetery, Holywell Street<br />
<strong>Visit</strong> the graves <strong>of</strong> Kenneth Grahame, Kenneth Tynan (theatre critic), and Thomas Randall,<br />
Alderman and hatter, probably the model for The Mad Hatter. This is the wonderful<br />
cemetery 'belonging <strong>to</strong>' the University Church <strong>of</strong> St Mary. Look over the back wall <strong>to</strong> see<br />
the 'summerhouse' where Dylan Thomas and family stayed, <strong>co</strong>urtesy <strong>of</strong> the his<strong>to</strong>rian AJP<br />
Taylor's wife, Margaret, one <strong>of</strong> his patrons.<br />
Jericho<br />
In Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure Oxford is depicted as Christminster and Jericho as<br />
Beersheba, a poor, working class area. Try <strong>to</strong> see St Barnabas' church if you can.<br />
The Oxford Canal, Hythe Bridge Street<br />
Philip Pullman's 'Lyra' books feature folk who live on the Oxford Canal. Walk as far as you<br />
like….<strong>to</strong> Coventry???<br />
Perch Pub<br />
Look for the riverside line <strong>of</strong> rare black poplars whose felling so distressed GM Hopkins.<br />
Now replanted by Oxford City Council. (Hurrah)<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
Port Mahon pub, St Clement's<br />
Have a drink in Dylan Thomas' watering hole. The pub hosts both folk nights and Scibar<br />
(informal science talks).<br />
River Thames – downstream<br />
See the riverbanks where Ratty and Mole so enjoyed 'messing about in boats'.<br />
River Thames – upstream<br />
Relax on an Edwardian river cruiser gently travelling upstream <strong>to</strong> Port Meadow where<br />
Charles Dodgson rowed the real Alice, her sisters and governess.<br />
St Michael at the North Gate, Cornmarket Street<br />
See the font where Shakespeare's (hem) godson, William Davenant, who became Poet<br />
Laureate and Orlando Gibbons (the <strong>co</strong>mposer) were christened.<br />
Wolver<strong>co</strong>te Cemetery, Banbury Road<br />
Tolkien and his wife's graves<br />
Oxford <strong>co</strong>lleges – listed below are a few literary alumni<br />
Balliol College<br />
Brasenose College<br />
Christ Church<br />
John Wyclif, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Swinburne, Graham Greene,<br />
Aldous Huxley<br />
William Golding, John Buchan<br />
John (also Lin<strong>co</strong>ln College) & Charles Wesley, Charles Dodgson<br />
Exeter College<br />
Hertford College<br />
Jesus College<br />
St John's College<br />
University College<br />
Magdalen College<br />
Mer<strong>to</strong>n College<br />
New College<br />
Oriel College<br />
Pembroke College<br />
Somerville College<br />
St Hilda's College<br />
St John's College<br />
University College<br />
Philip Pullman, Martin Amis, Alan Bennett, JRR Tolkien, William<br />
Morris, Burne Jones<br />
Evelyn Waugh, John Donne and Jonathan Swift<br />
TE Lawrence (also All Souls)<br />
Robert Graves, AE Housman, Philip Larkin, Kingsley Amis<br />
PB Shelley. This <strong>co</strong>llege is not normally open <strong>to</strong> the public.<br />
Oscar Wilde, Julian Barnes, CS Lewis, John Betjeman<br />
TSE Eliot<br />
John Fowles, John Galsworthy, the Revd Spooner<br />
Sir Walter Raleigh<br />
Samuel Johnson<br />
Dorothy Sayers, Vera Brittain, Iris Murdoch<br />
Barbara Pym<br />
Robert Graves, AE Housman, Philip Larkin, Kingsley Amis<br />
PB Shelley. This <strong>co</strong>llege is not normally open <strong>to</strong> the public.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
<strong>Oxfordshire</strong><br />
Adelstrop<br />
Edward Thomas' poignant poem is inscribed on the GWR railway seat alongside the station<br />
name, in the village bus shelter. Jane Austen stayed here with her uncle who was rec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
Walk from Adelstrop <strong>to</strong> Chastle<strong>to</strong>n House (NT). Or vice versa?<br />
Beckely<br />
Evelyn Waugh would take up residence in Beckley, both <strong>to</strong> drink with the locals and <strong>to</strong> write<br />
free <strong>of</strong> distractions.<br />
Bladon Church<br />
Burial place <strong>of</strong> Sir Wins<strong>to</strong>n Churchill. His best-known works are The Se<strong>co</strong>nd World War (6<br />
