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Search results - The City of Oxford, 1850 - 1914
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Key facts
| Type | Weekly Classes |
|---|---|
| Location | Oxford |
| Address | Rewley House 1 Wellington Square Oxford OX1 2JA |
| Dates | Thu 17 Jan to Thu 28 Mar 2013 Day: Thursday Time of meeting: 2.00 - 4.00pm Number of meetings: 10 |
| Subject area(s) | Local and Social History |
| CATS points | 10 |
| Fees | From £165.00 |
| Application status | Course ended |
| Course code | O12P674LHW |
| Course contact | If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk. |
Overview
We will investigate the economic, social and cultural changes that Oxford underwent in the later Victorian and Edwardian periods, taking it from a city still heavily dependent on its university for both fame and fortune to one ready, finally, to participate in the industrial revolution.Description
In 1850 Oxford was a fairly small, inward-looking city, still largely contained within its medieval boundaries; by the eve of the First World War it had quadrupled in size and was poised to become one of the major manufacturing centres in southern England. We will examine the social, cultural and economic changes that the city underwent in this 65-year period and set them in the context of national developments. How did the coming of the railway, university reforms, religious upheaval, a rise in real wages and increasing concern for public health and sanitation affect the provision of education, leisure and public services, employment opportunities and the rapid development of Oxford’s suburbs? The history of the city itself is still often neglected, even by its own citizens, and our main focus will be on the “town”, rather than the “gown”.Programme details
Week 1: Introduction to the course. Housekeeping. Historical background: Oxford in 1850. Survey of themes and sources.Week 2: Politics, city government and public services
Week 3: Public health, housing, poor relief and charity
Week 4: Commerce and industry
Week 5: Development of the suburbs
Week 6: Religion
Week 7: Education
Week 8: Leisure and entertainment
Week 9: Walking tour of the city
Week 10: Conclusions
Background Reading:
Crossley, A. & Elrington, C.R., A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 4 - The City of Oxford (Victoria County History (VCH), 1979)
Fenby, C., The Other Oxford : the Life and Times of Frank Gray and his Father (Lund Humphries, 1970)
Graham, M. & Waters, L., Oxford Yesterday & Today (Sutton, 1997, reprinted 2002)
Graham, M., On Foot in Oxford. Twelve leaflets covering various areas of the city (Oxford City Libraries Local History Collection, 1974-1988)
Oxfordshire Heritage Search (for images and archive material on buildings and people) http://tinyurl.com/ycgu9mp
Thompson, F.M.L., The Rise of Respectable Society: A Social History of Victorian Britain, 1830-1900 (Fontana, 1988)
Thompson, P.R., The Edwardians: The Remaking of British Society (Paladin, 1977)
Tyack, G., Oxford: An Architectural Guide (OUP, 1998)
Course aims
Course Aim:To examine the social, cultural and economic history of Oxford’s “town” (as opposed “gown”) in the Victorian and Edwardian periods and to set that history in the context of contemporary developments in English society nationally.
Course Objective:
1. To study developments in housing, education, public services, transport, local government, industry, commerce, leisure and religion in Oxford during the period 1850 to 1914.
2. To examine how developments in Oxford related to changes in English society generally during this period.
3. To identify, evaluate, interpret and compare appropriate primary sources for Oxford for the period.
4. To help students who wish to, to identify and begin research projects of their own.
Assessment methods
No special expertise or knowledge will be expected, just a willingness to join in class activities. Each week the tutor will provide hand-outs which students will use as the basis for four short (250-word) written assignments or for one more detailed (1,000-word) written assignment. Alternatively, students may pursue a subject of their own choosing in consultation with the tutor.Teaching methods
A range of teaching and learning methods will be used, including short lectures and illustrated presentations from the tutor, reading and interpretation of documents in pairs or small groups, and class discussion. One of the ten sessions will be a guided walk around Oxford, looking at relevant buildings and at the topography of the city. Teaching materials will include copies of texts, maps and images. Students will be expected to read one or two recommended introductory texts before the start of the course and to prepare material from hand-outs for discussion in class. They will be encouraged to follow up their own particular interests by reading more widely, visiting relevant exhibitions and carrying out their own explorations of the city.Teaching outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:1. Have an informed awareness of Oxford’s history from 1850 to 1914.
2. Be conscious of how Oxford’s development during this period related to what was happening nationally.
3. Be able to identify, interpret, evaluate and discuss a range of primary source materials relating to Oxford for this period.
4. Have the confidence to engage in research on their own behalf and, if they wish, to have identified a suitable topic for further investigation.
Apply for this course
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