Osney Island walking tour

Osney Town is a planned, homogeneous Victorian development that has remained largely in its original form since it was first constructed. This year marks the 175th anniversary of its beginning, and in honour of that fact today’s Osney residents will be sharing their history with visitors via walking tours of Osney’s architectural and social history and a display of associated objects and documents. Osney is located on an island formed by the Thames and its branches, a situation that gives it “an individual character of its own” (quote from documentation of the Osney Town Conservation Area, designated in 1976: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/directory-record/214/osney-town). The island was low-lying and raised by extensive dumping of rubbish before being built on, resulting in residents unearthing some interesting objects in their back gardens. Some of the first residents were railway workers and their families — industrious people drawn here after the line reached Oxford in 1844, a good seven years before work began on Osney in 1851. Their presence shaped the island’s early character: modest, unpretentious cottages, and an unusually high number of pubs that once served this tight knit, hard working community. Osney’s distinctive streets, terraces and island setting makes it one of West Oxford’s most distinctive townscapes and offers an introduction to Oxford’s 19th century expansion beyond the medieval city.

Visit: drop-in, free flow. Tours: first come, first served.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

two tours of 90 minutes starting at 10am and 1pm, plus display from 11:30am to 3:00pm

Location & directions

Holly Bush pub, 106 Bridge Street, Osney, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 0BD

Directions:

Meet in front of the Holly Bush pub.

Contact on day:

Anna Clark

Telephone number:

+441865242918

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

We will be outdoors on a public street, so disabled access will be as usual for public streets in Oxford. Note that there is no visitor parking.

Additional information

Attendees on this tour participate at their own risk.

Max number of people:

20

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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