We’ve had a few days in and around Oxford. We tried to moor along Port Meadow, the massive flood plain that borders onto the city centre and had to turn around to pull in above Godstow. It was a gorgeous spot that was close enough to walk to the Trout Inn which has featured in the TV series of Morse many times.
Unfortunately, it’s not looking very picturesque at the moment due to the rebuilding of the weir which protects the archaeological remains of Trout Island and the scheduled ancient monument of Godstow Abbey. The medieval bridge is still standing so we did cross over and make it to the pub. The food was great, but the experience was disappointing due to being stuffed into a dark corner (in an empty room!) with a wobbly table.
The river was so inviting that I had my second go at wild swimming and thoroughly enjoyed my splashing around (I didn’t fall in this time) but there was still a lot of vocalising going on as I slid gracefully (laugh) into the cold water. The first time I stayed in too long and was chilled to my core, this time I climbed out before going numb!
Inspiring scenes
A few days later we moved into the city centre and moored just below Osney Bridge, on the edge of Jericho or “Morse land” as I like to call it, can you tell I’m a fan? A tour of the colleges and surrounding streets has been on my bucket list for a very long time, and I was not disappointed. I’m also a huge fan of Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia so walking into Hogwarts’s infirmary and seeing the lamppost and door carvings that inspired the first scenes of Narnia was a dream come true.
that may have inspired C. S. Lewis.
Oxford Castle and Prison
A very iconic site in Oxford is the Motte and Bailey Castle and the HM prison which closed in 1996 after serving the community for well over 700 years. Ironically, the first detainees in the prison were mis-behaving students in 1216! More recently it held murderer Donald Neilson, the Black Panther. It’s a rather spooky place to visit especially if you go back around the cell block on your own (they didn’t warn me about the sound recording of footsteps!). The 900-year-old crypt is allegedly haunted by a monk who leaves a smell of mead in the air.
Yes, I needed a stiff one myself after that experience!!
accommodation or pay off the debt in the debtors
prison after completing your original sentence
who was sentenced to a week of hard labour,
for stealing a pram, followed by 5 years in a correctional
school, where she learnt to read and write.
Great blog 😊and beautifully illustrated with your photos.
Not so beautiful was rogues gallery- but v interesting 😊👍