Hölderlin's Tower
Rosamond's retreat to Godstow reminds me of a host of writers (plus Rapunzel) who have found inspiration in their own private tower. One of them was the German poet Friedrich Hölderlin. In 1807, when he was 37, he retreated into this tower overlooking the Neckar River in Tübingen (SW Germany), and stayed there until his death in 1843. Given the way his family and acquaintances treated him, I can understand... The tower (Hölderlinturm) is the yellow house and it is now a museum dedicated to the poet.
The punting boats (Stocherkähne) are a tradition of the nearby university - and they can be rented.