The building was St Michael's:
"In Saxon times (c. 1040), Oxford was a walled settlement. Protected by the River Thames to the south, entry to the town was controlled by three gates at the remaining points of the compass. Apart from the names (remembered in the names of shopping centres, pubs and hotels), nothing today remains of the West Gate and the East Gate. However, the Saxon Tower of St. Michael in the North Gate is a survivor from this period and claims to be Oxford's oldest building.
The tower was originally connected to Bocardo Prison, situated above the old Northgate and once used to imprison Oxford's martyred bishop's Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer. The prison and the Northgate were demolished in 1771, but their cell door can still be seen in the tower. Today, the tower houses a treasury, a set of churchwarden's accounts from 1437 and a charter of 1612 bearing the seal of King James I. The church itself boasts such illustrious visitors as William Shakespeare, King Charles I, John Wesley and William Morris."
[More info here]
We took 40-odd pictures in Oxford, but it may be a a few days before we get them onto the computer.
It was also amazing seeing the sheer number of buildlings which were 700-800 years old - St. Michael's is the oldest building in the city, but there are heaps of near-thousand year old buildings. Some of them are simply staggeringly, breathtakingly beautiful.
Queen's College, 1340
We also saw the pub where JRR Tolkein loved to hang out, the shop which inspired much of Alice in Wonderland (and heard Lewis Carrol's story), the buildings where Harry Potter was filmed, and much, much more!
The B&B boke was... I don't know how to explain it. He was polite, but didn't actually seem to be "present" - as though he were somewhere else. Distant, but not in a rude way. I really can't describe him! He had a very "posh" accent, and reminded me strongly of someone, but I can't think who. If I remember, I'll let you know.
The crash was into the B&B's "garage" -- more of a courtyard with a *very* tight entrance. It was only at about 5mph, so no damage was done to the garage, but my front headlight was smashed. It was fun driving home yesterday hoping we'd make it before it got dark! It'll only cost about £20 to fix, apparently.
The boating was great fun - although we got tangled up in trees frequently. We took a good few pictures there - Jane and I took turns at rowing (it was my first time, although she has canoed before). Lots of people bumbling around in row boats, punts and other assorted river-craft not really knowing what theyw ere doing but having a great time. It was odd to see the occasional boat being rowed or punted by someone who obviously did it all the time, with a couple of passengers just reclining, relaxing, or reading a newspaper. How lovely and idyllic, to be able to make a habit of that! It's times like that when I feel a real yearning to just leave city-life behind and settle down somewhere quiet.
[Edit - oh, how beautiful! I just found this photo dubbed "The Dreaming Spires"]:
