Oxfordshire Studies Blog

Free online access to Alien Arrivals Collection

2010-03-09T12:53:00.004Z

In a partnership with the UK National Archives, family history data provider Ancestry has just released online the Alien Arrivals Collection.

The Alien Arrivals Collection documents the arrival of more over 600,000 immigrants into the UK, in the periods 1810-1811 and 1826-1869.

This important addition to Ancestry's databases of migrant information can be searched and viewed free of charge on the Ancestry Library website at Oxfordshire Studies, Oxfordshire Record Office, and in all Oxfordshire County Council libraries.

Better still, it is now possible to use the Alien Arrivals records alongside complementary British records to paint a clearer picture of the impact of European immigration on 19th century Britain. Political and economic conditions in Italy, for example, encouraged many to seek a new life in England and Wales:

Charles Camozzi

Ironmonger and clockmaker Charles Camozzi was recorded in the 1841 census, living with his Bicester-born wife Eleanor and their five children.

By the time of the 1851 census his business has clearly propsered, with properties both in Bicester Market Place and Buckingham Market Place, and a son and son-in-law gainfully employed as watchmakers.

Charles Camozzi no doubt made several trips between Italy and Britain, securing his family's future, but he can be pinpointed for certain on a sailing of the steam vessel Ocean, journeying from Rotterdam to London on 18 September 1847 and, although he is listed as an 'alien', it's interesting to see that his country of origin is given as "Bicester, Oxon".

Friedrich Max Muller

German-born Max Muller, philologist and Sanskrit expert, was one of the early foreign academics attracted to Oxford University after the requirement to be a member of the Church of England was lifted.

Muller is to be found on the 11 June 1846 List of Aliens for a sailing from Boulogne, when he was known to have met The Times correspondent, William Howard Russell, after which the two became lifelong friends.

He became a great and respected figure in the University, and did much to promote Hindu life and culture in Europe. He married London-born Georgina Adelaide in 1859, and is recorded in the 1871 census for Norham Gardens, Oxford, with a thriving household of four children and six servants.

Saving a Century - fifty years of fighting for historic buildings

2010-03-06T09:56:00.000Z

A photographic exhibition celebrating the work of the Victorian Society opens in Oxford on Tuesday 9 March.
Curated by leading architectural historian, Gavin Stamp, Saving a Century illustrates some of The Victorian Society’s most remarkable campaigns, among them the battles for St Pancras, Liverpool’s Albert Dock, the Foreign Office and the much-regretted Euston Arch.

The exhibition also contains photographs of buildings saved from the wrecking ball in Oxfordshire.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday 9 March at Oxfordshire Studies, Oxford Central Library, Westgate until 23 April 2010.

It is open Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat, 9am till 5pm. Free exhibition catalogues are available to take away.

A new Oxfordshire History Centre

2010-02-25T15:42:00.002Z

Following the County Council budget meeting, plans are now going ahead to bring Oxfordshire Studies and Oxfordshire Record Office together as a single Oxfordshire History Centre.

The Centre will be located in St Luke's Church, Cowley, currently occupied by the Record Office, but the building will be redesigned to match its new function.

This is still in the early stages, so keep an eye on this blog for updates - and consultation about what you want from the new Centre.

Carl Boardman
History Services Manager

Better facilities for searching historic Oxfordshire newspapers

2010-02-25T14:45:00.002Z

Recent visitors to Oxfordshire Studies at Westgate, Oxford, may have noticed the addition of a shiny new microfilm reader to our existing range of equipment.
This increases the number of large-screen film readers to six, and has been achieved through a generous donation from the Oxfordshire Family History Society.

So now we can accommodate even more users of historic newspapers and wills on microfilm, but do give us a call on 01865 815749 to book a reader before you make a special trip.

Jackson's Oxford Journal 1800-1900

You can also enjoy free online access to the fully-searchable content of Jackson's Oxford Journal 1800-1900, our oldest county newspaper, through Oxfordshire Libraries Reference Online service.

This is one of the many titles available in the 19th Century British Library Newspapers collection.

You can access Reference Online at Oxfordshire Studies, Oxfordshire Record Office and in all Oxfordshire libraries, as well as from home using your library ticket.

Heritage Search – your key to discovering more about Oxfordshire’s past

2010-02-25T12:43:00.007Z

Did you know that Heritage Search is a free-to-use catalogue of Oxfordshire's cultural and heritage resources?

You can use it to find a wide range of documents, artefacts, photographs and publications relating to Oxfordshire's past:

70,000 historic photographs, oral history recordings and videos about Oxfordshire

Books, pamphlets, maps, microfilm and digital resources at Oxfordshire Studies, Oxford
Historic documents of the county from 1150 onwards, available at Oxfordshire Record Office, Cowley, Oxford
Historic artefacts at The Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, and the Museums Resource Centre at Standlake
The Historic Environment Record index of buildings, monuments, excavations and finds in Oxfordshire
Military records and artefacts held by the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust, Bicester

Heritage Search is free to access at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/heritagesearch

Yesterday's news 5th February 1960

2010-02-05T10:08:00.002Z

57 year controversy ends
Cumnor votes for street lighting
By 34 votes to 26 people of Cumnor village last night approved the provision of street lighting and gave their Parish Council the right to have the work started. The decision applied to all of Cumnor except Dean Court ward (which is already lit) and Farmoor.
Thus a narrow majority ended an argument which was said to have been going on since 1903.
The meeting was shown a plan of the lighting drawn up by the Southern Electricity Board, with 60 lamps distributed throughout the ward. The cost of installation would be about £2,300 - or £30 a lamp - and it would cost a 6d rate in the first year. The lighting as proposed would cost ratepayers around £520 a year. About 100 people heard the discussion among the villagers in the New School.
"This won't make Cumnor another Kidlington," said Mr Frank Cheeseman, the Chairman.

Oxford Mail. Friday 5th February 1960 page 9

For information on Oxfordshire newspapers visit our website

A strange sight in Stonesfield churchyard Jan 2010

2010-02-02T16:16:00.001Z

Photographer Howard Colley.

Yesterday's news - January 1810

2010-01-30T15:20:00.003Z

A cluster of islands has recently been discovered in the South Seas, by Captain Bristow, son of the late Mr Bristow, surgeon of Begbroke in this county. These islands are situated in 50.40 south latitude, 116.35 east longitude; they are seven in number, and the largest contains a fine harbour in which the abundance of fish, fowl, wood and water can be easily procured. This to ships employed in the southern fishery, in so remote a region is of great benefit; and it is probable that other advantages may be derived from them by this country. Captain Bristow has named them "Lord Auckland's Group".

The Oxford University and City Herald and Midland County Chronicle
Saturday January 27th 1810
Page 3

Click on Oxfordshire newspapers to find out which newspapers we have.

Changing Oxfordshire: a personal view

2010-01-28T14:10:00.003Z

Where else can you see a display that combines elephants walking along Park End Street in Oxford, a double decker bus taking passengers to Heaven and a butcher's shop in Hook Norton?

Our latest display is of photographs taken by Malcolm Graham who was Head of Oxfordshire Studies until he retired in 2008. The display includes over 120 images from the thousands of photographs he has taken during the last 40 years.

There are photographs of new and lost buildings, pubs, transport, homes, business, retail and leisure and some quirkier images too.

You can see the display Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9 - 5 until the end of February 2010.

Entry is free, so why not visit us on the second floor of the Central Library in Oxford, at the entrance to the Westgate Shopping Centre.

If you cannot get in to Oxford, you can see more of Malcolm's images on Heritage Search