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a little more about Oxford
 A centre of academic excellence, Oxford, with origins dating from the 8th century, has a long history interwoven with religion and learning. Because of the geography in crossing the river Isis, the Saxons named it from a combo of "oxen" and "ford". Realising it's importance as a location both politically, on the border of the two kingdoms, and commercially because it lay at the confluence of two rivers, a new fortified town was then created in the 10th century. Oxford's long association with study dates from the 12th century when an Augustinian monastery was created for learned monks. Previously the University of Paris had been the nucleus of European learning, but following a feud with the French. English scholars were expelled. These disgruntled job dodgers headed to Oxford because of the town's growing reputation as a centre of religious learning, by the end of the 12th century Oxford could boast its own University, a new rival to the University of Paris, and so the legend began.
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