vols) and His<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> the English Speaking Peoples (4 vols)<br />
Blenheim Palace<br />
Sir Wins<strong>to</strong>n Churchill's birthplace<br />
Cottisford<br />
Drive <strong>to</strong> Cottisford ('Candleford') and sit in 'Laura's' church pew, opposite the door, and<br />
under the war memorial which <strong>co</strong>mmemora among others, Flora Thompson's beloved<br />
brother, Edwin Timms. Follow Laura's footsteps home from school and walk <strong>to</strong> Juniper Hill.<br />
Ens<strong>to</strong>ne and Church Ens<strong>to</strong>ne<br />
Lifting the Latch, the gripping ac<strong>co</strong>unt <strong>of</strong> Mont Abbot’s life as shepherd at the turn <strong>of</strong> the 19th<br />
Century, is set in and around Ens<strong>to</strong>ne. Mont Abbot is buried in Church Ens<strong>to</strong>ne graveyard;<br />
his shepherd's crook and the family 'shitty s<strong>co</strong>op' for clearing their cess pit are displayed in<br />
Woods<strong>to</strong>ck Museum.<br />
Eweleme<br />
Jerome K Jerome is buried in the church yard. Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Chaucer's granddaughter, Alice,<br />
built the church, school and almshouses after her husband's death and endowed them so<br />
cunningly that even Henry VIII <strong>co</strong>uld not misappropriate the funds. The school is still<br />
flourishing as the oldest <strong>co</strong>ntinuously functioning school building in the <strong>co</strong>untry. Teas may be<br />
on <strong>of</strong>fer there. Don't miss the watercress beds, currently under res<strong>to</strong>ration.<br />
Fins<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
Barbara Pym, a fine novelist mainly appreciated after her death, lived here and is buried in<br />
the churchyard.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
Fringford<br />
Where Flora Thompson was employed at the Post Office cum Forge which still stands near<br />
the village green. Download our free leaflet about these <strong>places</strong> from our website.<br />
Garsing<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Garsing<strong>to</strong>n Manor was the home <strong>of</strong> Lady Ot<strong>to</strong>line Morrell, literary hostess and the<br />
inspiration for DH Lawrence's character, Hermione Roddice, in Women in Love - <strong>to</strong> her<br />
great annoyance. She may also have been the inspiration for Lady Chatterley.<br />
Henley<br />
River and Rowing Museum. Kids will love the 3-D recreations <strong>of</strong> the Wind in the Willows<br />
characters. Try your hand at rowing a trireme.<br />
Islip<br />
Robert Graves, poet and author <strong>of</strong> I, Claudius, lived at World's End. Islip is the birthplace <strong>of</strong><br />
Edward the Confessor, the last King <strong>of</strong> England prior <strong>to</strong> the Norman invasion <strong>of</strong> 1066.<br />
Juniper Hill<br />
('Larkrise') - the isolated hamlet whose <strong>co</strong>ttages and inhabitants are so vividly recalled in<br />
Flora Thompson's Larkrise <strong>to</strong> Candleford.<br />
Kelms<strong>co</strong>tt Manor near Faringdon<br />
The idyllic summer home <strong>of</strong> William Morris, craftsman, designer, printer, author. Admire the<br />
paintings <strong>of</strong> Morris' wife, Janey by Rossetti, tapestries, embroideries and hangings. Check<br />
opening times. Works by the Pre-Raphaelite artists Rossetti and Burne Jones are part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Faringdon Collection at nearby Bus<strong>co</strong>t Park (NT).<br />
Nettlebed<br />
Home <strong>of</strong> the Fleming Family who still lives thereabouts. Ian Fleming created the James Bond<br />
books and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.<br />
Nuneham Courtenay<br />
The model village lining the A4074 re<strong>places</strong> the old village which spoilt the view <strong>of</strong> 'the big<br />
house'. Its relocation is <strong>co</strong>mmemorated in Oliver Goldsmith's regretful The Deserted<br />
Village.<br />
Pope's Tower, Stan<strong>to</strong>n Har<strong>co</strong>urt<br />
