Through the City of Oxford: Porter's Meadow, Oxford's oldest public ****ing site; the Thames, flowing history

There is an old English proverb: "To walk through the city of Oxford is like walking into history."

There is a painting at the beginning of the book "The Story of Oxford" that has always haunted and impressed me ~

Port Meadow by J.A. Shuffrey (1859-1939), showing Lower Wolvercote and St Peter's Church. （St Peter's Church.) Port Meadow has been Oxford's commons since Saxon times and has not been cultivated for over a thousand years.

On the page following this is an aerial photograph courtesy of the Cambridge University Aerial Photography Committee ~

At Port Meadow, traces of Bronze Age burials are shown as circles in the grass. Linear features may be Iron Age farms and boundaries.

A meadow (Meadow), dating to the Saxon, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods in Britain, has an ancient and enigmatic feel.

Wikipedia describes the prehistory of Britain as being roughly divided into:

8,000 years ago, the start of the Mesolithic period;

2,500 years ago, the start of the Neolithic period;

1,600 years ago, the start of the Bronze Age period;

900 years ago, the migration of Celts to the land;

< p> 400 BC, beginning of the Iron Age.

Anglo-Saxon England is a period of English history from the end of Roman rule in Britain and the establishment of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066.

This map is also provided in the book ~

The numbers on it show that 2 is Potter's Pasture and 10 is Wolfcote, on the Thames.

The River Thames is a river in South England, 346 kilometers long, which originates in the Cotswold Hills in the southwest of England, and its source is exactly: 5 kilometers southwest of the town of Cirencester (Cirencester), 108.5 meters above sea level on the site, there are stele stones as evidence. It flows through the major cities of Oxford, Reading, Windsor, London and finally into the North Sea. It is the second largest river in Britain, known as the United Kingdom's "mother river", the United Kingdom's long history, splendid culture, the world's leading economic position, and the Thames has a close connection.

John Burns, a former member of the British Parliament, had a famous quote in 1929: "The St. Louis River is water, the Mississippi River is mud, and the Thames River is the history of the flow."

Looking at the map, Porter Ranch looks like it's not far from home, northwest of Oxford City. Opening Google Maps again, there's no direct bus service, and it's about a 20-30 minute walk west from home. For the sake of a painting (Shovey's Porter's Pasture), a place name Wolvercote and a piece of history, want to appreciate the flowing history - the Thames River, want to explore the ancient fields - Porter's Pasture, with a hunt and curiosity, hike to there for a walk to get some air.

Recently, the weather has been relatively cool, with daily highs of about 16-17 degrees Celsius, not as hot as in previous weeks, so I sketched out a hiking roadmap for myself, and went out to the west after breakfast on Thursday. I crossed a few streets and turned onto the A4144 to head north. At this point in time, although the city of Oxford is partially unsealed due to the new crown epidemic, Oxford people are still in self-quarantine, nothing to go out, quite self-disciplined. The streets were largely deserted, a few small cars occasionally drove by on the highway, and the buses running to and from the city were almost empty. On the right hand side of the highway is a church (Catholic Church), which was one of the road signs for the trip ~

This is the Saints Gregory and Augustine Catholic Church. Picked a few photos from different angles and continued north along the highway before turning left into First Turn Road and heading west ~

To St Peter's Wolvercote Church ~

It looks like it's still the way it was painted by Chauffrey, and has been around for thousands of years, I think ~

The church. Across the street is a small school (Wolvercote Primary School).

The school has been open since June, but there are not many children coming to the school. Some parents send their children to the entrance of the school and do not go in, but look or wait outside the school, probably because they realize that there are not many children coming to the school, so they do not want to let their children go in yet.

Through the path beside the church.

The road to Wolvercote Green. Wolvercote Green, across the road from Port Meadow, where you can find the picture of Wolvercote, and take a picture to compare the past with the present. I went in through this gate ~

I searched everywhere in the pasture, and compared the picture from various angles, the house is new, the style is the same, but I couldn't see St. Peter's Church ~

Maybe it was blocked by the big tree, or maybe it was blocked by the new houses in front of the church, but I couldn't see the church on this side of the pasture, and the picture didn't exist anymore, I am sorry! It's a pity that the picture doesn't exist! The Plough~

Plough translates to "plow", which means "to plough". "The Plough. It's a local pub with a traditional English countryside feel and a Greene King logo. It's closed during the epidemic, but the outdoor part of the pub will be open in a few weeks once the epidemic has stabilized~

There's a walkway alongside the pub, and I've seen a few locals pacing in and out~

This is just a part of the pasture. Not far from here is the Oxford Canal ~

This bridge spans the canal and is called "Ball's Bridge", and this sign by the bridge shows a map of the Oxford Canal Heritage Trail ~

While I was busy taking photos from various angles, I was not prepared for this dog to run into my face. Sorry, I'm scared of dog." The old lady stood on the edge of the gentle smile, easy to say: "Don't scared!" confrontation for a few seconds, the dog back to the old lady. I saw that the dog was on a leash, and I was a little angry that the dog's muddy paw prints were on my nice wool sweater and suit pants. The dog didn't know how to keep a "social distance", so I had to go home and wash the clothes thoroughly! He didn't have a virus, did he? I thought I might not look so good, but the old lady's gentle and friendly demeanor made me feel like I was overreacting. It wasn't until the old lady led the dog slowly away that I returned to normal and continued exploring along the canal walk. After walking for a while, I saw that the old lady had turned back to the pasture on the other side of the canal and kept looking my way, and she waved goodbye to me as we came face to face across the canal.

