Magdalen Street
Encyclopedia
Magdalen Street is a short shopping street in central Oxford
, England
, just north of the original north gate in the city walls.
At the southern end, Magdalen Street meets Cornmarket Street
continuing to the south, Broad Street
to the east and George Street
to the west. At the northern end it continues as St Giles' to the north, with Beaumont Street
to the west.
To the west are shops. The street used to be the location of Oxford's leading department store for many years, Elliston & Cavell. It later became a Debenhams
store. On the northern corner with Beaumont Street is the Macdonald Randolph Hotel
, widely considered to be Oxford's leading hotel.
To the east is a historic church, St Mary Magdalen, originally established in Saxon
times. Beyond that is Magdalen Street East and Balliol College
. North of the church is the Martyrs' Memorial
, commemorating the Oxford Martyrs
.
Thornton's Bookshop
opened in Magdalen Street in 1835 and was located here until 1840, and again from 1853 to 1863.
St Giles' Fair
, held at the beginning of September each year and mainly in St Giles' to the north, extends into Magdalen Street. During the 1930s, the poet John Betjeman
noted that:
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, just north of the original north gate in the city walls.
At the southern end, Magdalen Street meets Cornmarket Street
Cornmarket Street
Cornmarket Street is a major shopping street and pedestrian precinct in Oxford, England that runs north-south between Carfax Tower and Magdalen Street.Retailers in Cornmarket include:* Austin Reed...
continuing to the south, Broad Street
Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street is a wide street in central Oxford, England, located just north of the old city wall.The street is known for its bookshops, including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50, located here due to the University...
to the east and George Street
George Street, Oxford
George Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running east-west. Its eastern end meets Broad Street at a crossroads with Cornmarket Street to the south and Magdalen Street to the north...
to the west. At the northern end it continues as St Giles' to the north, with Beaumont Street
Beaumont Street
Beaumont Street is a street in the centre of Oxford, England.The street was laid out from 1828 to 1837 with elegant terraced houses in the Regency style. Before that, it was the location of Beaumont Palace, now noted by a plaque near the junction with Walton Street...
to the west.
To the west are shops. The street used to be the location of Oxford's leading department store for many years, Elliston & Cavell. It later became a Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
store. On the northern corner with Beaumont Street is the Macdonald Randolph Hotel
Macdonald Randolph Hotel
Macdonald Randolph Hotel is a hotel in Oxford, England. It is in central Oxford on the south side of Beaumont Street, at the corner with Magdalen Street, opposite the Ashmolean Museum and close to the Oxford Playhouse...
, widely considered to be Oxford's leading hotel.
To the east is a historic church, St Mary Magdalen, originally established in Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times. Beyond that is Magdalen Street East and Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. North of the church is the Martyrs' Memorial
Martyrs' Memorial
The Martyrs' Memorial is a stone monument positioned at the intersection of St Giles', Magdalen Street and Beaumont Street in Oxford, England just outside Balliol College...
, commemorating the Oxford Martyrs
Oxford Martyrs
The Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy in 1555 and subsequently burnt at the stake in Oxford, England, for their religious beliefs and teachings....
.
Thornton's Bookshop
Thornton's Bookshop
Thornton's Bookshop is the oldest university bookshop in Oxford, England. It was founded in 1835 by Joseph Thornton in Magdalen Street....
opened in Magdalen Street in 1835 and was located here until 1840, and again from 1853 to 1863.
St Giles' Fair
St Giles' Fair
St Giles' Fair is an annual fair held in St Giles', a wide thoroughfare in central north Oxford, England.It is unusual for an English fair, being held in a major street of a city and blocking traffic for its two-day duration in September each year.The fair is organised by the Oxford City Council...
, held at the beginning of September each year and mainly in St Giles' to the north, extends into Magdalen Street. During the 1930s, the poet John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
noted that:
It is about the biggest fair in England. The whole of St Giles' and even Magdalen Street by Elliston and Cavell's right up to and beyond the War Memorial, at the meeting of the Woodstock and BanburyBanbury RoadBanbury Road is a major arterial road in Oxford, England, running from St Giles' at the south end, north towards Banbury through the leafy suburb of North Oxford and Summertown, with its local shopping centre. Parallel and to the west is the Woodstock Road, which it meets at the junction with St...
roads, is thick with freak showFreak showA freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
s, roundaboutsCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, cake-walksCakewalk (carnival game)Cakewalk is a game played at carnivals, funfairs, and fundraising events. It is similar to a raffle and musical chairs. It was supposedly invented by the Revd Lewis Daly after the scales broke for the "guess the weight of the pie" game at the St Margaret's Church annual fete of 1869 in King's...
, the whipThe Whip (ride)The Whip was a ride originally designed and built by W.F. Mangels Company of Coney Island, New York, USA. William F. Mangels patented the ride in 1914 and it soon became an extremely popular ride....
, and the witching wavesWitching WavesWitching Waves is an amusement ride.It was first introduced at Luna Park on Coney Island, New York, USA, in 1907.It was one of the most popular rides at Luna Park, invented by Theophilus Van Kannel, who also invented the revolving door....
.