This 54 ft high <strong>to</strong>wer belongs <strong>to</strong> the private chapel <strong>of</strong> Har<strong>co</strong>urt Manor. The first Vis<strong>co</strong>unt<br />
Har<strong>co</strong>urt lent it <strong>to</strong> his friend, Alexander Pope, <strong>to</strong> <strong>co</strong>mplete his translation <strong>of</strong> Homer's Iliad.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
River Thames<br />
Books inspired by or featuring the river include Three Men in a Boat , the Wind in the<br />
Willows, the Alice s<strong>to</strong>ries, The His<strong>to</strong>ry <strong>of</strong> Mr Polly. Hobbs <strong>of</strong> Henley hire out powered day<br />
boats <strong>to</strong> help you explore the river's hidden byways. They also <strong>of</strong>fer scheduled river trips or<br />
2-hour sightseeing trips.<br />
Rollright S<strong>to</strong>nes and adjacent Whispering Knights<br />
Penelope Lively's children's s<strong>to</strong>ry The Whispering Knights is set in the valley below this<br />
ancient s<strong>to</strong>ne circle.<br />
Spelsbury church<br />
The burial place <strong>of</strong> John Wilmot, Lord Rochester, poet and libertine, depicted in the 2004<br />
film ‘The Libertine’ with Johnny Depp and John Malkovich.<br />
South Leigh<br />
An easy walk from Witney through the fields. Dylan Thomas and family lived in the Manor<br />
House 1947-9. Don't miss the wonderful medieval wall paintings in the church.<br />
Sut<strong>to</strong>n Courtenay<br />
George Orwell, under his real name, Eric Blair, is buried in the churchyard. The village war<br />
memorial unusually <strong>co</strong>mmemorates those who went <strong>to</strong> war - and came back - as well as<br />
those who did not.<br />
Swinbrook<br />
<strong>Visit</strong> Swinbrook churchyard <strong>to</strong> find most <strong>of</strong> the Mitford sisters' graves. Inside the church<br />
dis<strong>co</strong>ver the Fettiplace monuments, carved with exquisite detail, each reflecting a<br />
<strong>co</strong>ntemporary selfimage. The Mitfords' nearby childhood home, Asthall Manor, opens its<br />
gardens every 2 years for an enchanting exhibition <strong>of</strong> modern sculpture.<br />
Wallingford<br />
William Blacks<strong>to</strong>ne, Fellow <strong>of</strong> All Souls, is <strong>co</strong>mmemorated here. His legal Commentaries<br />
were highly influential both in England and in America and were a nail in the c<strong>of</strong>fin <strong>of</strong> slavery.<br />
Wantage<br />
John Betjeman, Poet Laureate, lived in and near Wantage; his wife kept a tea shop, King<br />
Alfred's Kitchen, on the Market Square. A newish park <strong>co</strong>mmemorates him. King Alfred,<br />
scholar, warrior, ruler and said <strong>to</strong> be founder <strong>of</strong> English law, was born here. Wantage<br />
appears as Alfreds<strong>to</strong>n in Hardy's Jude the Obscure.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m
Witney<br />
Pam Ayres, whose whimsical verse read in her inimitable <strong>Oxfordshire</strong> accent has delighted<br />
many, grew up in Witney.<br />
Witney - Wood Green<br />
'Miss Read's gentle books describing life at a Cotswold village school, ('Thrush Green') are<br />
based on Wood Green, Witney.<br />
Woods<strong>to</strong>ck<br />
‘Salt <strong>of</strong> the Earth’ by Dorothy Calcutt re<strong>co</strong>rds life in Woods<strong>to</strong>ck at the other end <strong>of</strong> the<br />
social spectrum.<br />
Woot<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Francis Kilvert, diarist, was married here. He died within the month.<br />
Uffing<strong>to</strong>n<br />
Thomas Hughes's novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays recalls this thatched village and its tiny<br />
schoolroom sometimes open <strong>to</strong> the public. A miniature representation <strong>of</strong> Uffing<strong>to</strong>n,<br />
<strong>co</strong>mplete with working rail lines, is under <strong>co</strong>ntinuous <strong>co</strong>nstruction at Pendon Museum. Look<br />
out for the miniature carrots and bikes.<br />
= Tickets sold either in our online shop or in the Oxford <strong>Visit</strong>or Information Centre<br />
www.visi<strong>to</strong>xfordandoxfordshire.<strong>co</strong>m