North Oxford

North Oxford, especially central North Oxford between the city centre and Summertown, is considered by many to be the most desirable and famous suburb of Oxford, England. It was originally largely owned by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold from the College.

At the northern extremity of North Oxford, which is approximately the line of the A40 (the northern bypass) are two suburbs, Sunnymead (to the east of Banbury Road) and Wolvercote to the west of Woodstock Road. Beyond the bypass is the village of Kidlington. Wolvercote Cemetery contains the grave of J. R. R. Tolkein.

The leafy thoroughfares of Woodstock Road to the west and Banbury Road to the east (leading to Woodstock and Banbury respectively) run north-south through the area. North Oxford is famed for its schools, including the Dragon School, St Edward's School and the Oxford High School for Girls. Two of Oxford University's former women's colleges, St Anne's and St Hugh's are also located here, together with the graduate college, Wolfson, on the River Cherwell to the east. Port Meadow and the River Thames are located to the west.

Much of the central area contains excellent examples of late 19th century Victorian Gothic architecture, and is now a conservation area. Even older are Regency-style houses built in the mid-19th century in the beautiful crescents of Park Town, initially in the middle of the countryside but now surrounded by the rest of the suburb.

Legend has it that the area was originally developed for the Dons of the University once they were allowed to marry. In fact, central North Oxford in particular includes many large houses, unaffordable by most Dons, and the houses were instead occupied by successful tradesmen of the city. Today, many homes are occupied by rich London commuters, attracted by the good schools. A number of the larger houses are used by Oxford colleges and other educational establishments.

Famous people

North Oxford has attracted famous residents, such as the authors and academics J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) and Iris Murdoch (1919–1999). Murdoch lived with her husband and fellow academic John Bayley, and the area was featured in the biographical film, Iris.

Sir John Betjeman (1906–1984), Poet Laureate, was an enthusiast of North Oxford and wrote poems mentioning the area such as May-Day Song for North Oxford:

Belbroughton Road is bonny, and pinkly bursts the spray
Of prunus and forsythia across the public way,
For a full spring-tide of blossom seethed and departed hence,
Leaving land-locked pools of jonquils by sunny garden fence.

And a constant sound of flushing runneth from windows whence
The toothbrush too is airing in this new North Oxford air.

Reference

• Hinchcliffe, Tanis, North Oxford. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1992. ISBN 0-300-05184-0.

External links

• North Oxford information
• Finders Keepers North Oxford houses