The Saxon Tower, a photo from Oxfordshire, England

Photographer's Note

Hello Everyone,

This is the Saxon Tower in Oxford.
It is on the busy Cornmarket Street, and is a well-preserved example of a Anglo-Saxon tower. It is part of St. Michael at the North Gate Church and was built around the year 1040. The church was set just inside the North Gate of the old city wall.

Of the original church, only this tower survives. It has a strange, door-like windows high up, which architectural historians believe were used by priests to show off relics to the crowds below.

This is Oxford抯 oldest building and one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon structures anywhere.

By this time, I had accepted people walking by or walking in front of my camera.
I know some people will find the pedestrians as interesting as the buildings.

I found that I had a photograph of the street musician, too, so I added it as a workshop.

Enjoy the lovely weather but remember to keep to social distancing and regular hand washing. The lock in conditions have relaxed and the weather is getting better but we still need to be vigilant, Bev :-)

ikeharel, Fis2, tyro, jhm, jean113, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, PaulVDV, adramad, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-05-22 6:17

Hello Bev,
A nice introduction to my photos from Oxford soon in my "England and Wales 2019" travelogue.
However, I can't remember the Saxon Tower and certainly not such a beautiful blue sky.
What a big difference with the drizzly weather over 3 weeks after your visit to Oxford.
This beautiful photo also becomes lively for people who are scratching each other.
Excellent work
Have a nice day.
Be careful and stay safe, Rob

Fis2 (170861) 2020-05-22 6:23

Witaj Bev!
A very interesting tower, I like it.
Good framing, colors and light.
Nice scene from daily life.
Well done.
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (113427) 2020-05-22 6:24

Hello Beverley,
Immediately as I saw the tower, realized it was built earlier than the church edifice, or maybe the most of it.
Special windows patter with two small arches to each, the clock on top which looks to me as working properly, and the sight from street action up.
Altogether, a one year old beautiful picture.
Good afternoon,
Ike

*** As told Malgo, I am not a wine drinker, just saw the Villa while passing this neighborhood and realized how special it is. Thanks.
[Reply]

holmertz (102774) 2020-05-22 6:37

Hello Bev,
I wouldn't say that the people are as interesting as the tower, but they certainly don't disturb me. ;-) If you had wanted this view free of pedestrians you would have had to wait very long. This is a clear and unobstructed view of the beautiful tower, and if we get tired of watching its rough surface there is a lot to be seen among the persons in the street.

Thank you for your comments on my latest photo a short while ago. I imagine the mango trees, and other trees in other streets, were planted by a foresighted French colonial administrator in the early part of last century. But who collects the fruits? Maybe the local kids?
Have a nice weekend,
Gert

Tue (92470) 2020-05-22 7:25

Hello Beverley,
It's an amazing thought that this tower can celebrate its 1000th anniversary in only twenty years' time! It is such a beautiful old tower with a fine texture created by the old stones, which look particularly nice thanks to the pleasant sidelight. Nice inclusion of the people in the foreground also.
Lars

tyro (30513) 2020-05-22 7:54

Hello Bev,

A fascinating note you have written and this is a beautiful photograph of a tower I must confess I don't recall having seen during our one day visit to Oxford in 2012. It really is a splendid old building and you have captured it perfectly in good light and nicely framed by the tree on the right

The people don't bother me at all and they actually do add interest and can be quite amusing to examine in detail. In fact, I can see your musician friend kin your main photograph as well as your workshop one. You say no-one was paying much attention to him - but the girl walking past him in your workshop image is staring at her phone and listening to something on a pair of great big headphones - so she probably wasn't aware that the musician even existed!

Two lovely photos!

You take care and stay safe.

