On 14 July, Oxford-based local historian and tour guide Mark Davies talked to a smaller than usual number of members and guests about notable events during the ceremonial circuits by Oxford’s mayors of the city’s boundaries over the past 500 years. The tradition was for the city mayor, when they first held that office, to make a tour (a ‘perambulation’) to confirm the location of the city boundary. On this tour they were accompanied by the macebearer, other city dignitaries and those freemen of Oxford who wished to attend. The boundary changed as the city of Oxford grew, but remains mainly defined by its waterways. The tour took most of the day, being enlivened by stops at various waterside pubs.

Mark presented detailed maps of the route taken along the city’s boundaries as these changed over the years and photographs taken by Oxford photographers Henry Taunt and Henry Minn of the 1892 event – the first one photographed and notable for the sinking of the punt carrying the mayor, the macebearer and worthies in the river Cherwell. The mace was retrieved from the muddy river bed, but the cross on the top of its orb was lost and had to be replaced.

Mark ended his talk by drawing attention to Stephanie Jenkins’ Oxford History website and its collection of photographs of various stone waymarkers erected when a boundary change was first ‘walked’.

Mike Evans came to talk to us about the history of Fitzharry’s Estate, just to the north of the centre of Abingdon. The estate has a rich history, transforming from a medieval Norman property to a modern residential area. Its continuous occupation highlights the enduring value of this location as it adapted through centuries to changes in society. Originating in the early 12th century as an Abingdon Abbey holding granted to the Norman knight Owen, the Manor included a small motte with a moat, built between 1071 and 1084 for defence. By 1247, Hugh Fitz-Harry, a descendant of Owen, was disputing control with the Abbey. The manor later became known by variants of his name, including Fitzharrys and Fitzharris.

After the dissolution of Abingdon Abbey in 1538, the freehold of the manor and its house passed to the new Borough of Abingdon. The Borough continued the policy of leasing out the estate and the house was rebuilt over the centuries. In 1862, the Borough sold the freehold and the manor’s farmland was gradually sold off by successive purchasers for housing as the town of Abingdon grew. Major-General Sir Charles Corkran was the last resident freeholder; he died in 1939 in a tragic shooting accident on the estate.

A pivotal shift occurred in 1946 when the Ministry of Supply acquired the estate to build houses for senior or key staff arriving in the area to work at the new Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) south of Abingdon at the former RAF Harwell. Rapid construction of 140 houses underscored the urgent national priority for atomic research and attracting talent. Residents included Bruno Pontecorvo, who defected to Moscow, linking the development to Cold War espionage. The manor house, neglected and vandalised, was demolished by 1953. Houses were initially rented, then sold by the UK Atomic Energy Authority from the early 1960s. The memories of its early residents give a picture of a happy and carefree childhood they had enjoyed on the Fitzharry’s Estate. It remains a thriving community at the heart of Abingdon.

Learn more about the Fitzharry’s Manor Estate and its history from:

• Fitzharry’s Manor Estate Residents Association
• Entry for Fitzharris Estate on the Abingdon Town Council website

The talk by John Leighfield on 12 May commenced with the Gough Map of England (c. 1400), housed in Oxford’s Bodleian Library and a key early map and how detailed development accelerated in the 16th century. Christopher Saxton’s 1579 atlas of England and Wales, funded by Elizabeth I’s courtier Thomas Seckford, became foundational. His surveys from high vantage points informed the 6th edition of William Camden’s Britannia (1607).

John Speed’s 1611 atlas added town plans and ‘hundreds’. Late Dutch engravers subsequently produced world atlases including Britain, often adapting Speed’s work occasionally with transcription errors. Notably, roads were absent until John Ogilby’s Britannia (1675), which introduced strip maps for routes and distances, reflecting growing travel needs.

The late 18th century saw county survey competitions sponsored by the Royal Society of the Arts, spurring progress. The 1791 establishment of the Ordnance Survey, driven by French invasion fears, shifted focus to official, topographical mapping at a variety of scales, largely ending commercial mapping. The depiction of places like Radley (also appearing as Rodley) on these maps evolved with improved surveying. Today, platforms like Google Maps offer instant global access, a significant leap from the laborious creation and limited availability of historical maps.

The speaker on 14 April was Katherine Bradley, who described how the path for women in professional gardening evolved significantly thanks to several pioneering figures. While traditionally seen as a domestic pursuit, individuals like Jane Loudon in the mid-19th century played a crucial role by writing and illustrating accessible gardening guides specifically for women, popularising the activity and laying the groundwork for greater involvement in gardening and horticulture.

Towards the late 19th and early 20th centuries, true professionalisation began. Fanny Wilkinson became Britain’s first professional female landscape gardener, notably designing public spaces for the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, proving women could undertake large-scale, public horticultural work. Simultaneously, Gertrude Jekyll, an influential garden designer, writer, and artist, elevated garden design through her sophisticated planting schemes and collaborations, becoming a highly respected professional whose work demonstrated the artistic and technical possibilities for women in the field. 

Early horticultural colleges for women included the Glynde School for Lady Gardeners and Swanley Horticultural College. Recognising the need for formal training, Daisy, Countess of Warwick, used her influence and resources to establish horticultural colleges for women, such as Studley College after an earlier trial in Reading, providing structured pathways into professional careers. Building on this foundation, Beatrix Havergal, along with Avice Sanders, founded the renowned Waterperry Horticultural School for Women in 1932. Waterperry became famous for its rigorous, practical training, producing highly skilled female gardeners and establishing a benchmark for professional horticultural education for women. 

Collectively, these women – through popularisation, pioneering professional practice, influential design, patronage of education and dedicated training – challenged societal norms, broke down barriers and established credible pathways for women to pursue and succeed in professional gardening careers, fundamentally shaping the landscape for future generations.

The speaker on 10 March 2025 was Maurice East, who specialises in researching lesser-known stories about Oxford and leads walking tours around the city.

Oxford’s journey from a walled city in 1096 to a rapidly expanding urban center was gradual until the early 20th century. The establishment of the University in the medieval period shaped its character, but the city remained relatively calm until William Morris founded his motor factory in Cowley. This industrial development in the east created a distinct ‘Motopolis’, contrasting with the historic ‘Christminster’ in the west, and led to the expansion of residential areas like Blackbird Leys beyond the traditional boundaries. 

Post-World War I, Oxford’s transport system, reliant on horse-drawn trams and stagecoaches, was ill-equipped for the burgeoning car ownership. Recognising the need for urban planning, Lawrence Dale proposed a relief road in his 1944 book, Towards a Plan for Oxford City, suggesting a route along Broad Walk outside Christ Church College. 

Formal town planning gained momentum after World War II, with the 1953 City of Oxford plan acknowledging the potential benefits of a relief road to alleviate traffic congestion in the historic centre. However, the proposal to build this road through Christchurch Meadow sparked significant opposition from the University and the public, elevating it to a major point of contention, even reaching the government’s cabinet. 

Ultimately, Oxford adopted a ‘Balanced Transport Policy’ that prioritised sustainable transportation methods. This shift in focus led to the abandonment of the controversial Christchurch Meadow relief road plan, consigning it to history.