Saxon Tower

Here’s another of Oxford’s iconic towers, and you can guess that it’s much older than anything you’ve seen before. It was built around 1050. It is part of a Romanesque church called St. Michael at the North Gate, it takes its name from the fact that it stands on the site of Oxford’s North Gate when the city was surrounded by a wall. Over the centuries, the church has been remodeled several times, but the Saxon Tower has stayed unchanged, and became Oxford’s oldest monument. Today, the church is the city’s church. This means that it is used for religious worship by members of the town council and government. This may seem strange to you, but let’s not forget that England is not a secular country like France for example, and that Anglicanism is a state religion. The Church doesn’t hesitate in expressing its opinion on the country’s politics, but freedom of conscience and worship is guaranteed to its inhabitants. You can visit the church free of charge, but you’ll have to pay an entrance fee if you want to explore the tower. We promise you a lot more than just a panoramic view from the top, the tower will take you on a complete tour through English history. You’ll see some of England’s most famous landmarks, such as Bocardo’s prison door, where the Oxford martyrs were locked up before their executions, King James I’s charter from 1612, and a priceless collection of silverware. All in all, it’s a museum-tower well worth the detour!