NOTORIOUS LANDMARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOTORIOUS LANDMARK.

DEMOLISHED AT OXFORD.

" TOWN AND GOWN " BATTLE.

The ancient cellar of the Swyndlestock Tavern, the scene of the outbreak of the most violent " Town and Gown" riot in Oxford history, has been demolished to make way for the strong room of a bank. Carfax, where the tavern stood, is the busiest point in Oxford, and now buildings are being erected on two sides. The story runs that on St. Scholastica's Day, 1356, an undergraduate complained to tho keeper of the Swyndlestock Inn that his beer was bad. The innkeeper was so annoyed that ho struck the customer on the head with a tankard and killed him. The bells of tho University Church were rung to summon tho undergraduates and those of St-. Martin's Church to summon tho townspeople, and in tho ensuing battlo many lives were lost on both sides. Until 100 years ago the Corporation of Oxford had to do penanco once a year in tlio University in expiation of the offence. During (ho present demolition and excavations drinking mugs of the 14th century and a beautiful decanter of the 17th century have been unearthed. Carfax is honeycombed with ancient wino cellars, and two of (hem pass under St. Aldate's Street and bear the weight of modern traffic. Their fate is undecided, but a fino 14th century cellar is to be preserved by the city as a muniment room.