Parson's Pleasure

Parson's Pleasure was a bathing site on the River Cherwell near University Parks in Oxford, enclosed by tall corrugated iron fences. The facility occupied riverside land where swimmers could use the water in a secluded, sheltered setting.

The site began operating in the early 1800s and functioned as a male-only bathing location until it closed in 1991. Throughout nearly two centuries, it served as an established gathering place associated with Oxford University.

This riverside location held special meaning within Oxford University circles as a place where academics gathered for solitude. The site became woven into campus traditions through countless stories that students shared and retold over generations.

The location sits along the riverbank and is accessible on foot via paths around University Parks. Visitors should be aware that this is a historical site with natural water and riverside conditions typical of a working river.

A swimming instructor named Samuel Hounslow rescued sixteen people from drowning between 1844 and 1859 at this location. His life-saving work became a notable part of the site's story.

GPS coordinates: 51.76020,-1.24653

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:00