Dame's Delight was a place for women to bathe on the bank of the

River Cherwell The River Cherwell ( or ) is a tributary of the River Thames in central England. It rises near Hellidon, Northamptonshire and flows southwards for to meet the Thames at Oxford in Oxfordshire. The river gives its name to the Cherwell local g ...

in the meadows near the Oxford University Parks opposite Mesopotamia Walk in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. The site existed from 1934 to 1970, when it closed because of maintenance difficulties caused by flooding. A similar bathing area

Parson's Pleasure Parson's Pleasure in the University Parks at Oxford, England, was a secluded area for male-only nude bathing on the River Cherwell. It was located next to the path on the way to Mesopotamia at the south-east corner of the Parks. The facility ...

for nude male bathing, also existed nearby until 1991. It had been established at a much earlier date; both sites are now part of the folklore of

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...

. ''Dame's Delight'' inspired the title of a 1964 novel by

Margaret Forster Margaret Forster (25 May 1938 – 8 February 2016) was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, historian and critic, best known for the 1965 novel ''Georgy Girl'', made into a successful film of the same name, which inspired a hit song by T ...

References

External links

Oxford University Parks: A Historical Guide
* (see #7) 1934 establishments in England 1964 novels 1970 disestablishments in England Culture of the University of Oxford Defunct sports venues in Oxford History of the University of Oxford Nude beaches Parks and open spaces in Oxford Swimming venues in England University of Oxford sites {{England-sports-venue-stub