Etched in stone a somber tale unfolds. Before you stands the Sandford Lasher Memorial Obelisk. This unassuming monument on the banks of the River Thames holds a poignant history. It commemorates the tragic loss of young lives. The obelisk is a stark reminder of the river’s unpredictable power.
In 1843 a devastating event occurred. Richard Phillimore a Christ Church student drowned. He valiantly tried to save his friend William Gaisford. Gaisford was the son of the Dean of Christ Church. Both young men perished in the treacherous currents of Sandford Lasher. Their deaths shook the Oxford community. The obelisk stands as a lasting tribute to their sacrifice.
The inscription on the obelisk itself is sadly inaccessible. However two memorial tablets within Christ Church Cathedral cloisters tell their story. The Latin inscription recounts the heartbreaking details of the accident. The tragedy serves as a cautionary tale for those who would test the river’s power. The inscription also speaks to the high regard for Phillimore. His intelligence piety and varied learning are highlighted. Friends and colleagues erected the obelisk. They expressed their profound sorrow at his untimely death.
The tragedy at Sandford Lasher wasn’t unique. The location has claimed other lives. The obelisk later included the name of another Christ Church man George Dasent who also died there. In 1879 a Balliol College student Clarence Sinclair Collier drowned. His death added another layer of sorrow to the obelisk’s legacy. Then in 1921 two more Christ Church students Michael Llewelyn Davies and Rupert Buxton lost their lives. Buxton was recently celebrating his 21st birthday. Davies was close to reaching that milestone. The Sandford Lasher’s power was once again demonstrated. The name of these students were later added to the obelisk.
The Sandford Lasher continues to inspire. Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat mentions the obelisk and its dark history. The obelisk’s steps have been used as a diving board. Young men tested their courage and fate at the very spot where others perished. Their recklessness highlights the ongoing allure of this dangerous place. The monument stands as a testament to the enduring power of the river and the human cost of its unforgiving nature. The Sandford Lasher Memorial Obelisk stands as a somber yet captivating piece of Oxford’s history. Its story speaks to the fragility of life and the enduring nature of grief and memory.