Pembroke Square, Oxford facts for kids

Pembroke Square is a historic square in central Oxford, England. It's located right next to St Aldate's, a well-known street in the city.

Welcome to Pembroke Square!

Pembroke Square is named after Pembroke College, a famous part of Oxford University. The main entrance to Pembroke College is right here, at the southwest corner of the square.

Important Buildings Around the Square

You'll find St Aldate's Church in Pembroke Square. This church used to be the library for Pembroke College! Across the square, you can see the main entrance to Christ Church. This is the biggest college in Oxford. Look up, and you'll spot the impressive Tom Tower above its entrance.

A Glimpse into History: Old Buildings

Some of the buildings in Pembroke Square are very old. For example, numbers 13 and 14 were built way back in 1641. They have four floors, made with stone and wood. Other buildings, like numbers 17 and 18, show the style of Jacobean buildings from the 1600s. Numbers 36 and 37 are in the Georgian style, which was popular in the 1700s and early 1800s.

The lodge and the entrance to Pembroke College in Pembroke Square. Samuel Johnson had rooms as an undergraduate from 1728 on the second floor above the entrance.

View of the main entrance of Christ Church, Oxford with Tom Tower above from Pembroke Square.

Famous People Who Lived Here

Pembroke Square has been home to some very famous people! One of them was Samuel Johnson, a brilliant writer and dictionary maker. He was a student at Pembroke College and lived in rooms overlooking the square. Another famous resident was J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He was a fellow (a senior member) at Pembroke College and also had rooms with a view of the square.