Deadman’s walk

The Deadman's Walk, in Oxford

The Deadman's Walk is a peaceful path of Oxford that runs along the old medieval ramparts, laden with a moving memory. The Oxford audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this walk linked to the history of the medieval Jewish community of the town.

The path of the ramparts and the Jewish memory

Here you run along a part of the thirteenth-century defensive wall, which then surrounded the medieval town of Oxford. Climbing on the side, you glimpse what is called a bastion, built projecting to reinforce the defence of the town. But this peaceful path, the Deadman's Walk, the path of the dead man, bears an evocative name linked to a moving page of history. It owes its name to the fact that it was taken, in the Middle Ages, by the funeral processions of the Jewish community of Oxford, who carried their deceased along this path up to their cemetery, located outside the walls. The medieval Jewish community of Oxford, important and active, was expelled from England at the end of the thirteenth century, like all the Jews of the kingdom. This path thus keeps the memory of this presence and this history. Today, the Deadman's Walk offers a calm and green walk along the vestiges of the ramparts and the gardens. A place of memory and quietude, the Deadman's Walk is discovered with respect.

What to see

Here you walk, with respect, along the vestiges of the thirteenth-century defensive wall and a bastion, on the Deadman's Walk, whose name recalls that it was taken in the Middle Ages by the funeral processions of the Jewish community of Oxford leading to their cemetery outside the walls, before its expulsion at the end of the thirteenth century, today a calm and green walk. The Deadman's Walk is a place of memory of Oxford. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Deadman's Walk lies along the old ramparts, near Christ Church Meadow, in the heart of Oxford, reachable on foot. It is an open-air public path, freely accessible, where you observe the respect due to this place of memory. The walk there is calm and green.

Where does the name of the Deadman's Walk come from in Oxford?

It was taken in the Middle Ages by the funeral processions of the Jewish community of Oxford, who carried their deceased along this path up to their cemetery, outside the walls; this community was expelled from England at the end of the thirteenth century, and the path keeps the memory of this history.

Where is the Deadman's Walk of Oxford?

Along the old ramparts, near Christ Church Meadow, in the heart of Oxford, in England.