Christchurch, Oxford

Great Britain illustrated: a series of original views from drawings (1830) by Thomas Moule

From almost every point of view, Oxford presents a scene of architectural magnificence unrivalled in Great Britain; and the buildings, whatever maybe their individual merits or defects, groupe with the happiest effect. In this view, from the banks of the Isis, Christchurch College the largest in the University, forms a prominent object. The entrance tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, contains the Great Tom, celebrated in the catch, "Hark the bonny Christchurch Bells." Near it is Wolsey's great Hall, a striking object of grandeur, remarkable for its beautiful elevation, its spacious interior, and its highly ornamented roof. Over this building, in our view, rises the tower and spire of the Cathedral, anciently dedicated to St Frideswide' but since King Henry VIII established the bishopric at Oxford styled Christchurch' part of the lands appropriated by Cardinal Wolsey to the maintenance of his College was then allotted to the dean and chapter. The Cathedral, although possessing architectural peculiarities not uninteresting to an antiquary, is surpassed in its attractions by most of the other edifices of the University: its spire, attributed to Wolsey, has every appearance of having been constructed in the thirteenth century.

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