A spicy mix of Oxford stories from a house once belonging to a city sausage maker.
When I was researching Oxford tokens for a previous ‘Sausage’ post, I came across a coin that had been struck in the mid 17th century with the sign of a…
Though the weather is still cold, a bright sunny day this week found me heading up Walton Street to St Sepulchre’s cemetery. Sandwiched between a Londis convenience store – with…
I’ve long been curious to know more about the ‘Whites of Appleton’. It’s a name that keeps cropping up when you live in Oxford and while most residents will never…
On Thursday 2nd May 1922, The Illustrated Oxford Journal reported the opening of new public baths in Paradise Square, St Ebbe’s. ‘The baths should fulfil a long felt need in…
I find it hard to understand why the architecture of Keble College has aroused such animosity. I pass it regularly on my route to the University Parks, and I love…
This is the time of year that I set off on my bicycle to enjoy the beauty of Cordelia Hall’s display of hyacinth vases. Her home is situated on one…
Imagine if you could design your own currency. Decide on an image to represent you, pop in your initials, a date and a pretty border, make the die, and then…
One of the regular activities that perks me up as I claw my way through dull grey January is marmalade making. A couple of weeks into the New Year, crates…
Take one look at the faded photograph of the charming villa above and you might think this a story about Oxford house prices. Far from it. It’s the tale of…
Contributing photographer John Milnes has been out on his bicycle collecting pictures of Oxford’s ghost signs. Here he explains his fascination with these spectres from a bygone age. I’ve been…