A picture of a gymnasium in Oxford, circa 1858/59. Nineteenth-century trends in physical education included climbing and fencing.
English: Accompanying text from the 'Illustrated London News', 5 November 1859: The building is situated in Alfred-street, leading from the High-street, and lies nearly in the centre of the University and City. The appearance of the building, now it is complete, with all its appurtenances, is most interesting, and far exceeds anything of the kind in this or any other country. Every portion of it has been carefully adapted to some important purpose: long rows of lofty windows give sufficient ventilation in summer, and, when in cold or damp weather these are closed, their place is efficiently supplied by a ventilating octagonal lantern rising from the dome-shaped centre roof, and fitted with swing sashes so adapted that they can be opened and shut with the greatest facility. A large centre space, open from the ground floor to the dome, allows every spot to be seen from every other, and not only gives accommodation for the apparatus for high climbing and swinging exercises, but affords facilities for the most complete control and supervision. As fencing forms and important part of educational exercise, one half of the upper floor is fitted up as a fencing-school, while the corresponding portion contains modified exercises for young or delicate pupils. The area is entirely devoted to gymnastic exercises on a very extended scale; and, to ensure perfect safety in their practice, the floor is composed of a carefully-constructed padding, soft, thick, and elastic. The physical condition of every pupil, child or adult, on his first entrance to the gymnasium, is carefully examined, and his height and weight, &c., carefully compared with his size, condition, and conformation of body, so that his exercises may be adapted to that part which is defective. Among other machines employed for this purpose is one invented by Mr. McLaren by which he can measure the depth and width of the chest at any point. The building is open daily from nine until four o’clock. Part of this time is devoted to delicate children of both sexes, part to pupils, and the remainder to members – that is, to those pupils who are sufficiently advanced to be able to practise with a less close supervision. Different exercises are, of course, meted out to different pupils in accordance with their age, habits, and physical calibre. Mr. McLaren appears to know what gymnastics truly mean – viz., the education of the body and the apportioning with skilful hand and experienced eye the quality and quantity of the exercises best suited to the special wants of each pupil. Here, too, may be seen that most interesting display — the human frame brought by skilful culture to its perfect attainable point of grace and strength; and in the afternoon, when the more advanced pupils are going through the various feats connected with the jumping horses, horizontal bars, the trapezium, rope ladders, wall-scaling, &c., it presents a scene so animated and striking that few turn from the visitors’ gallery without a feeling of something more than interest in this well-contrived and ably conducted institution. The building has been carried out in a satisfactory manner by Messrs. Castle. (the above retrieved from: http://www.oxfordhistory.org.uk/schools/gymnasium.html )