Oxford was first mentioned in 912. By the late 1100s it was home to a young university, Charles I made it his capital in the Civil War, and its Bodleian Library, founded in 1602, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
700s
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Oxenford
Oxford was founded in the 700s. It was once called Oxenford, a name that became 'Oxford' in the 1400s.
From the records: “Founded in the eighth century, it was granted city status in 1542.”
912
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First written mention
Oxford is first mentioned in AD 912 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, when Edward, son of Alfred the Great, took control of 'London and Oxford'. In the 900s it was a frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex, raided by Danes, who sacked Oxford in 1004.
From the records: “The earliest notice of the City of Oxford was mentioned in AD 912 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it states that Edward, son of Alfred the Great came into possession of "London and Oxford and all regions which owed obedience to these cities".”
About 1020
Still here today
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A Saxon watch tower
St George's Tower, the tallest of Oxford Castle's towers, is now believed to be older than the castle: a Saxon watch tower from about 1020, by the town's west gate.
From the records: “This was the tallest of the castle's towers, and is now believed to be a survival from late Saxon times (c. 1020) as a watch tower associated with the west gate of the Saxon city.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1071
Still here today
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Oxford Castle
After the Norman Conquest, Norman lord Robert D'Oyly built Oxford Castle from 1071 to 1073 to secure control of the area. Its wooden walls and keep were replaced in stone by the early 1200s.
From the records: “After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Norman lord Robert D’Oyly built Oxford Castle in 1071 to secure control of the area.”
About 1120
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The university begins
There is evidence of teachers in Oxford around 1120, and by the late 1100s the town was home to the young University of Oxford. Over time, the university came to dominate life in the town, and 'town and gown' did not always get on.
From the records: “Evidence points to magistri teaching here around 1120.”
1139
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Stories of King Arthur
In 1139, in Oxford, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain, a collection of legends about King Arthur.
From the records: “It was there that in 1139 Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain, a compilation of Arthurian legends.”
1142
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Matilda besieged
In the civil war called the Anarchy, Empress Matilda came to Oxford in 1141 and based her campaign at the castle. In autumn 1142, King Stephen marched from Bristol, seized the town and besieged Matilda in the castle.
From the records: “After initially supporting King Stephen, Robert declared his support for Empress Matilda, Stephen's cousin and rival for the throne, and in 1141 the Empress marched to Oxford to base her campaign at the castle.”
1157
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Two kings born in Oxford
Richard I was born at Beaumont Palace in Oxford on 8 September 1157, and his brother, King John, on 24 December 1166.
From the records: “Richard I (reigned 1189–1199) and King John (reigned 1199–1216) the sons of Henry II, were both born at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, on 8 September 1157 and 24 December 1166 respectively.”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1488
Still here today
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Duke Humphrey's library
Oxford's first known purpose-built library was founded in the 1300s. After Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, gave a great collection of manuscripts in 1435–37, a bigger room was built above the Divinity School, finished in 1488.
From the records: “The first purpose-built library known to have existed in Oxford was founded in the 14th century under the will of Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester (d. 1327).”
1542
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Oxford becomes a city
Oxford's monasteries were closed in the 1530s. In 1542 the Diocese of Oxford was created, and Oxford became a city.
From the records: “Its ecclesiastical institutions were dismantled; the city’s monasteries were closed in the 1530s.”
1555
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The Oxford Martyrs
In 1555, the Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy and burnt at the stake, on what is now Broad Street, for their religious beliefs and teachings.
From the records: “The Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy in 1555 and subsequently burnt at the stake, on what is now Broad Street, for their religious beliefs and teachings.”
1602
Still here today
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The Bodleian Library
After a period of decline, Sir Thomas Bodley offered to support the old university library, and it reopened as the Bodleian Library on 8 November 1602. In 1610 he agreed with the Stationers' Company to get a copy of every book they registered, and by 1620 it had 16,000 items. It is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and its Divinity School appears in some of the Harry Potter films.
From the records: “It was not until 1598 that the library began to thrive once more, when Thomas Bodley wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the university offering to support the development of the library: "where there hath bin hertofore a publike library in Oxford: which you know is apparent by the rome it self remayning, and by your statute records I will take the charge and cost upon me, to reduce it again to his former use."”
