A couple of years back we finally made it to England. What had kept me away was the predisposed knowledge that once I went to England, I would want to go back again and again. My prediction did come true. We did go back multiple times, not just to England, but to Scotland as well. I would love to share our journey with you.
My first time in England had to include the City of Oxford and its architecture. I wanted to see the city which introduced me to so many of my favourite writers. We only had a couple of days there, so instead of rushing through a lot of the city, we decided to take our time and savour just a few places.
First morning there, we walked up to Christ Church.
We were greeted by this beautiful Venetian Gothic Meadow Building, designed by T. N. Deane.
The pointed shape of the windows and the lancet arches reflect the style.
I always enjoy a walk along a cloister. These cloisters were build around 1499.
Details of the cloister ceiling. It reminds me of the green man motif.
The cathedral spire is the oldest surviving stone spire in England and has been part of the Oxford skyline since 1230.
We entered the Bodley Tower, named after the architect G. F. Bodley. It houses the staircase that leads to the dining hall.
The staircase was built in the 19th century.
The stunning medieval style ceiling, however, was built in 1638.
Entry to the beautiful Christ Church dining hall.
The Hall is part of the college’s original foundation built in Renaissance style. The walls are adorned with portraits and there is a large fireplace on each side.
The beautiful hammerbeam ceiling was built by Humphrey Coke, Henry VIII’s chief carpenter.
After descending the staircase we walked in to the Tom Quad taking in the view of the Bodley Tower from there. We will continue on to the Tom Quad on the next Wandering Camera.
I have started keeping a travel sketch journal. Here’s a quick sketch of a window of the Christ Church Meadow Building.
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.
46 thoughts on “Wandering Camera – Christ Church, Oxford, UK”
Kate May 4, 2019 at 05:41
Just Wow!
Cheryl Brickey April 9, 2019 at 17:47
Beautiful photographs! I love the play of the light on the old building structures.
Raine April 5, 2019 at 21:34
How BEAUTIFUL!!!! And the sketch really really dreamy!
Carol April 5, 2019 at 10:44
I’ve never made it to the UK but I’d love to wander the streets you’ve toured.
Lynette April 5, 2019 at 10:35
Hi, Soma. I don’t have any photos to share, but I really enjoyed this post. Your sharing of the visit details let me experience some of the charm and atmosphere. Funny thing is, I’m reading Connie Willis right now, so Oxford is on my mind. :) I also enjoy several historical fiction series that are set in that area. Your sketch is so pretty. The ceiling in Christ Church is amazing! It’s far more organic in nature than I would have expected. Rather Kaffe Fassett-y up there!
Bill April 4, 2019 at 08:06
Must get around to visiting one day, I’ve live not far away all my life and never been there. BTW the head of the river pub you showed was just a derelict riverside wearhouse back in 1972 when I first went to work in Oxford
A ShutterBug Explores April 3, 2019 at 10:04
Such magnificent heritage and gorgeous place and lovely photography!
Happy Days to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
betty - NZ April 2, 2019 at 15:13
Castles are so intriguing to me! What gorgeous shots of a fabulous place.
Valerie, Australia April 2, 2019 at 14:02
I just discovered your blog while looking for another, and am thrilled with your pictures of Oxford. Having lived in Oxford for 2 years in my early 20s – and now aged 72 (home country is Australia but was born in the UK) – the images you share unleash a flood of very happy memories as well as showing parts not previously seen. It is indeed a fascinating City. Thank you for sharing – I’ll be back!
Emily April 2, 2019 at 12:07
Your sketch is beautiful! That mid evil ceiling has quilt potential. thanks for linking up with Moving it Forward.
Kaja April 1, 2019 at 23:48
My first husband was an Oxford man, so there was a time when I went there a lot, though not for many years now. You have some fantastic photos from your visit – I especially like your eye for detail.
Sandra Walker April 1, 2019 at 16:09
As always absolutely stunning photos, Soma. I am going to England and hopefully Scotland and even Wales this summer, so this post and the next one, are so meaningful to me and make me so excited! I am just in the early planning stages as to where to go/what to see. Tintagel is on my list, in Cornwall, and I’ll be in Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One April 1, 2019 at 07:05
It’s a city on my doorstep that I don’t appreciate enough #SundaySnap
Janine @ Rainbow Hare March 31, 2019 at 12:42
Your photos are stunning. They were certainly the days when they built in style :)
nessjibberjabberuk March 31, 2019 at 10:22
I’ve been to Oxford twice – once on a day trip in my teens and then seven years ago for my Mum’s birthday. I’ve never had a proper look around but I really would love to go back. Your photographs sum up the perfect English scene.
Andrée G Faubert March 31, 2019 at 08:48
Hi Soma, thanks so much for sharing those wonderful pictures of Oxford and Christ Church. I just happened to finish an historical murder mystery that took place there, so now I can see what it looks like. Wow, that’s on my bucket list!
Anne March 31, 2019 at 03:11
It always amazes me at how beautiful the architecture of the past is. Imagine how difficult it would have been to build like that and how long it must have taken. Your photos are stunning Soma, they truly capture the beauty of Christ Church and I love that you are keeping a sketch book journal too.
#sundaysnap
Sarah MumofThree World March 30, 2019 at 22:51
I live only an hour from Oxford, but have never walked around it properly. Those photos are stunning and I love your little painting.
Popping over from Jibber Jabber UK.
Tammie March 30, 2019 at 21:32
It looks like you had a wonderful time there. The photos are a joy to see. I enjoyed the details of the buildings. Love the gothic style.
So nice that you made time for your sketchbook. Somehow sketching a place seems to tuck it into our memories even better than a photo. Thank you for hosting.
