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Oxford; as a cathedral it is inferior to most, but it is a very fine building. The entrance tower of this College contains "Great Tom," whose sound is so familiar in the city. The hall of Christ Church is also celebrated. Most of the University buildings have some peculiar points of interest about them, though generally they are not the most attractive as architectural objects: they are the beautiful Divinity Schools; the Bodleian Library, with its magnificent collection of MSS. and printed books, and the picture gallery attached; the Theatre, designed by Wren; the Ratcliffe Library, from the top of which is obtained a fine view of the city, and inside of which is a collection of interesting objects; the Ashmolean Museum; the observatory; the printing-office; and the splendid building yet scarcely finished, called the Taylor and University Galleries, erected from the designs of Mr. Cockerell, for the purpose of containing the drawings of Michael Angelo and Raphael, the Pomfret marbles, &c. One of the most beautiful of the recent additions to Oxford is the "Martyrs' Memorial," a cross designed, somewhat after that at Waltham, but on a larger scale, to commemorate the martyrs Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley. A great many new buildings have been erected within the last few years at Oxford, and many of the old ones have been, or are being, restored so that this city, always so famous for its architecture, is constantly growing more worthy of its reputation. We must not quit it without mentioning the celebrated walks of Christ Church, and the no less beautiful ones of Magdalen.

In the neighbourhood there are many places that deserve to be visited, but now they can only be

mentioned. Near the Mill once stood Osney Abbey, a place of great magnificence. At the dissolution Henry proposed to create several bishoprics; that of Oxford was one which he did establish, and Osney abbey church was made the cathedral; but the king afterwards changed his mind: Osney was utterly despoiled, and the seat of the diocese removed to Christ Church, whither also Old Tom and other of the bells, and the sacramental plate, were also taken: a few insignificant fragments are all that remain of the building. Warton has recorded having visited them with Dr. Johnson : "After at least half-an-hour's silence, Johnson said, I viewed them with indignation !"—a feeling in which most who view them now will participate. Bagley Wood, Shotover Hill, and one or two other places within a few miles of Oxford, afford walks of great beauty. The river Cherwell, which washes the east side of the city, and falls into the Thames a little below it, has its source in the Arbury Hills, near Daventry, in Northamptonshire, enters Oxford near Claydon, and then flows past the town of Banbury, and several villages, among others Islip, of which South was vicar, and enters the Thames after a course of about forty miles. the latter part of its course it is a very lovely stream -along the Christ Church and Magdalen Walks it is especially beautiful. It turns several mills, but is not navigable.

In

CHAPTER VI.

NUNEHAM-COURTNAY.

BELOW Oxford the scenery becomes much more beautiful: the country around is more diversified, the banks of the river are richly wooded, and from every elevated spot the spires of Oxford form a noble background to the prospect. Of a part so well known, however, it would be idle to speak at any length.

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The stern-looking old tower we see before us on the left, belongs to Iffley church, one of the most interesting examples of ecclesiastical architecture which the neighbourhood of Oxford, rich in such objects, presents to the admirer of architectural antiquities. The village of Iffley is prettily situated on the hill-side, but has no historical or other associations to add to its interest. Iffley is mentioned in the Domesday Survey under the name of Givetelei. Warton, in his History of Kiddington,' states that Iffley church was built by a Bishop of Lincoln in the twelfth century, but he gives no authority for his statement; it appears probable, however, from the style of the architecture, that it belongs to the early part of that century. All that is really ascertained is that it was in existence in 1189. It belonged as early as 1217 to the Black Canons of Kenilworth. "In the charter of Henry de Clinton, the third founder of

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