Headington Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Headington Hill |
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 A view down Headington Hill, along Headington Road, from the bridge which now connects two parts of Oxford Brookes campus. |
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 Headington Hill
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| OS grid reference | SP531063 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode district | OX3 |
| Dialling code | 01865 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Headington, Oxford |
Headington Hill is a hill in the eastern part of Oxford, England. It's located in the suburb of Headington. The main road, Headington Road, goes up this hill as you leave the city. From the hill, especially from the top of South Park, you can see amazing views of Oxford's famous spires.
Hundreds of years ago, between 1644 and 1646, Headington Hill was important during the First English Civil War. Forces loyal to the Parliament (called Parliamentarians) used the hill when they were trying to take over Oxford.
A large building called Headington Hill Hall stands on the hill. It was built in 1824 for the Morrell family, who were well-known local brewers. Today, this historic hall is home to the School of Law for Oxford Brookes University.
A Memorial for Heroes: The Spanish Civil War
Headington Hill is also home to a special monument called the Oxford Spanish Civil War memorial. This memorial honors people from the Oxford area who bravely went to Spain to join the International Brigades. These volunteers fought against powerful groups who wanted to control Spain with unfair and harsh rules, supported by leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The memorial is placed where Headington Road meets the hill.
During the Spanish Civil War, 29 British people from Oxfordshire joined the International Brigades. Two more joined another group called POUM. Many of these volunteers believed strongly in fairness and equality for everyone. Many also had connections to Britain's Jewish communities.
Oxford was a very active place for people who stood up against these unfair ideas. Homes in the county even welcomed hundreds of children who had to leave their homes in Spain because of the war. There were also some disagreements and physical fights between people who opposed these harsh ideas and a group called the Oxford University Fascist Association.
At first, there was some discussion about where to put the memorial. Plans to place it in the city center were not approved by the Oxford city council. Eventually, everyone agreed on the current spot on Headington Hill.