Kim Sharman March 30, 2019 at 02:00
To see all that glorious architecture first hand must have been such an amazing experience, Soma. Thank you for allowing us all to wander through your lovely photos. Oh to be able to stroll through Christ Church and soak in all that glorious atmosphere; a once in a lifetime trip, I should think.
Mia March 29, 2019 at 18:20
Great photos, Soma. And I lllllllove your sketch. You are a great artist!!! Happy PPF!
Pat -- Mille Fiori Favoriti March 29, 2019 at 16:08
It is amazing to think of the age of these buildings and the history that surrounds them! I enjoyed all your photographs. Thanks for hosting Wandering Camera. Have a good weekend!
Beth March 29, 2019 at 11:22
I LOVE your watercolor–so pretty–I wish I could have walked with you in that wonderful building… Such gorgeous detail. I feel inspired.
Linda Kunsman March 29, 2019 at 08:10
oh what a gorgeous building-the architecture and history…stunning! Your travel journal painting is really lovely too. I only got to England once but loved it so. Happy PPF!
gillena March 29, 2019 at 06:02
Luv the idea of your travel sketch journal
Happy PPF
Muchlove
Mary March 29, 2019 at 06:01
Your journal will be even more special than your gorgeous photos. It looks like it was a beautiful day to be out and exploring. The Incredible photos show what a great eye for detail that you have.
Christine March 29, 2019 at 05:19
Thanks for letting me travel vicariously through your eyes, beautiful art you did too.
DecorCraftDesign March 29, 2019 at 03:50
Beautiful painting and fabulous shots!
Allison March 29, 2019 at 03:10
Thank you for the photo tour. I lived and worked in Oxford for two years and I’m ashamed to say never visited the inside of any of the Colleges! I now live about an hours drive away. Maybe I should make a point of visiting the beautiful places on my ‘doorstep’? Having said that I do appreciate the historical sites there are all over this lovely country and enjoy travelling to different areas. This Summer we are holidaying in Yorkshire and we will make a point of visiting York (a city with a beautiful Cathedral and many remains from around 300AD left by the Romans).
Mascha March 28, 2019 at 23:13
Thanks for sharing these wonderful travel impressions.
I totally understand your enthusiasm for England – such a travel is my dream too!
Enjoy your weekend
Junieper/Jesh March 28, 2019 at 22:55
What a wealth of patterns you’re showing here! The Gothic architectural style has been actually my favorite one! But I never painted it – I guess it’s about time…:) Thanks for hosting!
Kokopelli Design March 28, 2019 at 22:47
Beautiful photos and painting! I think I need to go back to England, too. Happy PPF!
Frauke Christiansen March 28, 2019 at 22:40
What a wonderful ceiling.
Frauke
Lady Fi March 28, 2019 at 22:22
Ah – the essence of England! Beautiful shots.
Lynda Hermann March 28, 2019 at 16:37
In 2007 my daughter and I traveled to France for two weeks. I had requested that we go via London and spend a few days there. We took a tour that included Oxford, the cotswolds, Stratford on Avon, and a castle – we both fell in love with Oxford. We had a 1/2 day walking tour and had no time to take in the interior but I swear that the first picture on this post could be the one I took – we must have been standing in the exact same spot! My wish it to return to England – way too much to do and so little time!
Sheryl March 28, 2019 at 16:22
Hi Soma love your pictures of such a beautiful place the buildings are amazing,thankyou for sharing with us xx
Barbara J Stanbro March 28, 2019 at 13:54
Sorry again about the multiple posts. I click on the image I want, and nothing happens so I click it again. Finally, I get an error code, but when I return to the linky party, I find each click has produced a link. Please delete the duplicates. Since I’m traveling, I’m never sure what’s going on with strange ISP’s, iPhone service, and unruly laptop computers.
Barbara Stanbro March 28, 2019 at 13:23
Beautiful place.
Lydia C. Lee March 28, 2019 at 12:45
Wow! That is gorgeous. Your drawing is great too! (And in a dumb moment, I never realised Christchurch in NZ was named after a UK place – which I should have, as everywhere here was named after somewhere in the UK. They weren’t very original thinkers, the early settlers – or they were very homesick!)
Michelle March 28, 2019 at 12:37
Such beautiful architecture! It creates a sense of wonder realizing that these buildings are significantly older than the nation in which I live. (United Stares)
Thank you for hosting the Wandering Camera Linkup party.
Noelene Winter March 28, 2019 at 12:35
Hi Soma, thank you for sharing my husband and I have been to the Uk and were in awe of the old buildings and churches and how on earth they built them, we have so much technology today but I am not a fan of how quickly the building seem to go up in our day and age. We loved Oxford as well.
Hi from Australia Noelene.
Tanza Erlambang March 28, 2019 at 09:32
lovely place to visit…thank you for sharing series of beautiful photos.
have a great day
Angie March 28, 2019 at 09:16
Soma – I have lived in the UK twice, and visit regularly since my in-laws live near Durham. So, looking at your pictures makes me homesick for my adopted country. I have a soft spot for Oxford since I attended school for a semester at a small college called Westminster, which sits on a hill overlooking that famous Oxford skyline. Gorgeous! Thanks for hosting Wandering Camera!
Susan March 28, 2019 at 08:26
I have never been to the UK. I would love to go someday. I adore older, more ornamented architecture than more modern architecture. I ravel vicariously through your photos:-)
Dixie March 28, 2019 at 05:17
A wonderous beautiful building and surrounding area. Definitely so much history in the details.
I love your sketch of the gothic windows, Soma.
Calendula March 28, 2019 at 03:25
I’ve been to the UK several times! I love your photos of the Christ Church and the amazing details you showed!