The Amorous Oxford Ghost - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lush · 01-16-2005, 11:24 AM

This is just to say that I went on a day-trip to Oxford with Boyfriend while we were in England last week. Boyfriend was nice enough to take me to the Eagle & Child pub where, as you know, the Inklings, Tolkien among them, used to hang out.

The place itself was reeeally nice in terms of great fatty food and mulled wine and beer. We had a really good time in the smoking section. The have a portrait of Tolkien and everything up on the wall, with some other dude. I was really happy, the pub has a good vibe. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet been, it's a really old place, but it's bouncy nonetheless. Though Oxford in general itself depressed me a little, I just know if I lived there the ghosts would drive me insane.

But speaking of ghosts. I swear, I am not senile yet, when I tell you that while we stood outside of the Eagle & Child (or Bird & Baby) looking at the menu, something, um, grabbed me from, uh, behind. I turned around half-expecting to see a drunken tourist, or maybe the people walking out had clipped me with their bags, but no, it was just an empty street, and this really weird feeling like something wasn't quite right.

Boyfriend can attest that during this incident I was neither drunk or drugged. It was uncanny. You read about Oxford's great history, stretching itself down the corridor of time as far as the human eye can see, and lo and behold, a part of history detaches itself from the ether and, um, pinches you.

I'm so totally not joking. I'll never get over it. And I think it was probably the ghost of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien being too Catholic for that sort of thing. Yeah, Lewis turned Christian too and blah blah blah, but I can see him being a little bored with the afterlife these days.

Ok, I know the above sounds completely ridiculous, but I swear that it happened.

Mithalwen · 01-16-2005, 11:48 AM

Oh I rather like the Oxford ghosts... but I guess that the one who assailed you might have been Lord St George, nephew of lord Peter Wimsey. who was at "the House" - sounds just the kind of thing he might have done...

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 01-16-2005, 01:58 PM

Yeah, we Brits can barely get about our day-to-day business without being assailed by ghosts. Terribly haunted isles and all. That's why the railways are so bad.

Mithalwen · 01-16-2005, 02:38 PM

Oh and I thought that leaves on the line were simply the autumnal result of deciduous trees close to the tracks .... ghosts may be responsible for the "wrong kind of snow" though ....

Actually the Bird and Baby is quite close to the Martyr's Memorial - I sincerely hope the ghost in question wasn't Thomas Cranmer. Not the sort of behaviour you would expect from the writer of the Book of Common Prayer...

Rumil · 01-16-2005, 06:16 PM

Although I lived in Oxford for six months, I must say I never had any trouble with the ghosts, but then we all know that dear Lush attracts special interest, even from beyond the grave!

Perhaps the shade in question was a roistering Cavalier, see this link

The Eagle and Child

After all it was said that

"Admittedly we Cavaliers have the sins of men, drinking and wenching, but the Roundheads have pride and spiritual rebellion, the sins of devils"

Bêthberry · 01-16-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

quoted by Lush

But speaking of ghosts. I swear, I am not senile yet, when I tell you that while we stood outside of the Eagle & Child (or Bird & Baby) looking at the menu, something, um, grabbed me from, uh, behind. I turned around half-expecting to see a drunken tourist, or maybe the people walking out had clipped me with their bags, but no, it was just an empty street, and this really weird feeling like something wasn't quite right.

Boyfriend can attest that during this incident I was neither drunk or drugged. It was uncanny. You read about Oxford's great history, stretching itself down the corridor of time as far as the human eye can see, and lo and behold, a part of history detaches itself from the ether and, um, pinches you.

My darling Lushious, you should know by now that a pinch on the tushie has little to do with amorous intent and much to say about patronising patriarchial aggression. I wouldn't be surprised if the more Mordor-inclined of the Tolkien crowd hung out at the Bird and Baby in the hopes of a bit of Seventh Age evil intent. I am most glad you were there with your Knight in Shining Ardour.

love,
Beth

01-16-2005, 11:24 AM	#1
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	The Amorous Oxford Ghost This is just to say that I went on a day-trip to Oxford with Boyfriend while we were in England last week. Boyfriend was nice enough to take me to the Eagle & Child pub where, as you know, the Inklings, Tolkien among them, used to hang out. The place itself was reeeally nice in terms of great fatty food and mulled wine and beer. We had a really good time in the smoking section. The have a portrait of Tolkien and everything up on the wall, with some other dude. I was really happy, the pub has a good vibe. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet been, it's a really old place, but it's bouncy nonetheless. Though Oxford in general itself depressed me a little, I just know if I lived there the ghosts would drive me insane. But speaking of ghosts. I swear, I am not senile yet, when I tell you that while we stood outside of the Eagle & Child (or Bird & Baby) looking at the menu, something, um, grabbed me from, uh, behind. I turned around half-expecting to see a drunken tourist, or maybe the people walking out had clipped me with their bags, but no, it was just an empty street, and this really weird feeling like something wasn't quite right. Boyfriend can attest that during this incident I was neither drunk or drugged. It was uncanny. You read about Oxford's great history, stretching itself down the corridor of time as far as the human eye can see, and lo and behold, a part of history detaches itself from the ether and, um, pinches you. I'm so totally not joking. I'll never get over it. And I think it was probably the ghost of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien being too Catholic for that sort of thing. Yeah, Lewis turned Christian too and blah blah blah, but I can see him being a little bored with the afterlife these days. Ok, I know the above sounds completely ridiculous, but I swear that it happened. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

01-16-2005, 11:48 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Oh I rather like the Oxford ghosts... but I guess that the one who assailed you might have been Lord St George, nephew of lord Peter Wimsey. who was at "the House" - sounds just the kind of thing he might have done... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-16-2005, 01:58 PM	#3
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Yeah, we Brits can barely get about our day-to-day business without being assailed by ghosts. Terribly haunted isles and all. That's why the railways are so bad. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond Last edited by Eomer of the Rohirrim; 07-07-2006 at 02:45 PM.

01-16-2005, 02:38 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Oh and I thought that leaves on the line were simply the autumnal result of deciduous trees close to the tracks .... ghosts may be responsible for the "wrong kind of snow" though .... Actually the Bird and Baby is quite close to the Martyr's Memorial - I sincerely hope the ghost in question wasn't Thomas Cranmer. Not the sort of behaviour you would expect from the writer of the Book of Common Prayer... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-16-2005, 06:16 PM	#5
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Although I lived in Oxford for six months, I must say I never had any trouble with the ghosts, but then we all know that dear Lush attracts special interest, even from beyond the grave! Perhaps the shade in question was a roistering Cavalier, see this link The Eagle and Child After all it was said that "Admittedly we Cavaliers have the sins of men, drinking and wenching, but the Roundheads have pride and spiritual rebellion, the sins of devils" __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion