The Bird and the Baby/Who's been to Eagle and Child

[tgraveline]

Now has anyone been there? Is it still there in Oxford? I ask because I think I would like to visit it someday possibly. Is it even open to the public to go into and whatnot?

tg

[Bitter Milton]

this was the pub where the inklings met, correct? i believe it went by some other name too.

[tgraveline]

yeah this is the pub. I've heard that it is within Oxford University too, so i'm not really a hundred percent sure on all of this.

tg

[rosymole]

I would assume it was still there, although it probably gets swamped with Tolkien fanatics on a regular basis- I'm sure it's just like any other pub in Oxford- small, smokey with really badly upholstered seats. If you go into any traditional pub in the uK you can get the idea!

[tgraveline]

but there might be some paranormal wisdon within those walls that i could use, lol.

tg

[rosymole]

ha ha! It is still open apparently- I have a friend who lives near Oxford who confirmed this, it's fairly popular with the students in the area but apparently the bar is quite small which makes getting served a bit tricky.

As regards what Milton said it was also known as the Bird and Baby!

[tgraveline]

You think it will be tricky for a good looking fellow like myself to get a drink at the bar? If your answer is yes, you are sorely mistaken and that red mark on you face in the shape of a hand is your punishment. If you said no, then you get a nice kiss from me or a buttslap, depending on what you want from me.

tg

[Mercury]

*evil stare at tg* kisses or buttslaps? Do you do that with every girl? Your answer better be no or you'll be having the red marks accross your face.
And you threaten a lady to get slapped accross the face? I'm shocked!!

[rosymole]

It's probably quite dark in there. (that is my only answer. I want to avoid violence/harassment/abuse etc)

[NiennaTinuviel]

yes the Eagle and the Child is still there and in fact they've put up a little memorial plaque that just says something to the effect of "this is where the Inklings held their meetings, the Inklings including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien" something like that. I haven't gotten around to going there but was able to find that out with a bit of clever websurfing.

[Yenn]

I was there in October!!!:)) I was very happy to see this place, to see tables and chairs, where the Inkilngs were sitting and speaking about their books. People were very astonish, when I was there inside and went around the pub, reading and watching everything (with big smile), what was there about the writers - some notes, fotos and something like that!
I was in cementary, where Tolkien is buried and I saw his house...I felt very, very happy and wonderfully because od seeing it.but it is different story;)

[tgraveline]

very very cool, i plan to see the pub in may, i'm going to travel europe some more again this may so we are going to london for a few days, so i'm gonna ditch the group and maybe someone will want to come with me, but i'm gonna go see the pub and maybe meet a friend i promised to meet someday, lol.

tg

[Niliathiel]

Hi I´m new. :-)
I´ve been to Oxford about one and a half week ago. It was a Sunday and I didn´t get much of a chance to see the universities, but I´ve seen the Eagle and Child. I liked it, although as someone already stated the bar is pretty small, but somehow it gave me a nice and comfortable feeling. + me as a Tolkien AND CS Lewis fan... cool feeling to know who sat where I was standing *gapes in awe* I´ve also been to the cemetry you mentioned, Yenn. Don´t want to go offtopic here but I think I pretty well undestand what you mean here.

[waterhogboy]

Oh yeah. The house where Tolkein used to live, and I think wrote some of his books, is right near my school. Thats probably my only claim to fame I'll ever have. I think some of the scenery in the books was inspired by an area to the north of where I live called the Yorkshire Dales. I read it all on a plaque in a building nearby but I cant remember everything it said.

I know this probably isn't the right place to post this, but I couldn't find a better spot. Sorry!

[Wordsmith]

Hey,
I'm going on a trip to Europe in June, starting out in Scotland. I'm going to stay three nights around Oxford, though, as well, and I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for Tolkien/Lewis related places I should go while I'm there. I'm already planning on visiting the Bird an Baby - and taking lots of pictures. :)

[tgraveline]

good good, um ask the brits on other places, lol

tg

[rosymole]

I doubt you'd being able to sneeze in Oxford without coming across one of the two! I'm more partial to Cambridge myself, but that's only coz I leave nearish to it, and the shops are really good!
If anyone's interested Oxford won the boat race this year (although someone told me that both teams were made up of Canadians and Australians, strange??)

[waterhogboy]

Yeh the Cambridge team did rubbish in that race. Btw, what do Americans call rowing cos someone said rowing in America is shouting. It is too in England but its rowing aswell. Hmmmm... I'm sure that doesn't make sense outside my head but never mind!

