Schmap Oxford 13th Century Oxford

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Oxford - 13th Century Oxford
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University and Merton colleges, two of the three colleges claiming to be the oldest in Oxford, are on the route of this walk, as is the Church of St Mary the Virgin which, in the days before there were specialised university buildings, was used for examinations and major university ceremonies including conferment of degrees. Six other colleges, a building which in medieval times was an academic hall, and a pub with its origins in the 14th century are also on the walk. Altogether this short, flat walk of less than a mile is a step back into the early days of Oxford and the university.

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Merton College

Oldest buildings in the university

Merton Street
Oxford University
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4JD
United Kingdom
+44 1865 27 6310
http://www.merton.ox.ac.uk/

Merton isn't one of the best known Oxford colleges, but it is one of the largest, and one of three colleges claiming to be the oldest in Oxford (the others are Balliol and University). Founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton, the college has the oldest buildings in the entire university and the oldest surviving medieval library.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Merton College photo by Stephen Galsworthy

Photo: Stephen Galsworthy

Photo: Ryan Lothian

Photo: Phillip Capper

Photo: Ben Williams

Merton College photo by Margaret Maitland

Photo: Margaret Maitland

Photo: Dion Crannitch

Photo: Luke Woodward

Photo: Trevor M. Hall

Photo: Po Chin Tan

Photo: Neil Blaikie

Photo: Anna Swartz

Photo: Rebecca Honts

Photo: Finsthwait

Photo: Haaglander

Photo: Steven Jones

Merton College photo by Christelle Nicod

Photo: Christelle Nicod

Photo: Stan Bissey

Merton College photo by kotoko Kuboshima

Photo: kotoko Kuboshima

Photo: Kakia Chatsiou

Photo: Christa Chance

Merton College photo by jones_in_chester

Photo: jones_in_chester

St Mary the Virgin Church

University church High Street
Oxford OX1 4AH
United Kingdom
+44 1865 27 9111
http://www.university-church.o... Although mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the oldest parts of the church we now see are the 13th-century tower and 14th-century spire. Until specialised university buildings were available, St Mary's was used for university meetings, examinations and ceremonies. In fact, the flat-roofed extension which is now a cafe was once the university parliament building. It was in this church that Archbishop Cranmer was tried for heresy in 1555; where John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached his famous 1774 sermon; and where John Keeble delivered his Assize sermon (in 1833) which became the catalyst for the Oxford Movement.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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