Front quad with Great Tower, Magdalen College, Oxford

Some background information:

Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.

It was founded in 1458 by William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester. The founder's statutes included provision for a choral foundation of men and boys (a tradition that has continued to the present day) and made reference to the pronunciation of the name of the college in English. It received another substantial endowment from the estate of Sir John Fastolf of Caister Castle in Norfolk (1380 to 1459). Another unrelated college named Magdalen Hall adjacent to Magdalen College eventually became part of Hertford College.

Regarded by some as one of the most beautiful of the Oxford and Cambridge colleges, Magdalen is also one of the most visited. It stands next to the River Cherwell and has within its grounds a deer park and Addison's Walk. Magdalen College School also lies nearby. The large, square Magdalen Tower is a famous Oxford landmark and it is a tradition since the days of Henry VII that the college choir sings from the top of it at 6 a.m. on May Morning.

The Great Tower was built between 1492 and 1509 by William Orchard. Both hall and chapel were built at similar times, though both have undergone some changes in the intervening years.

The Cloister or Great Quad was built between 1474 and 1480 (also by Orchard) and has been altered several times since then. In 1822 the north side was in bad shape and therefore was knocked down while most of the fellows were away from college. Only a small group of fellows were in favour of demolishing it. It was rebuilt shortly afterwards. In the early 1900s, renovations were performed, and it was returned to a more mediaeval character. Student rooms were installed in the very large roof space in the 1980s.

The New Building was built across a large lawn to the north of the Great Quad in 1733. Its spacious setting is due to the builders' intentions to create an entirely new quad, but only one side was completed. As there are very few student rooms (many being occupied by tutors), they are highly sought after.

The college has four other quads. The irregularly shaped St John's Quad is the first on entering the college. Including the Outdoor Pulpit and the old Grammar Hall it connects to the Great Quad via the Perpendicular Gothic Founder's Tower, which is richly decorated with carvings and pinnacles.

The Chaplain's Quad runs along the side of the Chapel and Hall to the foot of the Great Tower. St Swithun's Quad and Longwall Quad (which contains the Library) date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both make up the southwest corner of the college. The Grove Buildings are the newest, built in the 1990s in a traditional style.

The list of notable former students of Exeter College includes names like Oscar Wilde, Andrew Lloyd Webber, King Edward VIII, Erwin Schroedinger, William Tyndale and John Betjeman.

Rose - Hyde Park, London, England - October Thirteenth 2007.

In Celebration of a magnificent victory over the French in last nights Rugby World Cup Semi-Final - Here's England's Rose - Although Not Red, Couldn't find one of those..LOL..:O)

So it's onwards to the Final next week, against probably South Africa - or maybe Argentina - Considering we were beaten 36-0 by South Africa in the Pool stages, perhaps Argentina would be the better opption..:O)
Anyhoo, as luck would have it, I WILL be in Paris next weekend, as we are going to the Chocolate Exhibition, which we booked ages ago, I didn't even know it was world cup final day then..lol..:O)
So, I'll be there next weekend along with 100,000 other mad English Men and Woman..LOL...:O)
Wish us Luck...we are gonna need it..:O)