A saying comes to mind that traveling is going from the place you know to the place others know. We were filled with curiosity to explore an unfamiliar land that was just someone else's daily walk. She may be filled with curiosity about me too, she may want to know: who am I? Where did it come from? How did I get here? What am I doing here? Maybe she wants to communicate with me through her dog? Maybe she can't imagine that there are people in this world who are afraid of dogs? I can't help but sigh: the furthest distance in the world is that we are facing each other but speaking words we don't understand, and the deepest barrier is language! The most profound barrier is the language. The language barrier hinders the emotional communication and interaction between people!

This is the boat docked at the canal ~

Walk along the canal for a while, from the side of a small staircase up to the bridge, to see the canal side of a parallel railroad ~

Oxford Canal was built a few years ago, the railroad came out, resulting in the canal was "unused" (Oxford Canal is also a long history, later to be devoted to the article). (The Oxford Canal has a long history, and will be the subject of a special article later).

Turn to Godstow Road (Godstow Rd), Godstow means "God's place", it is located in the high point of the Porter Ranch, from which you can see a panoramic view of the pasture that "the wind blows the grass to see the cows and sheep" ~

The road is also on the highway. p>

On the highway, there are also a few walkers and runners, dog walkers and cyclists ~

Standing on the bridge over Gostow Road, you can look out over the vast expanse of pasture land to see the gentleman walking his dog, but unfortunately the phone pixel is not good enough to take a picture of the beautiful scenery ~

Along the road along the Gostow Road for a period of time, the side of the road there is a white house (a landmark) ~

This is the "Branch Surgery Kendal, Kendall". "Branch Surgery Kendall Crescent Health Center". There is a sign on the corner in front of the building showing the "Footpath" (footpath) to the Wolfcott Common*** area. From here I walked into the pasture ~

This is Port Meadow & Wolvercote Common, which was used for grazing more than a thousand years ago, and to this day there are far more horses and cattle on the grass than people. Wandering around the meadows, I saw three and two, some people walking, some walking their dogs, some running and cycling, the British are very keen on exercising and sunbathing, today is a cloudy day, the sun occasionally shows its face, the breeze is gentle, suitable for outdoor exercise. If it wasn't for the new crown epidemic, it's expected that this meadow would be full of sunbathers.

According to the 1086 Tractatus Britannicus, it refers to a large area of common land outside the city walls on the north-west outskirts of Oxford, for which the citizens of Oxford paid the king "six shillings and eightpence" every year. For thousands of years, Porter's Field has never been broken into, never plowed, and is one of the few places in England used for livestock grazing for more than a thousand years. It is one of the few places in the UK that has been used for livestock grazing for more than a thousand years. Even when tourists ask about Oxford's oldest attractions, Oxfordians point to this vast expanse of Porter's Meadow, not the church or the college.

As public **** land, it's not just for grazing, it's also a place for Oxfordians to walk, go for a morning jog, walk their dogs, and enjoy the birds. The meadow has never been treated with chemicals and is one of the most ecologically sound pieces of land in the UK. It enjoys the special status of a nature reserve as a dedicated site for scientific research.

When I walked into this vast green pasture at this moment, my heart could be described as "far away". The sky is far blue, the pasture is endless, cattle and horses leisurely grazing and drinking water, the public exercise here to enjoy, but also see a woman to carry the shoes barefoot walking on the grass. There are also a few families drove to the car, in the grass on the gathering picnic, happy and happy across the Thames can be felt.

Oxford people like to go out and walk in nature, under the blue sky and white clouds, the vast green pasture is like a thick carpet, the dog happily running back and forth, the soles of the shoes are often stained with bird droppings and soil, even the air is filled with the smell of bird droppings and cow dung, although this is the smell of nature, and flowers and grasses, but this is something I am still very unaccustomed to.

There is a boundary marker in the middle of the pasture ~

It reads, Wolfcott Common **** Land and Parish Boundary, 1899. --D. Collett, Chairman of the Parish Council.

The location of the boundary marker seems to be a dry stream, with an old stone bridge ~

On the Thames, with a flock of mallards and white swans playing in the water, the Thames is showy and quiet ~

As I walked over in the direction of the parking lot, there was a large circled and empty field, and I was surprised to find out that it used to be an airfield: the Porter Meadow Aerodrome ( Port Meadow Aerodrome)~

The sign says - Did you know? Port Meadow's connection to aviation goes back almost to the very beginning of powered flight in the country?

