Oxford, England -- stone, stone, everywhere....

...as well as colorful doors and shutters.

Rhodes Scholars Building, Oxford University

Street of Oxford, England

Reason for taking this? I just liked it! :-)

More colorful buildings, Oxford, England

Home where J. R. R. Tolkien (LORD OF THE RINGS author) lived

I had never heard of the shark in a roof before March 9, 2010....but I witnessed it THAT day...and also learned that its placement was the doings of an American. ???

Being long-time "fans" of C. S. Lewis's writings, we were thrilled to not only see The Kilns, the house where Mr. Lewis lived, but also to be invited inside by a head resident who happened to be a young woman from the United States, and who represented the C. S. Lewis Foundation. We hadn't arranged ahead of time for a tour of the *inside* of the home, but she was kind enough to have us inside.

Plaque on the front of The Kilns stating that C. S. Lewis had lived in the home from 1930 - 1963. He died 11/22/63, the day that President John F. Kennedy was shot.

The Fledderjohanns & Whites outside The Kilns, Oxford, England

Front door of The Kilns

Replica of the stove used in the kitchen of The C. S. Lewis home

The simple kitchen

A replica of the wardrobe that supposedly sat in the Lewis home. The "real" wardrobe is reported to now be at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. (I'm afraid you can see a bit of my black coat in the mirror.)

The young "head resident" offering Liz & Dennis details in the very simple living room of C. S. Lewis's home, The Kilns, Oxford, England.

Replica of C. S. Lewis's desk...with a tin of his favorite brand of pipe tobacco next to the tea cup.

Statue representing Aslan, I suppose, on a corner table of the living room.

Looking through a door in the C. S. Lewis home.

I looked at the worn tile floor of the kitchen and thought, "If the tiles could talk....."

I love the pictures above and below that Phil took on a short walk to the lake adjacent to the Lewis property where Ron Brind and Joy Davidman Lewis's sons spent time as kids.

Phil also took this photo of the bomb shelter to which C. S. Lewis and his family had access but which is now "decorated" with graffiti (by, no doubt, a young person with a spray can of paint).

Above & below: The churchyard of The Headington Quarry Parish Church, Holy Trinity, Oxfordshire. This is the church that C. S. Lewis attended.

Church pews Holy Trinity Parish; engraved windows with Narnia characters.

Aisle of tile, Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry, Oxfordshire

Photo of C. S. Lewis, who attended Headington Quarry Parish, Holy Trinity, of Oxfordshire, England

I wish that I had been able to better capture the Narnia characters in these frosted, engraved windows that are now encased in the wall of Holy Trinity Parish, Headington Quarry.

A map of Narnia on the wall of Headington Quarry Parish, Holy Trinity, Oxfordshire

A small pipe organ at Holy Trinity

Pews and colorfully-covered kneeling stools, Holy Trinity, Oxfordshire

We're seated in the actual pew where C. S. Lewis sat when he attended Holy Trinity. (Only three of us could fit, so Phil volunteered to move up a row.)

:-)

Plaque on the back of the pew, stating "Here sat and worshipped Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963."

C. S. Lewis pew, Holy Trinity, Headingon Quarry Parish, Oxfordshire

Churchyard & Headington Quarry Parish Church, Holy Trinity, Oxfordshire

Churchyard: I was touched by this tiny grave marker filled with delicate little white flowers, and where I would assume a child was buried.

Churchyard: Headington Quarry Parish Church

It just looked to me like the cluster of what appears to be lavender crocuses was critically placed over the heart of the person buried here.

I found the garish flowers to be in such contrast to the grey, somber and weathered headstones in the churchyard of Headington Quarry Parish Church, Holy Trinity, Oxfordshire.

I was intrigued by the gate that stood at the edge of the Holy Trinity churchyard, and the path on the other side that led into a wooded area. Just to the left of the green gate is a plaque reading, "C. S. Lewis Grave" and an arrow pointing to the left.

A photo of the grave marker of C. S. Lewis and his brother. Both are buried here.