Much
of the beauty of Oxford is in the detail. This ornate doorway, in an alleyway
opposite the university church, stood out as the afternoon's poor light
was fading to darkness. Such details reflect the wealth of many of the
colleges, built on income from extensive landholdings around much of Oxfordshire
and beyond. For the university as a whole, this wealth is a matter of
history: it is becoming increasingly difficult to finance the expensive
education the colleges provide.
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