Oxford

A heavily ecclesiastical town, Oxford was greatly affected by the changes of the English Reformation, emerging as the seat of a bishopric and a full-fledged city.During the English Civil War, Oxford housed the court of Charles I and stood at the heart of national affairs.[12] Oxford's latitude and longitude are 51°45′07″N 1°15′28″W / 51.75194°N 1.25778°W / 51.75194; -1.25778, with Ordnance Survey grid reference SP513061 (at Carfax Tower, which is usually considered the centre).The rivers Cherwell and Thames (also sometimes known as the Isis locally, supposedly from the Latinised name Thamesis) run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre.[26] Most of Oxford is an unparished area, but there are four civil parishes within the city's boundaries: Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Old Marston, and Risinghurst and Sandhills.[27] Oxford's economy includes manufacturing, publishing and science-based industries as well as education, sports, entertainment, breweries, research and tourism.The presence of the university has given rise to many science and technology based businesses, including Oxford Instruments, Research Machines and Sophos.As well as several famous institutions, the town centre is home to Carfax Tower and the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, both of which offer views over the spires of the city.As well as being a major draw for tourists (9.1 million in 2008, similar in 2009)[needs update],[35] Oxford city centre has many shops, several theatres and an ice rink.[43] The beer brand names were taken over by the Thomas Hardy Burtonwood brewery,[44] while the 132 tied pubs were bought by Michael Cannon, owner of the American hamburger chain Fuddruckers, through a new company, Morrells of Oxford.Some CrossCountry trains run direct services to Birmingham International, as well as to Southampton Airport Parkway further afield.Oxford was the original base of Salters Steamers (founded in 1858), which was a leading racing-boatbuilder that played an important role in popularising pleasure boating on the Upper Thames.The Oxford Ring Road or A4142 (southern part) surrounds the city centre and close suburbs Marston, Iffley, Cowley and Headington; it consists of the A34 to the west, a 330-yard section of the A44, the A40 north and north-east, A4142/A423 to the east.On 29 November 2022, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet approved the introduction on a trial basis, for a minimum period of six months.[92] The additional bus gates have been controversial; Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company support the proposals but more than 3,700 people have signed an online petition opposing the new traffic filters for Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, and hotelier Jeremy Mogford has argued they would be a mistake.[103] The city is home to a BBC Television newsroom which produces an opt-out from the main South Today programme broadcast from Southampton.[104] Oxford is home to many museums, galleries, and collections, most of which are free of admission charges and are major tourist attractions.It holds significant collections of art and archaeology, including works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Turner, and Picasso, as well as treasures such as the Scorpion Macehead, the Parian Marble and the Alfred Jewel.It also hosts the Simonyi Professorship of the Public Understanding of Science, currently held by Marcus du Sautoy.[117] Joseph Haydn was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford University in 1791, an event commemorated by three concerts of his music at the Sheldonian Theatre, directed by the composer and from which his Symphony No.[118] Victorian composer Sir John Stainer was organist at Magdalen College and later Professor of Music at the university, and is buried in Holywell Cemetery.[119] Oxford, and its surrounding towns and villages, have produced many successful bands and musicians in the field of popular music.The most notable Oxford act is Radiohead, who all met at nearby Abingdon School, though other well known local bands include Supergrass, Ride, Mr Big, Swervedriver, Lab 4, Talulah Gosh, the Candyskins, Medal, the Egg, Unbelievable Truth, Hurricane No.These and many other bands from over 30 years of the Oxford music scene's history feature in the documentary film Anyone Can Play Guitar?.{{{annotations}}} Well-known Oxford-based authors include: Oxford appears in the following works:[citation needed] The city's leading football club, Oxford United, compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system, following promotion in the 2023–24 season.Headington Road Runners are based at the OXSRAD sports facility in Marsh Lane (next to Oxford City F.C.)Oxford Harlequins RFC is the city's main Rugby Union team and currently plays in the South West Division.Greyhound racing took place at the Oxford Stadium from 1939 until 2012 and hosted some of the sport's leading events such as the Pall Mall Stakes, The Cesarewitch and Trafalgar Cup.One of the longest-running American football clubs in the UK, the Saints were founded in 1983 and have competed for over 40 years against other British teams across the country.Several well-known Irishmen have played for Éire Óg, including Darragh Ennis of ITV's The Chase, and Stephen Molumphy, former member of the Waterford county hurling team.