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Oxford
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Oxford is one of the world's
best-know university towns. It has been settled for since 4000BC
(similarly to London, there is an unlikely legend that the town was
founded by Trojans looking for a new home after the Greeks torched
theirs), and was mostly ignored through Roman times. In the late Saxon
period it was positioned on a major trade route between the powerful
kingdoms of Mercia and King Alfred's Wessex. In 911 the city became
a fortified town known as a burgh. Through the 11th century, it was
repeatedly sacked and/or occupied by the Danes (Cannute was crowned king
there in 1018). The
"modern" history of the town began in 1167 when Henry II barred English
students from studying at the Sorbonne. Although there were already
schools in Oxford (one legend has King Alfred founding the first colleges
in 899), this ban led to quick expansion. By the middle of the 13th
century Oxford University was firmly established, and drawing students
from around Europe. Much like college towns all lover the world, the relationship between the students and the townies wasn't always friendly. The St. Scholastrica's Day Massacre (February 10-12, 1354) started over a complaint about a glass of wine at the Swyndlestock Tavern. The innkeeper (also the mayor) didn't take the criticism lightly, and a fist fight broke out between townspeople and the students. Three days of fighting left 62 students and 30 townies dead. Edward III had to send troops to intervene. The King found in favour of the university, and drew up a charter that brought the town under the control of the university. Further, on the anniversary of the massacre, the mayor had to present to the university a penny for each student killed. This went on until 1825 when the mayor finally refused to attend the ceremony. The hatchet was not finally buried until 1955 on the 600 hundredth anniversary when the university offered the mayor an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law. Yes, that is a picture of a shark sticking through the roof of a building. I'm obviously not the only person who finds the row houses a bit boring. This guy had an unusual approach to sprucing his up, though. Click HERE for more details.
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