Through this blog, MOX volunteers share stories of objects and themes in the collection, reflect upon the events and people of Oxford, 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.
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The 1605 Oxford City Charter
🕑 5 min read As a result of this charter, Oxford became a corporate, free city, and as such, Oxford city corporation had the power to make by-laws, punish breaches by fine or imprisonment, sue and be sued in the corporate title, and be able to hold or dispose of property under a common seal...
The Taken Road Which Made All the Difference: Honouring the Legacy of Oxford’s Prominent Women
🕑 13 min read Oxford has seen its fair share of women who have fought to be more than simply footnotes in history. Through their actions, they have inspired or paved the way for other women to continue the journey towards an equal society. Though their actions might have been singular in nature, a personal fight, in the grand scheme of things, it is important not to only view them as such...
Pink Times – A response to Section 28
🕑 11 min read November 2023 marked twenty years since the repeal of Section 28. Introduced in 1988, Section 28 was a piece of legislation prohibiting the discussion of homosexuality within schools.
Sewage, Cholera and moving Parliament to Oxford
🕑 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.
Lady Ann Fanshawe and the Royalist Court at Oxford
🕑 12 min read Royalists, Recipes and Real Hardship
Alewives In Oxford: A History Of Female Brewing
🕑 11 min read The Importance of Ale
The St Brice’s Day Massacre
🕑 12 min read Mass grave of murdered vikings sheds light on King Aethelred’s doomed reign
The influence of Oxford nightlife
🕑 7 min read Inclusivity, culture and power
Ghost signs
🕑 4 min read Tracing Oxford’s history in its buildings
Oxford asserts its civic identity in 1191
🕑 8 min read England’s oldest surviving municipal seal
Plant Oxford: from Bullnose to BMW
🕑 4 min read Morris' manufacturing legacy continues
Hewitt Huggard: WW1 solider and student
🕑 4 min read Connections to the past from volunteer Olivia