.jpg)
- This page was last modified on 11 June 2025, at 19:49. Suggest an edit.
Lamb & Flag, Oxford facts for kids
| The Lamb & Flag | |
|---|---|
Lamb & Flag pub
|
|
| General information | |
| Address | 12 St Giles',Oxford, OX1 3JS |
| Coordinates | 51°45′27″N 1°15′34″W / 51.7574°N 1.2594°W |
| Opened | 1613 |
| Owner | St John's College, Oxford |
The Lamb & Flag is a famous pub in St Giles' Street, Oxford, England. It is owned by St John's College, a part of Oxford University. For many years, the money earned by the pub helped pay for scholarships for students studying for their DPhil degrees. The pub is located just north of the main entrance to St John's College. A small passage called Lamb & Flag Passage runs next to the building, connecting St Giles' Street to Museum Road. The pub closed for a short time in 2021 but reopened in October 2022.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Lamb & Flag Symbol
The name of the pub, "Lamb & Flag," comes from a special symbol. This symbol shows a lamb carrying a flag with a cross. It represents Jesus Christ as the "Lamb of God" from the Book of Revelation in the Bible. It is also a symbol for John the Baptist. Since St John's College is named after St John the Baptist, this symbol shows the pub's connection to the college.
History of The Lamb & Flag Pub
The pub, originally called "The Lamb," has been around since at least 1566. It was first located just south of St John's College. In 1613, the college moved the pub to its current spot. The old location is now part of the college's Dolphin Quadrangle.
Even though the pub moved a bit further away, new buildings built by the college in the 20th and 21st centuries brought it closer to college activities again.
College Ownership and Scholarships
In 1997, St John's College took over managing the pub directly. They decided to use all the money the pub earned to fund scholarships. These scholarships helped graduate students pay for their studies. The Lamb & Flag is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical building.
Recent Closure and Reopening
The Lamb & Flag faced financial difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It closed its doors on January 31, 2021. However, in September 2021, a group called "The Inklings" signed a 15-year lease. This community interest company worked to reopen the pub. The Lamb & Flag welcomed customers again in October 2022.
The Lamb & Flag in Popular Culture
The Lamb & Flag pub has a special place in literature and television. Many famous writers and characters have connections to it.
Literary Connections
It is believed that the famous author Thomas Hardy wrote parts of his novel Jude the Obscure while at this pub. In his book, the fictional city of Christminster is very similar to Oxford. A pub mentioned in the novel is thought to be based on The Lamb & Flag.
In 1962, a well-known literary group called the Inklings started meeting here. This group included famous writers like C.S. Lewis, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia. They moved their meetings to The Lamb & Flag after another pub, The Eagle and Child, was modernized. However, these meetings stopped after C.S. Lewis passed away in 1963.
Another novelist, Graham Greene, also visited the pub when he was a student at Balliol College. The pub was also mentioned in P.D. James' book "The Children of Men".
On Screen
The Lamb & Flag has appeared in several popular TV shows. It was often featured in episodes of the ITV detective drama Inspector Morse. It also appeared in the first episode of the prequel series Endeavour.
Images for kids
-
A robot drawing, representing a kid-friendly approach.