An accessible guide to Oxford's world-famous architectural heritage.
Over eight centuries, the University of Oxford--the third oldest
university in Europe--gradually came to occupy a substantial portion of
the city, creating in the process a unique townscape containing the
Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, and the Radcliffe Camera.
This book tells the story of the growth of the forum universitatis, as
the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor called it, and relates it to the
broader history of the University and the city. Based on up-to-date
scholarship, The Historic Heart of Oxford University draws upon the
author's research into Oxford's architectural history and the work of
Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor, James Gibbs, and Giles Gilbert
Scott. Each of the eight chapters focuses on the gestation, creation,
and subsequent history of a single building or pair of buildings,
relating them to developments in the University's intellectual and
institutional life, and to broader themes in architectural and urban
history.
Accessible and well-illustrated with plans, archival prints, and
specially commissioned photography, this book will appeal to anyone who
wishes to understand and enjoy Oxford's matchless architectural
heritage.
