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The Meadow Building (known as "Meadows" to students, aka Meadow Buildings) is part of
The building was constructed in 1862–66 to the designs of Sir
File:Oxford - Christ Church - south facade.jpg, South facade of the building.
File:View of Christ Church College - geograph.org.uk - 792570.jpg, View looking northeast.
File:The Meadows Building from Broad Walk - geograph.org.uk - 1293065.jpg, View from immediately to its south.
File:Christ Church college - geograph.org.uk - 556454.jpg, View looking northwest, back towards St Aldate's Street.
File:Christ Church College, Oxford - geograph.org.uk - 1615124.jpg, View from the south along
The Meadow Building (known as "Meadows" to students, aka Meadow Buildings) is part of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...
, 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 ...
, one of the 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 ...
colleges, looking out south onto Christ Church Meadow on Broad Walk
Broad Walk is a wide walkway running east–west on the north side of Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, Christ Church Meadow and south of Merton Field in central Oxford, England.
The walkway runs between St Aldate's, Oxford, St Aldate's though th ...
and then along the straight tree-lined Poplar Walk
Poplar Walk is wide footpath running north–south in Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, England.
The footpath runs between The Meadow Building of Christ Church at the junction with Broad Walk to the north and the River Thames near Folly Bridge ...
to the River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
.
The building is used as the public entrance for paying visitors to Christ Church instead of the main entrance under Tom Tower
Tom Tower is a bell tower in Oxford, England, named after its bell, Great Tom. It is over Tom Gate, on St Aldates, the main entrance of Christ Church, Oxford, which leads into Tom Quad. This square tower with an octagonal lantern and facet ...
in St Aldate's
St Aldate's () is a street in central Oxford, England, named after Saint Aldate, but formerly known as Fish Street.
The street runs south from the generally acknowledged centre of Oxford at Carfax. The Town Hall, which includes the Museum o ...
.
History and description
The building was constructed in 1862–66 to the designs of Sir Thomas Deane
Sir Thomas Deane (Cork, 1792 – Dublin, 1871) was an Irish architect. He was the father of Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, and grandfather of Sir Thomas Manly Deane, who were also architects.
Life
Thomas Deane was born in Cork, the eldest son of ...
of Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
in the Venetian style (favoured by the Christ Church art historian John Ruskin
John Ruskin (8 February 1819 20 January 1900) was an English writer, philosopher, art critic and polymath of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and politi ...
). Single rooms in the Meadow Building look out over either the college or the Christ Church Meadow, although originally, college undergraduates would be given a suite of rooms with views overlooking both sides. Recent building work has converted most of these rooms to ensuite while leaving one staircase, which is primarily non-residential, as was.
When it was first built, the relative distance of the Meadow Building from the more fashionable Peckwater and Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour.
...
Quads meant that it was considered the least desirable accommodation in college.
Pevsner Pevsner or Pevzner is a Jewish surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Aihud Pevsner (1925–2018), American physicist
* Antoine Pevsner (1886–1962), Russian sculptor, brother of Naum Gabo
* David Pevsner, American actor, singer, da ...
described it is a "joyless building".
Literary references
The building has featured in a number of books:Gallery
Poplar Walk
Poplar Walk is wide footpath running north–south in Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, England.
The footpath runs between The Meadow Building of Christ Church at the junction with Broad Walk to the north and the River Thames near Folly Bridge ...
, looking across Broad Walk
Broad Walk is a wide walkway running east–west on the north side of Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, Christ Church Meadow and south of Merton Field in central Oxford, England.
The walkway runs between St Aldate's, Oxford, St Aldate's though th ...
.
See also
*Venetian Gothic
Venetian Gothic is the particular form of Italian Gothic architecture typical of Venice, originating in local building requirements, with some influence from Byzantine architecture, and some from Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice's trading ...
* Tom Quad
The Great Quadrangle, more popularly known as Tom Quad, is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is the largest college quad in Oxford, measuring 264 by 261 feet. Although it was begun by Cardinal Wolsey in 1525–1529, h ...
* Peckwater Quadrangle
The Peckwater Quadrangle (known as "Peck" to students) is one of the quadrangles of Christ Church, Oxford, England. It is a Grade I listed building.
Christ Church Library is on the south side of the quad. To the southeast is Canterbury Quadra ...
* Blue Boar Quadrangle
The Blue Boar Quadrangle is a mid-century quadrangle within Christ Church, University of Oxford. Designed by Hidalgo Moya and Philip Powell, and built between 1965 and 1968, the quadrangle has been described by Lord McIntosh of Haringey as ...
* Christ Church Library
Christ Church Library is a Georgian building that forms the south side of Peckwater Quadrangle in Christ Church, Oxford, England. To the east is Canterbury Quadrangle. The library houses the college's modern lending library and early printed bo ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meadow Building 1866 establishments in England Residential buildings completed in 1866 Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church Meadow, Oxford Buildings and structures of the University of Oxford