South Parade
Encyclopedia
South Parade is a shopping street in Summertown
, north Oxford
, England
. It runs between Woodstock Road to the west and Banbury Road
to the east, where there are also shops stretching south from South Parade.
This area of the Banbury Road and South Parade form the main shopping centre of Summertown and indeed of North Oxford
. As well as shops, there are a number of restaurants located here. To the west, South Parade leads into St Edward's School
and the North Wall Arts Centre.
in central North Oxford
. It is often claimed that during the Civil War
when Charles I
was besieged by Oliver Cromwell
at Oxford, South Parade was the Roundhead
southern front, while North Parade was the location of the Royalist
northern front during the siege of Oxford
. However, "[i]t is unlikely that the two sides would have come so close to each other without engaging in combat and, in any case, parade grounds are known to have existed elsewhere in and around the town".
The Encyclopaedia of Oxford claims that "[i]n 1930, when Summertown
became part of the city, Double Ditch was renamed South Parade, supposedly on the suggestion of a German professor said to be an authority on Oxford history" but other sources date the renaming to 1890–91. It is certainly the case that "until the 1870s, it was the most southerly limit of the Whorestone [Farm] Estate." To summarise:
Summertown, Oxford
Summertown in North Oxford is a suburb of Oxford, England.Summertown is a residential area, one mile square north of St Giles, the beautiful boulevard leading out of Oxford’s city centre. Summertown is home to exclusive schools and the city’s most expensive houses. On both sides of Banbury Road are...
, north Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It runs between Woodstock Road to the west and Banbury Road
Banbury Road
Banbury Road is a major arterial road in Oxford, England, running from St Giles' at the south end, north towards Banbury through the leafy suburb of North Oxford and Summertown, with its local shopping centre. Parallel and to the west is the Woodstock Road, which it meets at the junction with St...
to the east, where there are also shops stretching south from South Parade.
This area of the Banbury Road and South Parade form the main shopping centre of Summertown and indeed of North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
. As well as shops, there are a number of restaurants located here. To the west, South Parade leads into St Edward's School
St Edward's School (Oxford)
St. Edward's School is a co-educational independent boarding school located in Oxford, England. The school is located on the Woodstock Road in the north of the city close to the suburb of Summertown. In 2007 it was voted by the Country Life Magazine as number one in the top ten schools in the UK...
and the North Wall Arts Centre.
Origin of the name
South Parade is north of North ParadeNorth Parade
North Parade, or more formally North Parade Avenue, is a short shopping street in north Oxford, England. It runs between Winchester Road to the west and Banbury Road to the east...
in central North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
. It is often claimed that during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
when Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
was besieged by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
at Oxford, South Parade was the Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
southern front, while North Parade was the location of the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
northern front during the siege of Oxford
Siege of Oxford
The Siege of Oxford was a Parliamentarian victory late in the First English Civil War. Whereas the title of the event may suggest a single siege, there were in fact three individual engagements that took place over a period of three years....
. However, "[i]t is unlikely that the two sides would have come so close to each other without engaging in combat and, in any case, parade grounds are known to have existed elsewhere in and around the town".
The Encyclopaedia of Oxford claims that "[i]n 1930, when Summertown
Summertown
Summertown may refer to:* Summertown, Oxford, a suburb of Oxford, England* Summertown, Tennessee, USA, the home of The Farm, an intentional community* Summertown, Georgia, USA* Summertown, South Australia, Australia- See also :...
became part of the city, Double Ditch was renamed South Parade, supposedly on the suggestion of a German professor said to be an authority on Oxford history" but other sources date the renaming to 1890–91. It is certainly the case that "until the 1870s, it was the most southerly limit of the Whorestone [Farm] Estate." To summarise:
North Parade was one of the earliest developments on St. John'sSt John's College, Oxford__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
leasehold land, soon after 1855, and was so called from the start ... South Parade was known by that name at least as early as 1859. We do not know which got its name first, but when either was named there would have seemed no need to consider the existence of the other. One was in Oxford, the other in a village out in the County. In terms of Oxford, North Parade was north; in terms of Summertown, South Parade was south. When Summertown was made part of Oxford, the names illogically remained.