[rosymole]

Huh? in the US rowing is known as shouting, and the same over here? when did that happen? was i asleep when this decision was taken??!

[waterhogboy]

Yeh as in we had a row. But Im sure some one said that in America rowing is only having a row and rowing in a boat is something else. Hmmm.. maybe I imgined it. Its been a long day :(

[rosymole]

Oh, i understand! well, rowing is rowing, but rowing is rowing and if you use oars for the wrong one then that could lead to whole world of pain!

[waterhogboy]

lol! That's true!

[inkspot]

Sometimes I have heard rowing a boat called sculling or something like that, and we can have a row in the USA, but we do not usually make that into the verb rowing -- we would say arguing or something like that. Waterhogboy, I did not realize you were just learning to drive, no wonder you don't like shifting gears manually. That would be a lot to take in all at once. But in years to come when you can't remember before you knew how to shift and smoke and chat on the phone and hold your girl close all at the same time as you are tooling down the highway, it will be prove very satisfactory to feel the car springing forward with ease at your command...

[waterhogboy]

Lol! Yeh, thats what my instructor says. Rememeber, its harsh over here in jolly old Britland. You can't start learning to drive till you're 17! I was dying to start for two years and had my first one on my 17th bday in Feb! I'm getttin better with the clutch now though - finally!!!

[flora]

I wonder, it just came to my mind..., how many of you have actually been in the Eagle and Child or in Oxford ?

I have and I just couldn`t resist the temptation of sharing my joy with you ;) :D

[Tarkheena_Finduilas22]

Sorry, but I don't have the faintest Idea what that is! It rings a bell, but ...

Is it a play?

[flora]

That`s the pub in Oxford where Tolkien, Lewis, Charles Williams and a couple of other guys, in other words, the Inklings, met to discuss their books and other ideas and, I`m sure, to have a drink as well :D . To commemorate its noble visitors, the place now has a few photos and a plaque refering to them.

[Hope96]

Oh that is so cool. I would love to go there!

[Tarkheena_Finduilas22]

ooohhhhh. I wanna go!

[inkspot]

Never been, but I would love to go! I would just want to be there and think what kind of discussions they used to have ... it was probably like getting our own BC, HB, Smog and GC together at one table, with ale ... :eek:

[borntofly]

... it was probably like getting our own BC, HB, Smog and GC together at one table, with ale ... :eek:
that's funny inkspot, funny and scary...more scary than funny though

[inkspot]

that's funny inkspot, funny and scary...more scary than funny though
LOL!

10thingy

[rosymole]

I'll go one day I'm sure. I have friends who live near ish to Oxford so I'm sure I could see my way clear to popping in..but apparently it's got a very small bar!

[legolas]

that would be cool!!

[tgraveline]

I almost went a month ago, but i didn't make it to oxford on my travels, a real shame, i really meant to go too. Oh well, some other time i will have to do it.

tg

[inkspot]

I almost went a month ago, but i didn't make it to oxford on my travels, a real shame, i really meant to go too. Oh well, some other time i will have to do it.

tg
Nooooooo! I can't believe you were on the tiny island and didn't get to the Eagle & Child!

[Checkmate]

What are you talking about...

[waterhogboy]

Nooooooo! I can't believe you were on the tiny island and didn't get to the Eagle & Child!

:mad: *stares evils at inky* :mad:

[Johan 72109]

*cough* It's not like you can stroll down the road and there stands the Eagle and Child... We ain't THAT small... :mad:

*sound of pride being injured*

Hehe... :D

[inkspot]

Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Sorry. :( :o :( :o

I did not mean to imply that Great Britain was a tiny island like Little Cayman. I know that. At one time the sun never set on the mighty British Empire! I adore all the British isles and think they are the cradle of civilisation. (Note the ess.)

What I meant was, being a devoted CS Lewis fan, it would be a shame even to within several hundred miles of the Bird & Baby and not stop in! It would be worth the trek through glorious England to get there, is what I meant. It's a small world, after all.

[QUOTE=CHECKMATE]What are you talking about...[/I]
The Eagle & Child is the pub where the Inklings met regularly, still a functioning pub where you can go and see where those geniuses caroused.

[waterhogboy]

[SIZE=4]I did not mean to imply that Great Britain was a tiny island like Little Cayman. I know that. At one time the sun never set on the mighty British Empire! I adore all the British isles and think they are the cradle of civilisation. (Note the ess.)

