Oxford

• Oxford is located on the river Thames and is the county town of Oxfordshire. It was first mentioned in 911 CE as Oxnaforda, a Saxon Frontier town between Mercia and Wessex, being under the control of Edward the Elder, the Saxon King of Wessex.
• The city is home to the University of Oxford. The title of the first Oxford College to be established is claimed by University College, founded in 1249, making it the oldest University in Britain. Balliol College was next in 1263 and Merton College followed shortly after.

Oxford Roman Potteries

• The Oxford area was the location for the Oxford Roman Potteries (c.80-300 CE), an important source of pottery in Britannia, based around Headington and Cowley.
• The Potteries used the local clay from Shotover Hill.

Museums

• Ashmolean Museum
  • The Museum holds an extensive Collecton of Greek and Roman Artefacts.
• The Oxford City Museum
  • The museum holds artefacts from all periods of Oxford’s history including examples of Roman Pottery.
• Oxford Museum of the History of Science
  • The Museum has a large collection of scientific instruments for use in astronomy and navigation, including the world’s largest collection of Astrolabes.

Roman Roads

• No major Roman Road ran through Oxford itself, which did not exist in Roman times, although a Roman Road ran parallel to the River Isis in a north-south direction. The following roads were nearby:
  • Akeman Street
  • Icknield Street
  • Fosse Way

Nearby Sites

• North Leigh
  • North Leigh Roman Villa was the fourth largest Roman Villa in Britannia.
• Woodstock
  • Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock

Photo and map: Radcliffe Camera, Oxford