St Michael at the North Gate

The tower of Saint Michael at the North Gate stands as the oldest building in Oxford. Its rough, grey limestone masonry dates back to the Saxon period, likely constructed around ten fifty. When the city walls still ringed the town, this church guarded the northern entrance. In fifteen fifty-five, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer watched the burning of fellow bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley from this very tower. He prayed for them as the flames rose, unaware he would face the same fate later.