By Alice | Published:
August 26, 2010
A friend used to work here so I’ve been to Merton College several times and been shown around. I had forgotten that the main garden isn’t open to the public unless you are with a member of the college. I’d just remembered that the garden has a great view over Christ Church Meadow so had been saving going to this for last and therefore was rather crushed by the big sign that said not to enter in several languages. Ah well.
All over Oxford it seems like often little doors lead to big things and big doors lead to small things, this seems equally true here, the entrance to the chapel is a little door tucked away around the edge and it leads to the large splendid chapel with a beautiful ceiling. The college buildings seem to be from a mix of eras so it’s interesting to see how they have managed to fit everything together, you could have a comedy of errors with people popping in and out of different doors and archways, going in circles trying to find each other.
Merton College
Open: Mon-Fri 14:00-17:00 or dusk, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00 or dusk
Admission: £2
(I don’t actually pay to get into Oxford colleges as I have a Bodleian Readers Card aka. a University Card so I’m usually allowed in for free. I am putting the price here for anyone else was thinking of going and also I think it’s interesting what the different colleges charge. If anyone IS thinking of going then the opening times are worth phoning up and checking as the colleges can and often do close early or shut for all sorts of reasons.)
By Alice | Published:
August 19, 2010
Worcester College was a revelation to me, I LOVED it. I kept turning corners and saying ‘wow!’. I don’t think I had ever visited it before as I don’t think I ever knew anyone studying there. I was very much surprised quite how splendid the planting in the gardens is, they have these mixed borders that you could dive into head first and be hidden by a huge mass of green and flowers. I also was impressed at how much water there was, it really lowers the blood pressure to wander around such beautiful grounds. You’d never guess that this college is right in the centre of town very near the train station. The place was pretty much deserted when I was there, as you can see the weather was pretty gloomy and there was a light rain at times. The last picture shows the front of the college that faces the street, that clock is often very handy when hurrying to the station.
Partly what prompted me to go there is that I’ve long thought it might be fun to try to visit all the Oxford Colleges and take some pictures. I’ve already been into plenty of them but I’m going to start a proper list now. It might be a long-term project as some are harder to visit than others as either they aren’t open to the public or have difficult opening times but I reckon I will hopefully know someone at the college. Time was I’d know people who were students there but now my generation are either grad students or actually teaching things, so grown up!
Worcester College
Open: daily 14:00-17:00
Admission: free
By Alice | Published:
August 17, 2010
1. Alien life form?
2. Lunchtime walk.
3. Looking up, looks like an Italian church maybe?
4. Was having a clear out and found this old scrap book from my teens, I don’t think my tastes have changed very much :) On the left I still like the curtain made from tea towels, the mixed chairs, and the old table. On the right I still like the fire, the long table, and the bamboo outside.
Also posted in I made things, Oxford |
By Alice | Published:
August 15, 2010
Random pictures from Saturday.
1. Best breakfast ever, pancakes and hot blueberries.
2. Friend’s house
3. Friend’s house
4. Pimm’s
5. Downpour, maybe not a good day to be wearing Toms.
6. Sunshine
7. Look who it is! BBQ cat!
8. BBQ cat (we actually were having a BBQ).
9. Many people out for a friend’s birthday.
10. Then on to another place. This would have been after midnight but let’s still call it Saturday.
Also posted in Cooking, Oxford |
By Alice | Published:
August 13, 2010
1. 6am Had fallen asleep watching the meteors and so we woke up with the window open and a great view of the morning sky.
2. On the way to work.
3. This is one of my favourite daily views.
4. Morning sun.
5. After work threading watercolour hearts onto gold thread.
6. Argh! My assistant wants to eat them.
7. What to do with them?
8. Here?
9. Here?
10. We are working our way through all series of Northern Exposure.
