Oxford, the Thames and leisure: updated thoughts (August 2016)
This month (August 2016) my doctoral thesis (‘Oxford, the Thames and Leisure: a History of Salter Bros, 1858 – 2010‘) is finally... Read More
A brief history of Salter Bros Ltd (Salter’s Steamers)
There are a number of long established businesses still operating on the Royal River Thames and arguably the most famous of these... Read More
Where was the ford of Oxford?
Oxford was named after its ford, but where was the original crossing place of the town? Many Oxonians have their theories. Some... Read More
The history of May Morning
There are many traditions associated with Oxford, but one of the best-known and much-loved annual events is May Morning. The festival occurs... Read More
Invented traditions of Oxford
E. J. Hobsbawm and T. O. Ranger popularised the term ‘invented tradition‘ to describe practices that are relatively recent and yet are... Read More
Building Racing Boats: Salter Bros
The Salter family was one of the most important boat building firms connected with the sport of rowing. Their firm rose to... Read More
The history of racing boat building
The famous boat race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge receives a huge amount of attention, but the eights that the... Read More
Recommended resources on the history of Oxford
If you are wanting to study the (recent) history of Oxford, here is a list/bibliography of helpful resources: General One of the... Read More
Arson and acid: the darker side of the Oxford Suffragette movement
Arson and acid: the darker side of the Oxford suffragette movement Remarkable scenes were witnessed on the streets of Oxford on 21... Read More
The River Thames and the Popularisation of Camping, 1860-1980
This academic article by Simon Wenham reconsiders the history of (recreational) camping in Britain. It challenges the prevailing idea that the pastime... Read More