What I meant was, being a devoted CS Lewis fan, it would be a shame even to within several hundred miles of the Bird & Baby and not stop in! It would be worth the trek through glorious England to get there, is what I meant. It's a small world, after all.

Awww we was only messin Miss. Inkspot. Don't take it to heart. :D

Cheers for the ess by the way - it truly made my day. :)

[inkspot]

Thank you! :) **happy again**

[tgraveline]

Well it is like lego land over there, the roads and the cars are smaller, even the people are like midgets, lol. I had fun petting them all on the head whilst on the tiny island.

tg

[inkspot]

Well it is like lego land over there, the roads and the cars are smaller, even the people are like midgets, lol. I had fun petting them all on the head whilst on the tiny island.

tg
Aaarhh! Don't make it worse, Teeg!

[Gryphon]

i might go to london once im eighteen but as for going into the eagle and child, i have no earthly idea whatsoever.

[inkspot]

You must go. Think of the history, the atmosphere, the excitement of sitting where the Inklings sat ... what if some harmonic resonance of their creative briliance still inhabits the place, waiting for a receptive soul to catch its ethereal drift?

[Johan 72109]

Hehe... I honestly think that Americans are more enamoured by our cultural heritage than we are... I mean, say 'I'm off to the Eagle and Child, where Tolkien and C.S Lewis used to meet with their friends!' most people reply 'Oh, yeah... C.S Lewis... He wrote Alice in Wonderland didn't he?'

:mad:

[Gryphon]

i think you'd find that was lewis carroll. and i probably will go as long as i don't have to drink ale. tee hee.

[Johan 72109]

Sorry, that was my point... Hehe, probably didn't make myself quite clear enough. :o

I was pointing out the fact that British people don't have the slightest clue about our literary (or any, for that matter) history.

[inkspot]

I was pointing out the fact that British people don't have the slightest clue about our literary (or any, for that matter) history.
Neither do most Americans, but because this is a Narnia site, you're going to find lots of folk impressed by the idea of drinking ale where CS Lewis drank -- or at least, visiting the pub and getting a feel for how it must have been. It's the same like that little bar in Key West where Hemingway used to hang out and write his dreary novels, Hemingway fans know all about it and like to go there and try to absorb some of his gritty realism from the bar stools ... but most Americans don't have a clue.

And I understood your irony in the statement about didn't he write Alice in Wonderland ... :)

[Johan 72109]

Hehe, glad someone did :D I don't feel quite as stupid now :p

[Gryphon]

Sorry, that was my point... Hehe, probably didn't make myself quite clear enough. :o

I was pointing out the fact that British people don't have the slightest clue about our literary (or any, for that matter) history.
oh, no i knew you knew who he was, i was just saying it in general. in case anyone else didn't know... :p

[waterhogboy]

hey tg - you wanna come call me a midget to my face!!??

Before I run off to escape the barrage of anger that will henceforth be spwen upon me, I gotta admit..... I would have made the Alice in Wonderland mistake until afew years ago... :o

[legolas]

what exactly is "Eagle and Child"???

[waterhogboy]

Its a pub in Oxford. Oxford is a city in the mid south of England. England is a country in the same world America is in - but far, far smaller and older...

[legolas]

ok, (i never thought i would say this but,) stop being a duffer for at least the post after this. anyway, what is it?

[Sam]

The Eagle and Child is actually the name of a pub in Oxford, where Lewis, Tolkien and friends used to go for drinks and discussion. There's actually a pub with the same name in Cambridge, sadly without the great heritage.

[waterhogboy]

Like I said - its a pub. The name of the pub is The Eagle and Child (they call pubs odd names like that over here!!!). It was the meeting place of C.S.Lewis and his cronies. They hung out and chatted there.

[legolas]

umm ok, don't exactly know what a pub is but ok! :D

[Sam]

who knows? Maybe one day we'll have a narniafans meeting there to celebrate... something.

[legolas]

oh ok! i just saw your post above WHB's. now i get it. Ya and that would be cool

[Johan 72109]

Pub = a bar, but with alot more friendly, social atmosphere i.e serves meals and soft drinks for kids, has lots of places to meet up with friends etc

[legolas]

got it! :)

[Johan 72109]

Hehe... This is the first time that I've actually thought that Britain should be called 'quaint'. ;)

[legolas]

and that means...?

[waterhogboy]

quaint means something you look at and go - 'Awwwww - isnt that all cute and old and weird, very unusual to what one would consider the norm.'

