North Oxford, especially Central North Oxford between the city centre and Summertown, is considered by many to be the most desirable and famous suburb of Oxford, England. It was originally largely owned by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold from the College.
Much of the central area contains excellent examples of late 19th century Victorian Gothic architecture, and is now a conservation area. Even older are Regency-style houses built in the mid-19th century in the beautiful crescents of Park Town, initially in the middle of the countryside but now surrounded by the rest of the suburb.
Legend has it that the area was originally developed for the Dons of the University once they were allowed to marry. In fact, central North Oxford in particular includes many large houses, unaffordable by most Dons, and the houses were instead occupied by successful tradesmen of the city. Today, many homes are occupied by rich London commuters, attracted by the good schools. A number of the larger houses are used by Oxford colleges and other educational establishments.
At the northern extremity of North Oxford, which is approximately the line of the A40 (the northern bypass, part of the Oxford ring road) are three suburbs, Sunnymead and Cutteslowe (to the east of Banbury Road) and Wolvercote to the west of Woodstock Road. Beyond the bypass is the village of Kidlington. Wolvercote Cemetery contains the grave of J. R. R. Tolkien (note that Wolvercote Cemetery is not in Wolvercote itself, but next to the Banbury Road north of the A40). Cutteslowe Park is a large open area just to the north of this bypass.
Famous people
North Oxford has attracted famous residents, such as the authors and academics J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) and Iris Murdoch (1919–1999). Murdoch lived with her husband and fellow academic John Bayley, and the area was featured in the biographical film, Iris. T. E. Lawrence (known as Lawrence of Arabia) grew up in Polstead Road, North Oxford.
Sir John Betjeman (1906–1984), Poet Laureate, was an enthusiast of North Oxford and wrote poems mentioning the area such as May-Day Song for North Oxford:
Belbroughton Road is bonny, and pinkly bursts the spray
Of prunus and forsythia across the public way,
For a full spring-tide of blossom seethed and departed hence,
Leaving land-locked pools of jonquils by sunny garden fence.
And a constant sound of flushing runneth from windows whence
The toothbrush too is airing in this new North Oxford air.
