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An Introduction to Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire (shortened as Oxon) is in South/central England and has a rich history stretching back to Saxon times. The landscapes are generally flat except for a branch of the Chiltern Hills in the South/East. It was a significant location for the Romans, who developed a successful pottery industry around the abundance of Oxford’s clay, sand and fuel.

In 849AD King Alfred the Great was born in Wantage and made Faringdon become capital of Wessex. William the Conqueror crossed the River Thames at Wallingford in 1067 and built a large castle.

Oxford's university began teaching in 1096 and as it developed so too did trade. By the time the wool industry began to establish itself in the 13th and 14th centuries the county had become extremely prosperous.

Wealthy landowners established ‘new’ towns such as Henley and extended existing villages such as Banbury and Witney to increase their revenues from rents and market dues. The burgeoning wool trade of the Cotswolds enriched many of the county’s churches.

In the Middle Ages, Oxfordshire was a part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. During the English civil war it was a stronghold of royalist resistance. Woodstock falls within this county and is rich in historical associations. Particularly for the famous Blenheim Palace, . which is home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and one of Britain's greatest houses. The Palace is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and has many attractions for the whole family

The county town is the the city of Oxford, which offers a mix of medieval buildings and modern bustle. Oxford has a great deal to fill a day visit or short break. It's full of uniquely striking buildings, and the colleges themselves, the art collections of the Ashmolean Museum, the unusual Curioxity, and the intriguing Pitt Rivers ethnology museum head a long list of rewarding places to see; the university's Botanic garden is the oldest in the world.

One of the main reasons for visiting the city is the university and like its arch rival – Cambridge, is based on the collegiate system.The colleges are scattered all throughout town and altered with historical buildings showing the impressive architectural character of several periods. Take for example the Bodleain Libray, which is the second-largest library in the country. Magdalen College, with its cloisters and deer park, was the learning school of Oscar Wilde. Hertford College is the place to go to when you want to see one of Oxford's other famous sights, the Bridge of Sighs, which design was based on the Ponte dei Sospori in Venice.

Elsewhere in the county, families are catered for by wildlife attractions, from the good mix of animals and children’s activities (they even have their own shop) at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, to the smaller-scale Wellplace Zoo, Ipsden and the Waterfowl Sanctuary & Children's Farm at Wigginton Heath, or the enjoyable Victorian re-creations at Cogges Farm Museum, Witney.

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