Dead Man's Walk, Oxford facts for kids
Dead Man's Walk is a famous footpath in central Oxford, England. It runs from east to west, right next to Merton College. At its western end, you'll find Corpus Christi College.
This path is just outside Oxford's old city wall. To the north, Grove Walk connects to Merton Street. To the south, you'll see Merton Field and Merton Walk, which leads to the wide, tree-lined Broad Walk. Beyond that is the beautiful Christ Church Meadow.
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A Path Through Time
This walkway has a long and interesting history. It seems to have been the route for funeral processions during the Middle Ages for the Jewish community in Oxford.
These processions would start near where Tom Tower stands today. They would then follow this path to the Jewish burial ground. This burial ground is now the site of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden.
Historical Markers Along the Way
As you walk along Dead Man's Walk, you'll find some interesting historical markers.
Britain's First Hot Air Balloon Flight
Near the eastern end of the path, there's a special plaque. It marks the spot where the first ever hot air balloon ascent in Britain took place! A man named James Sadler (1753–1828) made this flight. He lifted off from Merton Field on October 4, 1784. He landed safely nearby in a place called Woodeaton.
A Special Stone Slab
Inside the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, there's a stone slab. This slab tells the story of how Dead Man's Walk got its name.
The slab explains that a medieval cemetery lies beneath the garden. Around the year 1190, the Jewish community in Oxford bought some land outside the city walls. They wanted to use it as a burial ground.
Later, in 1231, that land was taken over by a hospital. The Jewish community was given a smaller piece of land for a new cemetery. This is where the memorial stone now stands.
An old footpath connected this new cemetery to the main Jewish area in the city. That area was called Great Jewry Street, which is now St Aldates. For more than 800 years, this path has been known as 'Deadman's Walk'. This name quietly reminds us of the Jewish community. They helped Oxford grow and contributed to the early University during the 12th and 13th centuries.
In 1290, King Edward I ordered all Jews to leave England. They were not allowed to return for over 350 years. The slab ends with a blessing: "May their memory be blessed."
The Ghostly Legend
Dead Man's Walk is also known for a local legend. Some people say it's one of the most famous English Civil War ghost stories.
The ghost is said to be Francis Windebank. He was a Colonel who was executed by a firing squad in 1645. This happened right against the old town wall, which borders Merton College.
People have reported seeing his ghost here. The legend says you only see him from the knees up. This is because the ground level has risen over many years. Some think that a ghost story is likely to be told here because of the path's name. However, it has been a long time since anyone reported seeing the ghost.
