The Bridge of Sighs

The Hertford Bridge, famously known as the Bridge of Sighs, links two parts of Hertford College across New College Lane with a distinct, arched design reminiscent of the Venetian original. While locals often claim it earned its name because students sigh in despair on their way to exams at the nearby Bodleian Library, the bridge is actually an early twentieth-century construction. It connects the Old Quadrangle to the New Quadrangle, allowing college members to cross without ever setting foot on the public street.