Traveling Through History
Issue 40: Oxford Colleges - Christ Church
Welcome
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As mentioned last week, today we dive into Oxford Colleges. Famous before Harry Potter came along, Christ Church in Oxford has a long fascinating history.
Come with me to the city of spires this week as we go Traveling Through History.
Michelle
Savvy Travel Historian
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University Colleges - Oxford
Christ Church
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Background
Originally established by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (Henry VIII’s Chief Minister) from the closure of St Frideswide Priory, the college and its accompanying cathedral is unique amongst the Oxford colleges.
Located on St Aldates in the City of Oxford, it is a short walk from the busy Oxford High Street.
History
In 1525, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey suppressed St Frideswide’s Priory in Oxford (which dates back to the 8thC) and took their lands to establish what he called ‘Cardinal College’. The funds to build the buildings came from the dissolution of Wallingford Priory (the town we live in!) and a few other minor priories in the area.
The buildings were only three-quarters completed when Wolsey's fall from grace occurred in 1529. They would remain unfinished for another 140 years.
In 1532 the college was re-founded by King Henry VIII and after his break with Rome the King renamed it Christ Church and used the semi-demolished priory church as the cathedral of the newly created Diocese of Oxford.
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Centuries of building work commenced on the 175 acres, which includes Christ Church Meadow (discussed later).
Its sister college in Cambridge is Trinity College which was founded in the same year, also by Henry VIII.
Tom Quad
The original idea for the ‘great quadrangle’ came from Wolsey and is known today as ‘Tom Quad’. It is the largest quod of any college in Oxford at 264 by 261 feet.
The quad remained unfinished for 150 years when the gate house and Tom Tower were added along the St Aldates entrance.
Tom Tower
Tom Tower (shown above) is a bell tower named by the bell that is rung in it each evening, Great Tom.
It sits above Tom Gate, which is the main entrance for college students and staff.
The tower is an octagonal lantern and additionally has a faceted ogee dome and was designed by Christopher Wren and built between 1681-82.
The bell is the largest in Oxford, weighing 6 ¾ tons and came from the 12thC Osney Abbey following the dissolutions.
Every night since WWII, Great Tom has rung 101 times at 21:05 pm. The number 101 signifies the 100 original scholars of the college plus one more. 21:05 pm is Oxford time for 21:00, which is the time the gates at colleges were to be locked, so the extra 5 minutes enabled everyone to make sure they were in before the bell struck at 5 past the hour.
Harry Potter
The Bodley Staircase (shown above - hi mum & dad), is used throughout the Harry Potter movies and we particularly see it in the Philosopher's stone, when Professor McGonagall is standing at the top to greet all the first years and Harry, Hermione and Ron walk up it towards her.
The Great Hall
The Great Hall of Christ Church finished in 1529 (as seen above from St Aldates road) consists of eight bays and is impressive in size, measuring 114 ½ ft (30m) by 39 ¾ (12m).
This dining hall provided inspiration for the great hall at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.
At the western end, behind the dias is an impressive picture gallery of famous Christ Church dignitaries, beginning with Henry VIII in the centre and Wolseys to his right.