[LadyEm]

We have "quaint pubs" in Canada too, :p but nothing so cool as The Eagle and the Child ;) and nothing *quite* like Britain of course. ;)

This is really cool...next time I am in England I am going to make that trip out there...I've always wanted to visit Oxford, but I've only managed to make it to London, Cheltenham, Manchester and Northern Wales - I sadly didn't make it over there. :)

[waterhogboy]

I'm surprised you made it out of Machester!!! Did they try to capture you and stick you in a stew or something!??!

[Johan 72109]

And what about North Wales... whole clans of goblins and orcs as yet not driven out by the few groups of mangy villagers (and fat sheep) scattered around the mountains...

Lethal place, North Wales... ;)

[waterhogboy]

And what about North Wales... whole clans of goblins and orcs as yet not driven out by the few groups of mangy villagers (and fat sheep) scattered around the mountains...

Lethal place, North Wales... ;)

I dare you to say that to Nicky at church Johan!!! She'd eat you!

[LadyEm]

I'm surprised you made it out of Machester!!! Did they try to capture you and stick you in a stew or something!??!


Nope, but I nearly drowned in the mud. It was August and I was there for Soul Survivor (youth festival) and it rained the whole time - we were camping in the big park! All the sessions were at the stadium, and even though football wasn't playing people were still going psycho.

[LadyEm]

And what about North Wales... whole clans of goblins and orcs as yet not driven out by the few groups of mangy villagers (and fat sheep) scattered around the mountains...

Lethal place, North Wales... ;)

Tis lethal...but not when you've got Welsh blood flowing through your veins... I ate orc for lunch! Well, not really. We had lamb for lunch.
My favourite part was walking through the grassy hillsides...where I was was right near Barmouth, in Arthogg, Gwyneth.

[waterhogboy]

Tis lethal...but not when you've got Welsh blood flowing through your veins... I ate orc for lunch! Well, not really. We had lamb for lunch.
My favourite part was walking through the grassy hillsides...where I was was right near Barmouth, in Arthogg, Gwyneth.

Hey hey!! My sis was a leader at a Christian Sports Youth Camp with the EMW this year, and that was at Barmouth!! And also 'Hey hey!!' again! My other sis has been to Soul Survivor in the past with friends from uni.

[LadyEm]

Yeah...it was an christian outdoors/sports camp that I was at...it was situated right across the small inlet channel from Barmouth...you could walk across a bridge right into the town - though for the life of me I can't remember the name of the camp at the moment!
My cousin ... well third-fourth cousin, Stephen worked there then...I can't remember if he is still there or not. My other cousin his twin, worked for Soul Survivor in Manchester, or for one of the youth groups associated with it?

My fave part in Manchester was working in the neighbourhoods ... we did a tonne of work projects in some of the not so nice neighbourhoods... we got to know the little scully kids well, and that was very fun - though when they bussed them into our sessions, things got nicked faster than anything.

[Gryphon]

hey tg - you wanna come call me a midget to my face!!??

Before I run off to escape the barrage of anger that will henceforth be spwen upon me, I gotta admit..... I would have made the Alice in Wonderland mistake until afew years ago... :o
im sure you would've made alot of mistakes up until a few years ago....

[waterhogboy]

Yeah...it was an christian outdoors/sports camp that I was at...it was situated right across the small inlet channel from Barmouth...you could walk across a bridge right into the town - though for the life of me I can't remember the name of the camp at the moment!
My cousin ... well third-fourth cousin, Stephen worked there then...I can't remember if he is still there or not. My other cousin his twin, worked for Soul Survivor in Manchester, or for one of the youth groups associated with it?

My fave part in Manchester was working in the neighbourhoods ... we did a tonne of work projects in some of the not so nice neighbourhoods... we got to know the little scully kids well, and that was very fun - though when they bussed them into our sessions, things got nicked faster than anything.

WOW!!! That could be the exact camp my sis helped at. She co-ran a group of girls with another leader and they did outdoors/sports things, and then had christian discussions. It was run by the Evangelical Movement of Wales!!!!

Anyway - we'd better let this thread go back to its proper course. PM or IM me if you remember the name of the camp...

[Gryphon]

and which course would that be?

[waterhogboy]

Discussing the Eagle and Child pub.

[unleavened]

I have a picture of the pub in one of my books. Does that count for anything?

[inkspot]

I have a picture of the pub in one of my books. Does that count for anything?
I think it counts! I don't even have a picture ... except in my mind ...

[Gryphon]

yeah ditto *sulks*

[unleavened]

I have a book called The Quotable Lewis. It's in there.