1642
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The king's capital
During the English Civil War, Charles I was expelled from London and made Oxford his capital from 1642 to 1646. In 1646 the city surrendered to Parliament's forces under General Fairfax. In 1665–66, Charles II's court stayed in Oxford to escape the Great Plague of London.
From the records: “During the English Civil War, Charles I made Oxford his de facto capital (1642–1646); he moved his court to Oxford, using the city as his headquarters after being expelled from London.”
1683
Still here today
🦤
A museum with a dodo
The Ashmolean Museum opened on 24 May 1683 to show the curiosities Elias Ashmole gave to the university. It is the world's second university museum. It had the stuffed body of the last dodo seen in Europe, but by 1755 it was so moth-eaten that all but its head and one claw were destroyed.
From the records: “The museum opened on 24 May 1683, with naturalist Robert Plot as the first keeper.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1769
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Watching Venus
In 1769 the astronomer Thomas Hornsby watched the transit of Venus from the Bodleian's Tower of the Five Orders. New landmarks of the time included the Radcliffe Camera and the Radcliffe Observatory.
From the records: “The astronomer Thomas Hornsby observed the transit of Venus from the Tower of the Five Orders in 1769.”
1790
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The Oxford Canal
In 1790 the Oxford Canal linked the city to Coventry. The Duke's Cut, finished in 1789, and Isis Lock, built in 1796, joined the canal to the Thames.
From the records: “In 1790, the Oxford Canal connected the city with Coventry.”
1791
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The 'Oxford' Symphony
In 1791 the university gave the composer Joseph Haydn an honorary degree. Three concerts of his music were held at the Sheldonian Theatre, and his Symphony No. 92 became known as the 'Oxford' Symphony.
From the records: “Joseph Haydn was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford University in 1791, an event commemorated by three concerts of his music at the Sheldonian Theatre, directed by the composer and from which his Symphony No. 92 earned the nickname of the "Oxford" Symphony.”
1810
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Turner paints the High Street
In 1810 Turner painted The High Street, Oxford, his only full-size townscape in oil paints. The Ashmolean bought it in 2015 after a public appeal.
From the records: “In 2015 the Ashmolean raised the money needed to acquire a major painting by J.”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1844
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The railway arrives
In 1844 the Great Western Railway linked Oxford with London, through Didcot and Reading, and other lines soon followed.
From the records: “In 1844, the Great Western Railway linked Oxford with London via Didcot and Reading, and other rail routes soon followed.”
1884
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The Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum, next to the Museum of Natural History, was founded in 1884. It holds over 500,000 items from the university's archaeology and anthropology collections.
From the records: “Adjoining the Museum of Natural History is the Pitt Rivers Museum, founded in 1884, which displays the university's archaeological and anthropological collections, currently holding over 500,000 items.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1915
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Hiding the books
In July 1915, fearing Oxford would be bombed, the Bodleian moved its most valuable books to a secret location and trained a volunteer fire brigade. Oxford got through the First World War without being bombed.
From the records: “In July 1915, the most valuable books had been moved into a secret location due to a fear that Oxford would be bombed, and a volunteer fire brigade was trained and ready, but Oxford escaped the First World War without being bombed.”
1900s
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Printing and cars
In the 1800s and 1900s Oxford boomed, with big printing and car-making industries. Car-making at Cowley lost many jobs in the 1980s and 1990s, but the Mini is now made there for BMW.
From the records: “Later in the 19th and 20th century, the town grew and underwent an industrial boom where major printing and car-manufacturing industries began establishing in the city.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1954
World first
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The four-minute mile
On 6 May 1954, Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old medical student, ran the first authenticated mile in under four minutes, at the Iffley Road running track in Oxford.
From the records: “On 6 May 1954, Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old medical student, ran the first authenticated sub-four-minute mile at the Iffley Road running track in Oxford.”
2005
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Sleeping in a prison
After the Civil War the castle was used as a prison, which was rebuilt from 1785. The prison closed in 1996, and in 2005 part of it opened as a hotel, with the old cells as guest rooms.
From the records: “While in 1785, a new prison complex was built on the site of the old dilapidated Oxford Castle after it was judged to be in a poor state by John Howard, as the castle had been used as the local prison after the civil war.”
2017
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A Viking hoard
In 2017 the Ashmolean bought a Viking hoard that had been found near Watlington, in South Oxfordshire, in 2015.
From the records: “In 2017 the museum acquired a Viking hoard that was discovered near Watlington in South Oxfordshire in 2015.”