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The Shelley Memorial

University College, Oxford

by Dorothy Megaw

 

Oxford

 

UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE

 

VIEW FROM 
 

THE HIGH

University College was founded in 1249.  Look across those beautiful stone steps, raise your head up and look squarely at the niche above. The portly Mary is standing in all her glory; if you look further along the building  you can see her sister Anne. Inside is the Shelley Memorial depicting the death of the poet Percy Shelley. He was expelled from University College for writing ' The Necessity of Atheism.'

This particular view of Oxford will forever be associated  the famous painting of the 'Oxford High' by William Turner. It is currently hanging in the Ashmolean. Open every day of the week. 

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