Wandering Camera – Christ Church, Oxford, UK Part II

Tom Quad, Christ Church, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Thank you for sharing so many personal anecdotes about Oxford on the previous Wandering Camera.  Those stories give extra dimension to the places I visit and connects me a little more to the photos I take.   Today I will continue with our visit to Chirst Church.  Last time, I ended with exiting Bodley Tower and entering the Great Quadrangle.

 

 

Tom Quad, Christ Church, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The quad was started in the 16th century and left unfinished for a century.  This would have been a cloistered area but that was left unfinished.  The base structures for the cloisters are still visible.  You can get an idea of how big the quad is, both from the previous photo and this one.

 

 

Tom Quad, Christ Church, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I specially wanted to see Christopher Wren’s work in person, hence my wish to visit Christ Church.  He designed the clock tower over the St. Aldate’s gatehouse. The bell, Great Tom, gives the quad its informal name: Tom Quad.

 

 

Tom Quad, Christ Church, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Although this was supposed to be cloistered, I rather like the openness of the quad with the arches all around.

 

 

 

 

Inspired by all the gothic architecture there, I started working on a detailed painting. Here is a peek at the initial planning sketch.

 

 

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Before exiting Tom Quad, we entered the Christ Church cathedral.

 

 

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Following the arches, I love looking up to see the intricacy of cathedral ceilings.

 

 

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

This is the doorway of the chapter house – one of the oldest parts of the college – built in the 1200s.  Sadly, the inside has been turned into a gift shop. 

 

 

Peckwater, Christ Church, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

In contrast to the gothic Tom Quad, the Peckwater was built in the classical style of the Greek and Roman temple architecture.   The Peck Quad houses the library.   

 

 

Magpie Lane, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

From Christ Church, we perambulated toward Magdalen College.

 

 

Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

We walked through some of the back paths.  I smiled when I noticed how nature took it upon herself to soften the abundance of stonework in Oxford.

 

 

Dead Man's Walk, Oxford, England | Whims And Fancies

 

 

This is Dead Man’s Walk.  The green plaque on the wall mentions James Sadler, who was the first English Aeronaut to successfully ascend in what is described as a “fire balloon” near this area.  I love finding these little “notes” in old cities and colleges.

 

 

England - Red Telephone Box Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase Red Telephone Box pattern

 

Inspired by the Oxford visit, I created this red telephone booth block to make a bag with it.  This month I am joining Patty at Elm Street for One Monthly Goal.  I hope to share more on that with you in the next couple of weeks.

 

Since I love to rummage through photos, I am linking up with monthly April Furtle @ Archie The Wonder Dog.

 

 

Posts On England Travel – 2016

Oxford – Christ Church Part I

 

 

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

 

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Wandering Camera – Christ Church, Oxford, UK

Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

A couple of years back we finally made it to England.  What had kept me away was the predisposed knowledge that once I went to England, I would want to go back again and again.  My prediction did come true.  We did go back multiple times, not just to England, but to Scotland as well.   I would love to share our journey with you. 

 

 

River Isis, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

My first time in England had to include the City of Oxford and its architecture.  I wanted to see the city which introduced me to so many of my favourite writers.  We only had a couple of days there, so instead of rushing through a lot of the city, we decided to take our time and savour just a few places.

 

 

Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

First morning there, we walked up to Christ Church.

 

 

Meadow Building, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

We were greeted by this beautiful Venetian Gothic Meadow Building, designed by T. N. Deane.

 

 

Meadow Building, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The pointed shape of the windows and the lancet arches reflect the style.  

 

 

The Cloister, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I always enjoy a walk along a cloister.  These cloisters were build around 1499. 

 

 

The Cloister, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Details of the cloister ceiling.  It reminds me of the green man motif.

 

 

The Cloister, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The cathedral spire is the oldest surviving stone spire in England and has been part of the Oxford skyline since 1230.

 

 

Dining Hall Stairs, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

We entered the Bodley Tower, named after the architect G. F. Bodley. It houses the staircase that leads to the dining hall.

 

 

Dining Hall Stairs, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The staircase was built in the 19th century.

 

 

Dining Hall Stairs, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The stunning medieval style ceiling, however, was built in 1638.

 

 

Dining Hall Stairs, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Entry to the beautiful Christ Church dining hall.

 

 

Dining Hall, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The Hall is part of the college’s original foundation built in Renaissance style.  The walls are adorned with portraits and there is a large fireplace on each side.

 

 

Dining Hall, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

The beautiful hammerbeam ceiling was built by Humphrey Coke, Henry VIII’s chief carpenter. 

 

 

Bodley Tower, Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

After descending the staircase we walked in to the Tom Quad taking in the view of the Bodley Tower from there.  We will continue on to the Tom Quad on the next Wandering Camera.

 

 

Watercolour Sketch of Christ Church, Oxford, UK | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I have started keeping a travel sketch journal.  Here’s a quick sketch of a window of the Christ Church Meadow Building.

 

Camera And Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them. 

 

 

 

 

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