[rosymole]

I've been delving for you chaps..here's a few linnk so you can see what it looks like
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~tolksoc/TolkiensOxford/bird_and_baby.html
http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/stgiles/tour/west/48_49_eagle.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eagle_and_Child

all these linkies are kid friendly..only that last one has a pic of the inside..imagine it very small and full of pipe smoke, the smell of real ale and you'll be there. Don't cut your hair for a few months and wear some chords and it'll feel like home!

[inkspot]

Thanx, Rosy! In my mind I'm already there ...

[Gryphon]

wow, the inside is kind of what id imagined but i imagined he outside in bricks intead of being white. hmmm, that is interesting.

[unleavened]

Looks like a nice place.

[WAHM-Brenda]

I wonder, it just came to my mind..., how many of you have actually been in the Eagle and Child or in Oxford ?

I have and I just couldn`t resist the temptation of sharing my joy with you ;) :D

Does it count that I REALLY want to go there some day? LOL

=^..^= Pastor Brenda
Ordained ULC Minister
yourhealthyfamily@consultant.com
My "Homeschooling" Journal
http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com

[inkspot]

Welcome back, WAHMy!

You can go there in your mind, and that counts ... just don't drink the imaginary ale or breathe the imaginary pipe smoke. It's nasty. Oh, look, there's Jack Lewis over there, writing on a napkin! Wonder what masterpiece he's making notes for? And isn't that JRRT at the table with him -- let's just go introduce ourselves.

[arventhedibbun]

i have not even been out of the USA

[Gondor Knight of Narnia]

i haven't.....yet :D

[inkspot]

Every young American should go live outside the USA for a while, preferably in a place where you are the minority ... it really opens your eyes.

[Gondor Knight of Narnia]

good point....although how much time to spend there i don't know?

[rosymole]

I t would depend on what you wanted to do..a holiday..2weeks maybe..or if working or studying then longer..me I'd happily spend oho 24 years on and off!

[inkspot]

Get a job somewhere outside your own country and stay at least a year. It's quite eye-opening, in my opinion.

[pegasus62]

Hello!
I'm starting this thread mostly due to curiosity. My question is: Has anyone here visited England and the places where the Inklings used to meet? Has anyone been to the Eagle and the Child? (I heard it has been called 'the Bird and the Baby in a funny, affectionate way, thus the title of the thread.) I would love to hear from you-and it would make this a very interesting thread! Please reply! :D

[rosymole]

I've been through Oxford a few times, but never stopped there, it's the thing about living in the UK, you tend not to go to the 'major attractions'!

Apparentlythe B&B has quite a small bar, but is very olde worlde inside.
Next time I head over that way I'll be popping in!

[Someonebeatmetowunderkind]

Ok, UK geograpy-not my strong suit. I will probably make it to London, Sunderland, and points in between, sometime in the next year. Where would this B & B Pub be in relation to those? It would be worth a visit for my love of C.S. Lewis, as well as my friend's love of old english pubs, and the beer that lies within.

[the_Honorable_Rosemary]

I've always wanted to go there, but as I live in America I don't think I'll have a chance anytime soon :o

[PrinceOfTheWest]

Ok, UK geograpy-not my strong suit. I will probably make it to London, Sunderland, and points in between, sometime in the next year. Where would this B & B Pub be in relation to those? It would be worth a visit for my love of C.S. Lewis, as well as my friend's love of old english pubs, and the beer that lies within.The Bird & Baby is in Oxford. I'm not sure where, but you could ask waterhogboy.

[inkspot]

iMerge two other older Threads on this topic ...

[rosymole]

nice one Inky!
Oxford is about an hours train ride from London, you could drive aswell..M25 and then M40 i think.... Sunderland is up in the north of england, so no where near!
Oxford is southern central england

[girher]

I went two days ago! it was so fun! and cool!

I went on a C.S. Lewis tour and after the tour was over we ate there!


P.S.

Did u know that they r tearing down the woods behide C.S.Lewis' House! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Grey Pilgrim]

i have been there servel times its so cool

[rosymole]

What's Oxford like as a town? I've driven around the outskirts but never through the 'good' bit.I've always been more of a Cambridge girl meself.

[Grey Pilgrim]

its sorta like bree and the shrie combined

[girher]

yep, there was alot of statues!

[girher]

yep, there was alot of statues!

[*Princess Rose*]

iRessurect!!

ANOTHER TRIUMPH FROM THE LEGENDAY RESSURECTURS!!!