University Parks (Oxford)

...reflect the formality of the University which owns them. It is a large area of grass, specimen trees and shrubs which is criss crossed with equally formal gravel paths.

It is bordered to the north by Norham Gardens which forms the southern boundary of what is probably the most select area of Oxford, to the south by the university Science area, to the east by the river Cherwell and to the west by railings which, on Sunday afternoons ...
...doubt the matronly wives of University dons strolled through the Parks on their way to shop and at weekends it would have been the perfect place to promenade.

Today, however, the Parks are a place one passes through on the way to somewhere else – more interesting. A shortcut from Lady Margaret Hall to town or en-route for a pleasant walk to Wolfson or Marston. Or they are a place where students or workers from the Science area ... more

The Parks, as it is more commonly known, is a 70-acre area of parkland situated slightly to the north of Oxford. It is a pleasant enough place to visit if you happen to be in the area but not really worth a special trip unless you are seriously interested in either trees or cricket.

As a child I lived midway between the Parks and Port Meadow and, given the choice, I preferred the more natural and interesting Port Meadow – and still do.

The Parks are a complete contrast to the meadow and reflect the formality of the University which owns them. It is a large area of grass, specimen trees and shrubs which is criss crossed with equally formal gravel paths.

It is bordered to the north by Norham Gardens which forms the southern boundary of what is probably the most select area of Oxford, to the south by the university Science area, to the east by the river Cherwell and to the west by railings which, on Sunday afternoons in summer, become an informal art gallery.

At each entrance to the Parks are displayed the rules and regulations or byelaws pertaining to the parks. There are long lists of what is not permitted – no bicycles, no radios, no this that or the other. In fact, as a rebellious youngster, the only reason it was worth visiting the parks was in the hope that we could get a park keeper to chase for some minor infraction of the rules.

The parks belongs to a bygone age – the perfect place for the nannies of North Oxford to push prams and take their young wards for daily doses of fresh air. No doubt the matronly wives of University dons strolled through the Parks on their way to shop and at weekends it would have been the perfect place to promenade.

Today, however, the Parks are a place one passes through on the way to somewhere else – more interesting. A shortcut from Lady Margaret Hall to town or en-route for a pleasant walk to Wolfson or Marston. Or they are a place where students or workers from the Science area sunbathe between lectures or work.

However, I still have some fond memories of visits to the Parks as a child. Apart from school nature study trips to collect leaves and tree rubbings we often visited the Parks to feed the ducks or on the way for a swim.

At the Mesopotamia end of the Parks there used to be a bathing place for men only called Parson’s Pleasure and further down the river another for ladies called Dames’s Delight. Parson’s Pleasure may have been so called as it was a nudist bathing place. It was traditionally frequented by Oxford dons – including C. S. Lewis. Both bathing places are now closed, in fact so are most of the river bathing places in Oxford. But Parson’s Pleasure was the last to go – it was closed possibly due to concerns about gay bashing.

I remember punting along the Cherwell and having to alight from the punt and walk round to avoid seeing the naked bathers. The rule was not followed rigorously and women often used to hide under a blanket to pass.

Along the north Walk is a large chestnut tree with a circular seat around it and opposite is an old curvy conifer of some kind with its branches worn shiny by the thousands of small feet which have climbed the only climbable tree in the Parks. This is the only concession to children in the place – there are no swings or play area at all.

Just past the duck pond, which is quite close to the river, is a rather elegant bridge, commonly known as Rainbow Bridge. Across the bridge is open countryside and it is possible to walk along the river to Wolfson College where another footbridge will allow you to pass back across. Or you can follow another footpath through the countryside to Marston.

One of the main attractions of the Parks is that it is home to the University Cricket clubs, both mens and ladies and it is widely acknowledged as one of the finest located cricket grounds in the country. A rather nice way to while away a warm summer’s afternoon is to watch or sleep through a game of cricket often between some world class teams – especially if they a beer tent up. The setting is quite enchanting with a beautiful traditional cricket pavilion providing a suitable backdrop.

If you are into cricket you can get a list of fixtures from the Oxford University Cricket clubs and if you are into trees there is a map of the parks and lists of the trees which can be found there at www.parks.ox.ac.uk

If you are visiting Oxford a visit to the Parks might easily be combined with a visit to the University Museum (see my opinion Dodos and Dinosaurs – op 19, if interested) and Pitt Rivers museum which are adjacent or a visit to Keble College, where Holman Hunt’s famous painting ‘Light of the world’ is displayed in the chapel, which is opposite.
 

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