Monday 29 January 2018

Exploring Oxford: Magdalen College

I adore Oxford. I spent many happy days exploring the city during the years I lived near London, and took so very many photos that I've not yet got around to sharing with you guys.

So as well as (finally) blogging about my visits to Kew Gardens, I'll also be putting together a series of posts throughout this year to sing the praises of beautiful Oxford. I hope you'll enjoy them!

Let's start with one of my favourite colleges: Magdalen (pronounced "Maudlin").

 Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford

Magdalen College was founded in 1458 which sounds like a ridiculously long time ago but was actually a couple of centuries after the first of Oxford's colleges were founded!

 Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
 
It can be a slightly surreal and really quite humbling experiece to visit places like this and to stop and think about all the people who have stood in that same spot over the years, enjoying much the same views as you are now.

 Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford

You can read about the College's history here, and about the College buildings here. I particularly loved the cloisters, of course, but also found myself very charmed by this gate.

Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford

As always when visiting Oxford's colleges, you can't help but appreciate the grandness of the architecture, the views across quads and courtyards, and the way buildings of different ages nestle up against each other.

Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford
 Magdalen College, Oxford
  Magdalen College, Oxford

It's always worth taking the time to pay attention to the small things, too. To look closely at craftsmanship and decorative details, to look up at gargoyles and carved ceilings or down at intricate tiles or beautifully weathered paving slabs.

I especially loved these angels...

Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford

... and that lock! What a thing of beauty.

Magdalen College, Oxford

Magdalen is open to visitors regularly throughout the year, there is an admission charge but you may be able to visit it for free during the annual Oxford Open Doors heritage festival held in September (I adore Oxford Open Doors!).

Want more Oxford pics? You can read about a spring visit of mine to the city here and here, and a summer day trip here. All my Oxford-related posts can be found here.

7 comments:

bairozan said...

I totally enjoy these posts! Beautiful pictures, a grand place!

Cream Linen said...

I've been to Oxford once many years ago and I will always remember that day .Thank you for the nice pictures and the info about Magdalen college .Tina

Bugs and Fishes said...

bairozan - Thank you! I'm loving looking back through my photos of Oxford to prepare these blog posts :)

Tina - Oxford is definitely a memorable place! I hope this series sparks lots of happy memories for you xx

Sarah said...

Beautiful photos... making me feel quite homesick as I grew up in Oxford!

Bugs and Fishes said...

Sarah - oh gosh, you must miss it a lot, but what a lovely place to grown up! :)

Emma Haughton said...

There's a lovely walk you can do from Magdalen through the gardens and round the grounds. One of my favourites when I was a student in Oxford.

Bugs and Fishes said...

Ooh, that sounds delightful, Emma!