Once upon a time there were three abbeys in Oxford: Godstow, Osney, and Rewley. Along came King Henry VIII. Then there were none. All that remains of Rewley Abbey (founded by Cistercian monks at the end of the thirteenth century) is a segment of the precinct wall, and an arch, easily missed as you walk down the side of Castle Mill Stream, across from the canal … Continue readingGodstow
The clocks have gone forward – and there’s a full moon tonight. What’s more … The Morris Oxford Mini-History of Oxford is published TODAY.
It’s concise. It’s historical. It’s about Oxford … Continue readingThe Morris Oxford Mini-History of Oxford
This month’s story was supposed to have been about the ruined abbey of Godstow, but the response to Bradshaw’s Hat has been so rich and so interesting that we feel compelled to postpone the Dissolution for a while … Continue readingJohn Bigg’s Other Shoe
At two o’clock on the bitterly cold afternoon of Saturday 30 January 1649, King Charles I stepped out from the balcony of the Banqueting House, Whitehall, and onto the executioner’s scaffold … A few minutes later, the masked axeman held up his bloody trophy for all to see … Continue readingBradshaw’s Hat
Happy New Year – and Welcome to the Morris Oxford Quiz 2021. It’s time to dust off the cobwebs and reactivate the neurones! How well do you know Oxford? Here are a dozen questions to test your local knowledge … Continue readingTHE MORRIS OXFORD NEW YEAR QUIZ 2021
And so the world turns, the days begin to lengthen, and the door creaks open towards a new year … Talking of doors, several dedicated readers of Morris Oxford were puzzled that the recent Counting Down post didn’t have the door numbers arranged in descending – or even ascending – order. Why not? Was it code? … Continue readingA Solstice Recount
Tis the season! Time to deck the halls, fill the mead cup, drain the barrel, and troll the ancient yuletide carol. Time also for a long overdue visit to Oxford’s Covered Market … Continue readingCovered Market
The Morris Oxford Countdown to Christmas begins today! Visit out Instagram page (@morrisoxfordmorrisoxford) to see the scores on the doors … Continue readingCounting down
How many people today have heard of the Tirah Expedition? Or could even say where Tirah was/is? So much for remembrance … The answer is that Tirah is a mountain region at the North West Frontier of what was once British India, on the border … Continue readingBonn Bones
There are certain, special places where the modern world feels very far away. As you pass through the wooden gate into St Margaret’s churchyard, Binsey, the relentless thrum of the ring road seems to recede into the distance, and time starts to slip … Continue readingTreacle Well