Museum blog

Museum blog2021-08-18T14:29:45+01:00

This blog will explore the stories of objects and themes in the collection, give you behind-the-scenes insights into what staff and volunteers get up to, and delve into the lesser-known parts of the city’s history.

How Oxford became the home of the oldest surviving English newspaper

28 November 2023|

🕑 7 min read Even though the printing press was introduced to England in 1476, it was only in the 16th century that printed news took off, and even then, at a very slow pace, due to the necessity of town criers to provide them, stemming from the illiteracy of the general population.

A Municipal Airport for Oxford

19 June 2023|

🕑 5 min read In 1929, flying pioneer Alan Cobham launched his Municipal Aerodrome Campaign to encourage Town Councils to build local airports. He wrote to Oxford City Council’s Planning Committee but no action was taken at that time. Three years later, in 1932, an Oxford Times editorial argued that the City Council dealt with the question of a municipal aerodrome to serve the City of Oxford.

Sewage, Cholera and moving Parliament to Oxford

12 June 2023|

🕑 7 min read In 18th century Britain, many towns underwent rapid expansion, which resulted in widespread public concern around the appearance of urban surroundings. In Oxford, one such issue was the draining systems and sewage disposal, which before the late 18th century, mainly involved collection from domestic cesspits and drainage via open gutters, often in the middle of the streets.

Ghost signs

17 October 2022|

🕑 4 min read Tracing Oxford’s history in its buildings

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