Before the First World War

In late 1910, the Freemen of Oxford granted London engineers James Betts & Co. the right to fly across Port Meadow.

Wooden sheds were built in early 1911 and the Imperial Aero Club was established. Unfortunately, during a gale in November 1911, the eight sheds and all the airplanes were destroyed and nothing was flown.

Former employee Frank Goodden purchased the remains and built 2 sheds and a bungalow. It was here, in 1912, that he designed, built and successfully flew his own monoplane, called the Dragonfly.

In May 1911, a civilian monoplane became the first passenger airplane. Then, between 1911 and 1914, the Royal Engineers' Aviation Battalion increased its use of the range, but from 1912 it was used sporadically. The newly formed Royal Flying Corps (RFC) used the Ranch as a starting point for military exercises to and from other locations. These visits were very popular with the residents.

In September 1912, tragedy struck. A visiting RFC monoplane crashed nearby on landing, killing the pilot and observer on board.

(Above) From top:

Photo 1, May 1911, an Antoinette monoplane visited Porter Ranch.

Photo 2, Frank Goodden's Dragonfly monoplane in front of his shed in 1912.

Photo 3, Portrait of Goodden next to the Dragonfly.

World War One (WW1) - What was there

(Above) A. A new access road, the Aerodrome Road, was built during 1916. B, a metal-clad rigging shop for repairing damaged aircraft. C, a canvas "Bessono" hangar for up to six aircraft. D, targets in Shipwright's Ditch with nearby concrete shelters for ground crews. E, a forced-landing training circle. F, powdered targets for air-to-ground firing practice. G, a machine gun aimed at an aircraft with a rifle butt. butt of a machine gun aimed at an airplane, later converted to a firing range.H, Administration hut and store.

Although the line of the airfield road can be seen, the concrete 'target' hut (D) is the only remaining ground-level ruin.

Overview of World War 1 (WW1)

In 1916, a Royal Flying Corps (RFC) airfield was established north of Potter's Pasture, in front of the site, to train new pilots to fly. The role of aircraft in warfare had expanded massively.

Between 1916 and 1919, a number of squadrons were continuously stationed at the airfield, flying a wide range of aircraft types, including 11 hangars and over 800 personnel.

Despite the activities of the RFC, this part of the range remained ordinary grazing land and the first order of business each morning was to clear the landing field of animals so that flying could commence! River fog and occasional flooding are other natural hazards to flying.

(Above center) From left to right: photo 1, the mighty Bristow Fighter in front of the rigging shop.

Photo 2, the "target" hut - a shelter for ground crews to set up targets.

Photo 3, 35 training squadron personnel (P.k. Ross) in front of the "Bessono" hangar.

Photograph 4, Aerial view of Porter Ranch airfield angled to the north, 1918.

Post War (Post War)

The airfield was closed in mid-1919 and in December 1919 it was finally closed. The remaining hangars and other buildings were auctioned off in February 1920.

During the two World Wars, there were many civilian "joy flights", exhibitions, visits and accidents. Today, Porter's Meadow is once again a place of tranquillity on the banks of the Thames. The small remains are a reminder of the more intrusive aviation of the past - now the only flying allowed is in models.

(Above) HRH The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, landed at Porter's Pasture in July 1933 to open what is now the Nuffield Orthopaedic Center.

Casualties - 1912 crash

The September 1912 crash killed two Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilots, Lt. Claude. Lt Claude Bettington and 2nd Lt Edward Hotchkiss. The loss of 2nd Lt Edward Hotchkiss shocked Oxford and was widely reported nationally, and in June 1913 a memorial plaque was unveiled in front of a large crowd of over 10,000 people near Toll Bridge on Godstow Rd, funded by public **** sponsorship.

(Above, top left) Pilot 2nd Lt Edward. Edward Hotchkiss.

(Above, bottom left) Observer Lt. Claude Beddington. Claude Beddington, observer.

(Above right) September 1912 crash site, north of Toll Bridge.

World War One (WW1)

Flying was dangerous in those days, and crashes were usually caused by pilot error, mechanical failure or structural failure. Parachutes didn't come out until 1919.

Between March 1917 and November 1918, 11 planes fatally crashed at or near Port Meadow, killing 15 people, and in July 1918, 2 other pilots were killed in a crash near Ascot. Most were based at the airfield, 2 were visiting at the time and 8 are now buried in Wolfcott Cemetery. The pilots who died were from the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the US.

(Above) are the pilots who lost their lives at Porter Ranch airfield in the First World War, all handsome teenagers aged between 18 and 28.

In the middle of the airfield stands a memorial which reads ~

In memory of those who served in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force, and those who lost their lives in flying accidents in 1917 and 1918, when they were stationed at this site or were visiting the Flying Training Ground to the south of Porter's Pasture.

On the back of the monument is a list of those who lost their lives (above).

There is a bridge by the parking lot, and this sign hanging over the bridge is kind of interesting ~