Emperor Heads of Oxford
Sitting atop pillars of the wall and fence that surrounds the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford are 17 huge stone heads of bearded men. Weighing about a tonne each, they are known as the Emperor Heads. However, who they were meant to represent originally is not really known.
History
The heads were commissioned by Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of the Sheldonian Theatre and St. Paul’s in London, of course, in the 1660s.
The heads were carved by William Byrd. Time and weather took their toll on the sculpted heads and in 1886 they were replaced with new versions. This second set fared even less well and the statues so badly eroded that they were replaced in 1972 with a third set, this time carved by sculptor Michael Black.
Emperor Heads of Oxford
Information
Sheldonian Theatre
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3AZ
Tel: 01865 2 77299
The theatre is a 10-minute walk from Gloucester Green bus station. Alternatively, it is a 15-minute walk from Oxford Station.
Michael Black carved the present set of heads
Attractions
Oxford has much to see and do. Oxford’s attractions include the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford Castle & Prison, Carfax Tower, The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Radcliffe Camera, Keble College and Merton College.
The heads sit on the wall and fence that surrounds the Sheldonian Theatre
Accommodation in Oxford
Oxford has a number of good hotels suitable for all budgets including the Holiday Inn Oxford, the exclusive MacDonald Randolph Hotel, and also the boutique Vanbrugh House Hotel on St Michael’s Street.
Other recommended hotels include the four-star Jurys Inn Oxford, the three-star Hampton by Hilton Oxford, and The Oxford Spires Hotel.
See a listing of hotels in Oxford.
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
Access – Getting to Oxford
The city of Oxford makes for a pleasant day trip from London. The M40 and A40 connect London to Oxford. Oxford also connects to the capital by train to both London Marylebone and Paddington Station. The journey time between Oxford and London is about 1 hour and ten minutes.
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