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St. Olds! The first church erected on this spot was of wood, and is supposed to have been constructed by the Britons, before the era of Saxon sway. The edifice was afterwards refounded, and used as a cloister to receive persons training for the priory of St. Frideswide and Abingdon Abbey. The present church is an irregular structure, composed at various periods.

The church of St. Thomas was founded in 1141, by the canons of Osney, and was first dedicated to St. Nicholas, but afterwards acquired its present appellation from Thomas à Becket. The building consists of one aisle and a chancel. Over the west end is an embattled tower.

The city of Oxford is well paved, and very considerable improvements have been effected in various parts, in consequence of an Act of Parliament obtained in 1771. Magdalen Bridge, or that over which the town is entered from the east, is an elegant stone building, 526 feet in length, built in 1779, at the expense of eight thousand pounds. The bridge over the Isis in the western suburb consists of three substantial arches; and, on the south, is another bridge over the same river, on which stood, till lately, a lofty tower, popularly termed Friar Bacon's Study. This was evidently designed for a watch-tower, and is supposed to have been built in the reign of Stephen. It is, however, probable, that Bacon was frequently in the habit of ascending this venerable elevation, for the purpose of making astronomical remarks.

The Town and County Hall is a spacious stone building, with a range of rustic work in the lower division of the front, and a pediment over the centre. The whole space beneath the hall is an open corridore. Annexed to the chief part of the building are various rooms for the use of the corporation, and for the office of the town-clerk, &c. This edifice was completed in 1752, principally at the expense of Thomas Rowney, Esq. late representative in Parliament, and high steward of the city. In one of the rooms are preserved some good portraits.

In Holywell Street is a handsome stone edifice, termed the Music

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room. This building is not very large, but contains an orchestra, with rows of seats for the auditory, rising gradually from the floor. The front is plain, but well proportioned; and the whole structure does credit to Dr. Camplin, (sometime vice-principal of St. Edmund Hall,) from whose design it was erected. This room was built by subscription, and was opened in 1748; but the finances are far from being in a flourishing condition.

The Radcliffe Infirmary is a large and respectable stone building, well suited to its purpose, and calculated to hold a considerable number of patients. Never could money be more properly applied than that appropriated by the trustees acting under the will of Dr. Radcliffe, to the foundation of this charitable pile. By so disposing of a part of the great residue in their hands they at once aided the cause of humanity, advanced the dissemination of useful knowledge, and entailed a blessing on the memory of the generous physician, whose purse, during life, was never closed when poverty was seen to corrode the pangs of sickness. The trustees entirely built and furnished the infirmary *; the current expenses are defrayed by voluntary contributions. A subscription of 31. 3s. per annum, or a contribution of thirty guineas, or more, at one time, entitles a person to the rank of governor. In the year 1811, the number of patients who received assistance was 613, of which seventy-four were accidents, admitted without recommendation.

About a quarter of a mile to the south-west of the infirmary is a house of industry, built to receive the poor of eleven parishes.

Besides this building, and the Radcliffe, or public infirmary, the following are the most important charitable institutions: At the extremity of the eastern suburb, on the road leading to Headington, is a neat and commodious range of alms-houses, founded by Cutler Boulter, Esq. for six poor single men, of six different counties, in which the donor possessed estates. Each has a separate

• The site and attached grounds comprise five acres, presented by Thomas Rowney, Esq.

separate tenement and is allowed eight shillings per week, with liberty to work if willing and able.

Opposite to Boulter's alms-houses is a building founded for eight poor women, by the Rev. William Stone. Each almswoman receives twelve pounds per annum, besides the place of habitation, and some other advantages.

In 1659, John Nixon, Esq. formerly an alderman of Oxford, erected a school for the sons of freemen, and endowed it with thirty pounds annually for ever. The building which is small, but neat, is situate in a yard, or court, adjacent to the townhall.

The University supports a school for fifty-four boys, termed the Grey Coat Charity. The boys are provided with a dress, are plainly educated, and placed as apprentices.

A school for about forty boys is maintained by contributions from the chief inhabitants of the city. Each boy is clothed, and has ten pounds bestowed on him as an apprentice fee.

The ladies of Oxford support at school about thirty girls, who are afterwards either apprenticed, or carefully placed for a term in domestic servitude.

The Roman Catholics, the Quakers, the Methodists, and the Baptists, have each a place of worship in the city; but it does not appear that Dissenters from the established church are very numerous, either in Oxford or its immediate vicinity.

The number of religious houses in Oxford, prior to the Reformation, was nineteen: St. Frideswida's, St. George's College, Osney Abbey, Rewley Abbey, St. Bernard's College, Canterbury College, Durham College, Gloucester Hall, London College, St. Mary's College, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, St. John's Hospital, Austin Friars, Black Friars, Grey Friars, White Friars, Crouched Friars, Friars de Sacco, Trinity House. We have already observed that several of these religious institutions fell to decay before the general Dissolution, and were lost in collegiate establishments, Scarcely any of the buildings appertaining to this class have been preserved, except small portions

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