Gargoyles and Grotesques of Oxford

Dragons, demons, bishops, beasts and people caught in states of permanent astonishment populate the city’s walls and rooftops. Some look menacing. Others appear to have just received an unexpectedly large college dinner bill.

Stone Faces Above the Streets

On a bright day in Oxford, I took a telephoto lens for a walk and photographed some of these wonderfully strange stone creatures.

Strictly speaking, not every carving is a gargoyle. A true gargoyle carries rainwater away from a building, while a decorative creature is usually called a grotesque. Oxford has an excellent supply of both, and neither group seems especially pleased to see you.

The telephoto lens revealed details that are easy to miss from street level: worn faces, improbable animals, elaborate wings and expressions ranging from fury to mild administrative disappointment.

A Different View of Oxford Architecture

Time and weather have damaged many of the carvings, but the erosion often gives them even more personality. Their softened features make them seem less like architectural decoration and more like a peculiar population quietly observing the city below.

Most visitors look at Oxford’s towers, windows and courtyards. It is worth looking a little higher – and occasionally sideways. Something carved in stone may already be looking back.