Port Meadow, Oxford

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Port Meadow is a large area of common land to the north and west of Oxford, England.

The meadow is an ancient area of grazing land, still used for horses and cattle, and has never been ploughed. It runs from Jericho to Wolvercote along the east (left) bank of the River Thames, with the suburb of North Oxford further to the east. It is a typical English floodmeadow and is a favorite area for walking, with easy access from the city of Oxford. It is also a UK government SSSI. In the winter it floods and if frozen forms a huge and safe area for skating. In late spring vast areas are carpeted with buttercups.

Because the meadow has never been ploughed, it contains well preserved archaeological remains, some of which survive as residual earthworks. Of particular note are several Bronze Age round barrows and and an area of Iron Age settlement.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the meadow was used for horse racing, and low stone bridges laid over washes and ditches for this purpose still survive.^[1]

Medley Sailing Club, the furthest upstream sailing club on the River Thames, is located on the riverbank opposite the meadow.