Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

Christ Church Meadow is a famous flood-meadow, and popular walking and picnic spot in Oxford, England.

View of Merton College from Christ Church Meadow.

Roughly triangular in shape it is bounded by the River Thames (the stretch through Oxford being known as the Isis), the River Cherwell, and Christ Church. It provides access to many of the college boat houses which are on an island at the confluence of the two rivers. The lower sections of the meadow, close to the Thames, are grazed by cattle, while the upper sections have sports fields.

View from the meadow, looking across the sports fields towards Christ Church Cathedral.

View from the path by the River Cherwell across to Christ Church.

Map showing the northern part of Christ Church Meadow, which continues down to the River Isis

Christ Church Meadow is owned by Christ Church, and is thus the private property of the college, however access is allowed during the day. Access starts very early to allow rowers to go to the boathouses. Eights Week and Torpids, Oxford University's two main rowing events, and Christ Church Regatta are held on the Thames here. In past times, ornamental wooden barges were moored on the river here to store boats and house spectators. However these have all now been replaced by boathouses.

James Sadler made the first ascent in a balloon by an Englishman from the Meadow on 4 October 1784. The balloon rose to a height of around 3,600 feet and landed six miles away near the village of Wood Eaton near Islip to the north-east of Oxford. A plaque notes the event. The Meadow was also the location where the medieval royal pretender, John Deydras, claimed to have been persuaded by the devil to impersonate Edward II in 1318.^[1]

Postwar development planned for central Oxford included a relief road passing through the meadow and joining the district of St Ebbe's. The proposal was defeated after vigorous opposition.

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  View of Merton College from across the Christ Church Meadow.

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  The Meadow Building as seen from the far north western corner of the Christ Church Meadow.

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  Rowing on the Isis at Christ Church Meadow.

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  A view of the Great Tower, Magdalen College, from the north eastern edge of the Christ Church Meadow, near its border with the Oxford Botanic Garden.

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  A view from the Christ Church Meadow looking north east towards the Great Tower of Magdalen College.

References

1. ^ Doherty, Paul. (2003) Isabella and the Strange Death of Edward II. London: Robinson, p.61.

External links

• Photographs: Oxford, 2004 by Richard Fuller

Coordinates: 51°44′53″N 1°15′07″W / 51.748°N 1.252°W / 51.748; -1.252