Oxford

: This article is about the city of Oxford in England. See also other meanings, including other cities.

History

Oxford was first occupied in Saxon times, and was initially known as "Oxanforda". It began with the foundations of St Frideswide's nunnery in the 8th century, and was first mentioned in written records in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the year 912. In the 10th century Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes.

Related Topics:
Saxon - Oxanforda - Frideswide - Nunnery - 8th century - Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - 912 - 10th century - Mercia - Wessex - Danes

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The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th century records. Oxford's earliest colleges were University College (1249), Balliol (1263) and Merton (1264).

Related Topics:
University of Oxford - 12th century - College - University College - 1249 - Balliol - 1263 - Merton - 1264

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Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford is unique as a college chapel and cathedral in one foundation. Originally the Priory Church of St Frideswide, the building was extended and incorporated into the structure of the Cardinal's College shortly before its refounding as Christ Church in 1546, since which time it has functioned as the cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford.

Related Topics:
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford - 1546 - Diocese

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The relationship between "town and gown" has often been uneasy—several university students were killed in the St Scholastica Day Riot of 1355.

Related Topics:
St Scholastica Day Riot - 1355

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During the English Civil War, Oxford housed the court of Charles I in 1642, after the king was expelled from London, although there was strong support in the town for the Parliamentarian cause. The town yielded to Parliamentarian forces under General Fairfax in 1646.

Related Topics:
English Civil War - Charles I - 1642 - London - Parliamentarian - General Fairfax - 1646

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In 1790 the Oxford Canal connected the city with Coventry. The Duke's Cut was completed by the Duke Of Marlborough in 1789 to link the new canal with the River Thames; and in 1796 the Oxford Canal company built their own link to the Thames, at Isis Lock. In the 1840s the Great Western Railway and London and North Western Railway linked Oxford with London.

Related Topics:
1790 - Oxford Canal - Coventry - Duke Of Marlborough - River Thames - Great Western Railway - London and North Western Railway

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In the 19th century the controversy surrounding the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church drew attention to the city as a focus of theological thought.

Related Topics:
Oxford Movement - Anglican

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Oxford's Town Hall was built by Henry T. Hare, the foundation stone was laid on 6 July 1893 and opened by the future King Edward VII on 12 May 1897. The site has been the seat of local government since the Guild Hall of 1292 and though Oxford is a city and a Lord Mayoralty, it is still called by its traditional name of "Town Hall".

Related Topics:
6 July - 1893 - King Edward VII - 12 May - 1897 - Local government - 1292 - Lord Mayor - Town Hall

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By the early 20th century Oxford was experiencing rapid industrial and population growth, with the printing and publishing industries becoming well established by the 1920s. Also during that decade the economy and society of Oxford underwent a huge transformation as William Morris established the Morris Motor Company to mass produce cars in Cowley, on the south-eastern edge of the city. By the early 1970s over 20,000 people worked in Cowley at the huge Morris Motors and Pressed Steel Fisher plants. By this time Oxford was a city of two halves: the university city to the west of Magdalen Bridge and the car town to the east. This led to the witticism that "Oxford is the left bank of Cowley". Cowley suffered major job losses in the 1980s and 1990s during the decline of British Leyland, but is now producing the successful New MINI for BMW.

Related Topics:
20th century - 1920s - William Morris - Morris Motor Company - Cowley - 1970s - British Leyland - New MINI - BMW

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The influx of migrant labour to the car plants, recent immigration from south-east Asia, and a large student population, have given Oxford a notable cosmopolitan character, especially in the Headington, Jericho and Cowley Road areas with their many bars, cafes, restaurants, clubs, ethnic shops and fast food outlets.

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On 6 May 1954 Roger Bannister ran the first authenticated sub-four minute mile at the Iffley Road track in Oxford.

Related Topics:
6 May - 1954 - Roger Bannister

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Oxford's "other" university Oxford Brookes University, formerly Oxford Polytechnic, based at Headington, was given its charter in 1991.

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