The Eagle and Child in Oxford was known affectionately as the "Bird and Baby" by the two men who made it part of literary history: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
Situated on St. Giles Street, near Blackfriars and Somerville College, The Eagle and Child is a destination for literary pilgrims from all over the world. Inside it doesn’t look much like a literary shrine, with its dark oak settles, gleaming beer pumps, diminutive fireplace, and slightly incongruous conservatory. For many years, however, it was the favourite watering place of the “Inklings”, a group of writers, poets and religious thinkers which centred on C.S Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien whilst they were both dons at the University.
The group met in Lewis’ college on Thursday evenings rooms to read and criticise each other’s works in progress, including the first drafts of The Lord of the Rings. Their Tuesdays mornings in the bar of the “Bird and Baby” were dedicated to discussing theology and literature. For, as well as being writers and religious philosophers, Lewis and Tolkien were connoisseurs of a good pint, who derided the “varnish” served at The Mitre on the High Street, and did full justice to the fine ales served at the Eagle and Child whenever wartime shortages permitted. After indulging this taste one Tuesday morning, Tolkien was vastly amused to find an article in the Daily Telegraph which referred to “the ascetic Mr. Lewis.”, since, as Tolkien commented, “He put away three pints in a very short session this morning, and said he going short for Lent!”
The Eagle and Child was well-known as the group’s meeting place even during their lifetime, and some odd visitors dropped in. One morning Tolkien noticed “a strange, tall gaunt man half in khaki half in mufti with a large wide-awake hat, bright eyes and a hooked nose” sitting in the corner listening to them, and later remarked he felt exactly like Frodo looking up to find Strider in the taproom of the Prancing Pony. The visitor was in fact Roy Campbell, a Fascist poet and bullfighter who had sought them out to join their discussions whilst he was visiting Oxford.
All that remains of the Inkling’s brilliant circle in the Eagle and Child is a plaque on the wall and some of their books displayed behind the bar, but coachloads of people still flock there to drink in both the atmosphere and the ales. Both are superb, and the Bird and Baby has staunchly refused to become a “theme pub” for either Narnia or The Lord of the Rings – it is well worth a visit if you’re in the area!