Kind Regards,

John.

jmdias (115252) 2020-05-22 9:56

bev

what marvelous tower! and it wasn't even listed in my guide book nor showed by my guide (who abandoned me there) haha.
marevlous the very rustic aspect of the walls. TFS this treasure of old times.
outside we have a big storm at this moment to celebrate the 28th anniversary of our tornado.

take care

jorge

jhm (211736) 2020-05-22 11:38

Hello Bev,

We get a fantastic view of the tower with raw stonework.
The people are a nice addition, everything sharp and clear.
Composition and presentation are superb.
Very well done, TFS.

Kindest regards,
John.

Silvio1953 (221729) 2020-05-22 11:49

Ciao cara Bev, great view of fantastic tower, lovely composition with a lot of people, excellent clarity wonderful colors, fine details and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

jean113 (27893) 2020-05-22 13:14

Hello Beverley, I had never seen or heard of this Tower before, so what a nice discovery.
The door/window openings are most unusual, and from your chosen point of view we are able to see two faces of the tower, with these lovely features.
The people add extra interest, no problem with them at all.
Thanks for sharing, keep safe.
Regards Jean.

COSTANTINO (116580) 2020-05-22 22:22

Hello dear friend
photos like this one with people
were forgotten the last two months
because of covid 19
here we have a postcard from Saxon
Tower in Oxford
thanks for the description
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147224) 2020-05-22 23:54

Hi Bev,
Well presented this tower, good vertical format, of course. Nice sunlight and sharpness. Good colors contrast with green leaves, tfs.

ifege (48159) 2020-05-23 0:11

Hi Bev
A good photo of this unusual old tower on a busy day in Oxford.
cheers
Ian

emka (158204) 2020-05-23 0:13

hello Bev, This old tower is just opposite the beautiful half-timbered building from your previous picture. I see here this street musician, a bit lost in the crowd. I have a photo of the interior of this small church. After seeing the pictures by you and John, I spent some hours looking at my photos. I visited so many places, especially colleges, some were not shown here on TE.

Stay safe

MAlgo

papagolf21 (152607) 2020-05-23 2:11

Bonjour, ch鑢e Bev,
J'ai beaucoup aim� la note � propos de son architecture et de son historique.
La pr閟ence de personnages anime joliment la composition.
Quant au musicien de rue, l''indiff閞ence est parfois de mise, c'est triste, mais c'est ainsi !
Amiti閟.
Philippe

Mesut2 (74) 2020-05-23 3:09

Hello Beverley,
Another nice capture/entry in your gallery.
Taken with good pov and sharpness. Nice framing and many good, usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

PaulVDV (62978) 2020-05-23 11:12

Hello Beverley,
I think it's impossible to take a picture of this tower without people on the foreground or you have to wait until the rain is really bucketing down.
In recent months, the latter would be very unlikely in Belgium. Also in Oxford the weather looked very beautiful in May last year.
Interesting to get to know the oldest Oxford building.
You present it from a good angle so we have a good view of the rough stones on both sides and the beautiful windows at the top.
Regarding the picture in the WS:
Nothing more annoying for a musician than to be fully ignored, I fear.
Best regards, Paul

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-05-23 23:02

Hi Beverley
An interesting architectural image with throng of visitors. I like the textural detail of the brickwork and contrast to blue sky is just great. Excellent
Best regards

adramad (73006) 2020-05-25 9:11

Hi Bev.
This if it is a true jewel of architecture, I think it is the first I see of this time, S-XI hence the rustic that we see of the placement of the stones on the walls, it seems that next to it there is still a church or school, with a neo-mudejar air.
A great photo, with very good color, and very well managed both lighting and sharpness.
Well done. I like.
Have a nice day.
All the best, be careful and stay safe.
Luis

macjake (98456) 2020-06-04 7:39

Hi Bev
I would imagine its almost impossible to get a daytime shot of the tower without people walking by, you'd have to wait for blue hour or something. I wonder how long it took to build this tower, the stone appear to be so close together, just all packed in so tight, with no specific design or method, but hey, it worked....its still standing centuries later. Incredible.
Some people today will think its an eye sore, not me, these are great relics of the past. fine shot during a busy day. cheers
Craig