Magdalen College at Oxford

The first college you see when you come down the London Road from Headington and enter Oxford is Magdalen College, with it's iconic and beautiful bell tower towering over the skyline.  It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful colleges in Oxford.  It was founded in 1448 by William of Waynflete, a New College man. Owing to royal and other gifts, Magdalen became the richest college in Oxford by the reign of Henry VIII.

Today it is known for it's beautiful 15 century buildings, the bell tower,  the 500-year-old tradition of singing Latin Hymns from the Bell Tower each 1st of May,  and the stunning grounds, Addison walk, and dear park.

The college is situated amid 100 acres of woodlands, riverside (Cherwell) walks, gardens and a tranquil Deer Park.

Magdalen Bridge

Hallway of the Cloister Quadrangle

The magnificent Cloister Quadrangle

The Founders Tower

The gargoyles in the Cloister Quad represent virtues and vises ... mostly vises as far as I could tell. I'd love to see this wisteria in full bloom.

Looking across to the deer park

The New Building was built across a large lawn to the north of the Great Quad beginning in 1733. Its spacious setting is due to the builders' intentions to create an entirely new quad, but only one side was completed.

The Longwell Quad building

This is the new library and garden court. It was  built to intagrate with the old library and it's simply stunning.  

Not so old Gargoyles of the two heads of college at Magdalen College

Formal and informal meals are taken in the mediaeval dining Hall, which is located on the first floor above the Cloisters. 

The Old Kitchen Bar is the oldest building on site, dating from the 1300s. It is the former location of the College kitchens and evidence of the original fireplaces can still be seen.

The Spectacular High Anglican chapel 

The magnificent monochrome stained glass window - a grisaille window - from the 17th century, based on Michelangelo's Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel, fills the west wall.  It has a fascinating story:  http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/the-resurrection-at-magdalen-college-1279624.html

Some of the illustrious Alumni of Magdalen College include

·       Joseph Addison
·       Lord Richard Atkin
·       Lord Alfred Denning
·       King Edward VIII
·       Malcolm Fraser, Former Prime Minister of Australia
·       Nicholas Kristof, Pullitzer prize winner
·       T. E. Lawrence of Arabia
·       C.S. Lewis
·       Dudley Moore
·       Cardinal Thomas Wolsey

For a detailed history of Magdalen College:  http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Illustrated_Magdalen_College_History.pdf

May Morning in Oxford

One of the many things I love about living in Oxford is that each month is filled with wonderful century-old traditions that mark the seasons or a special time of year.  One such traditional day is May Morning when thousands gather at 6am to listen to three songs sung from the Magdalen Tower and then walk the streets of Oxford enjoying the various troops that are "dancing in the May".  Even though the general celebration is very simple, the crowds and the enthusiasm for the day are always full of surprises.  This year's surprises where a "Cheese Head" Morris Dancer (not from Wisconsin, USA); a walking tree; and sharing the morning with dear cousins who dropped in for a visit during their tour of Great Britain. 

 Morris Dancers dancing in "the May"

 I asked a dancer, "Why the cheese hat?" and he said it marks "the Fool."

 The Walking Tree

Street dancing

The Magdalen Choir singing a hymn in Latin  from the Magdalen Tower

 The singing starts just after the church bells peel 6:00 am and coincidentally, the sun's rays hit the tower. 

There are several thousand spectators who come each year to see May Morning.  Many of the students who attend have been up all night at their college's spring ball or Prom.  

My dear cousin Marie, her lovely daughter Sarah, my wonderful neighbor Amy, and some guy who chose to photo bomb the photo.

Happy May Morning!

Oxford's May Morning

At the crack of dawn this morning John and I joined the throngs in Oxford to celebrate the arrival of spring at Oxford's May Morning.

If you look closely at this clip, you'll get a glimpse of John standing in the crowd!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-22365993

May Morning is an annual event in Oxford each May Day – May 1st. It starts early at 6am with the Magdalen College Choir singing a hymn in Latin, the Hymnus Eucharisticus, from the top of Magdalen Tower, just as the sun hits the tower.

 The tradition of May Morning in Oxford is over 500 years-old! 

Large crowds gather under the tower along the High Street and Magdalen Bridge.

The singing is followed by a few hours of general revelry and festivities including Morris dancing, impromptu music, burger bars and fire jugglers, etc.

There is a party atmosphere, despite the early hour. In fact, there are normally all-night balls the night before, so some people (especially students) are dressed in formal attire and have reveled the whole night long.

There is a recent tradition of students jumping from Magdalen Bridge into the Cherwell River after the singing. This is the "no jumping allowed" patrol!

Happy May Morning!