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168

OXFORD.

OXFORDSHIRE.

c i t y a rm s , w ith th e d a te 15 77, is n o w the o n ly re m a in in g
r e lic i>f th e an c ie n t T o w n H a ll.
T h e m u n ic ip a l in s ig n ia c o m p rise one g r e a t an d th re e
sm a ll m a c e s, a m a y o r’ s ch a in an d b a d g e an d co rp o ra te
an d o th e r seals. T h e g r e a t m a c e of s ilv e r g i l t is the
la r g e s t c iv ic m ace in th e k in g d o m , b e in g no le ss th an 5 feet
4^ in c h e s in le n g th , an d is a v e r y fine e x a m p le of th e
o r d in a r y late t y p e ; th e sh a ft is d iv id e d in to se ctio n s
b y b o ld ly g a d ro o n e d k n o p s, an d ch a se d th r o u g h o u t w ith
ro se s , t h is t le s an d f o lia g e ; t h e lo w e r end t e r m in a te s in
a v e r y la rg e fo o t-k n o p , g a d ro o n e d an d ch a se d u n d e r­
n ea th w ith a c a n th u s leav es, a cro w n e d ro se, an d a
sh ie ld of th e c i t y a rm s , a n d b e a r in g th e in s crip tio n
fo llo w in g :— “ T h is M a c e w a s m a d e in th e M a y o r a lty of
Io h n L a m b e esq . A n n o R e g n i C a r o li 2 D u o d e c im o ”
( 1 6 6 0 - 1 ) ; th e u p p e r end of th e sh a ft h a s fo u r b ra c k e ts
su p p o rtin g th e u n u s u a lly la r g e an d m a s s iv e h e ad ,
w h ic h is d iv id e d b y fem a le fig u re s r is in g fro m scrolled
fo lia g e in to fo u r p a n els, c o n ta in in g th e u s u a l ro y a l
b a d g e s and t h e in itia ls “ C . R .
on th e fla t p late at
th e top a re th e ro y a l a r m s & c. w ith th e in itia ls “ C I I R , ”
a n d fro m th e su r r o u n d in g c ir c le t o f c ro ss e s p â té e and
fle u rs-d e -lis s p r in g s an open cro w n , s u rm o u n te d b y an
o rb and c ro ss . T h e o ld e st o f th e th re e sm a ll m a c e s, 11
in c h e s in le n g th , is of silv e r, w ith a fla t ro u n d e d head
b e a r in g tra c e s o f th e ro y a l a r m s of J a m e s I . e n c irc le d
b y a c o ro n e t ; th e p la in sh a ft h a s tw o d iv id in g ban d s,
s m a ll b r a c k e ts u n d e r th e h e a d , and a t th e fo o t th re e
c u r io u s ly fash io n ed h e ad s of oxen re s tin g on a fla t b ase,
e n g r a v e d w it h th e in itia ls “ B . H .” u n ite d b y k n o t-w o rk
and th e d a te 1606 ; th e o th e r tw o sm a ll m a c e s fo rm a
p a ir, and a r e of silv e r, 11 $ in c h e s in le n g th , w ith plain
sh a fts and h e a v y g lo b u la r h e ad s, ea ch su rm o u n te d b y a
d o u b le ca b le in c lo s in g a p la te w ith th e a rm s &c. o f th e
S t u a r t so v e re ig n s ; th e lo w e r en d s of th e s h a fts t e r ­
m in a te in c lu m s y fla n g es w ith sc ro ll-w o rk in r e lie f ;
-these m a c e s p r o b a b ly d a te fro m th e r e ig n of C h a rle s II.
T h e m a y o r ’ s g o ld ch a in and b a d g e w ere p re s e n te d to
■the C o rp o ra tio n b y A ld e rm a n J a m e s H u g h e s J .P . in
th e th ir d y e a r of h is m a y o r a lty , 18 8 3 -4 ; bhe fo rm e r
c o n s is ts of th e le tt e r s of th e w o rd “ O x e n fo rd ,” a lt e r ­
n a t in g w ith en a m elle d ro ses, a n d co n n e cte d b y plain
lin k s ; th e b a d g e is an e n rich e d m ed a llio n , b e a rin g th e
c i t y a r m s & c. in en a m el, su rro u n d e d b y c iv ic em b le m s ,
an d on th e b a c k is an in s c rip tio n . T h e co m m o n seal is
c ir c u la r and 2§ in c h e s in d ia m e te r, a n d th e e n tire sp a ce,
w ith in a b o rd e r o f la u re l leav es, is fille d w ith th e
a r m o r ia l a c h ie v e m e n t of th e c ity , g r a n te d on th e V is it a ­
tio n b y R . L e e , P o r tc u llis , in 1574 . T h e a rm s a r e : —
“ a r g . an o x p a ssa n t, g u . arm e d an d u n g u le d or ; on a
ford of w a te r b a r r y w a v y a z . S u p p o r t e r s : d e x te r , an
ele p h a n t, e r m i n e . ea red , co llared , an d lin e d a rg , arm ed
o r ; sin is te r, a b e a v e r, p p r. g o r g e d w ith a co ro n e t, and
lin e d o r ; C r e s t : a d e m i-lio n ra m p . g a rd . o r. re g a lly
c ro w n e d , an d h o ld in g b e tw e e n th e p a w s a ro se arg.
c h a r g e d w ith a n o th e r, g u . ” M o t t o : — “ F o r tis e s t v e r it a s .”
A m u c h o ld er co m m o n seal is k n o w n , a b o u t 3 in c h e s in
d ia m e te r, b e a r in g th e re p re se n ta tio n o f a tow n w ith
cre n e lla te d w a lls an d cita d e l, su rm o u n te d b y an ox,
a n d e n c irc le d w it h a leg en d : th e an c ie n t m a y o r ’ s seal
o f th e e a r ly 15 th c e n tu r y , b u t n o w k n o w n b y im p re s ­
sio n s o n ly, w a s a b o u t 1 in c h in d ia m e te r : it b o re the
d e v ic e o f an o x c r o s s in g a fo rd , an d in th e b a c k g ro u n d
a tre e , an d on th e s in iste r sid e a sm a ll sh ield ch argeo’
w it h th e a rm s o f th e C i t y of L o n d o n , so m e of th e
p r iv ile g e s of w h ic h w e re also sh a red b y O x fo rd ; arou nd
w as a le g e n d : th e re is also a m o d e rn m a y o r’ s se a l, and
th e re w as a S t a t u t e M e rc h a n t seal o f 33 E d w a rd II I .
(13 6 0 ), w ith m a rg in a l le g e n d , and w it h in t h is a fu llfaced ro yal b u s t, w ith a lio n p a ss. g a r d . ac ro ss th e
s h o u ld e rs, an d on ea ch sid e a t rip le to w e re d ca s tle : th e
c o u n te r-se a l, m u c h sm a ller, b o re th e o x cro s s in g a ford ,
a n d th e w o rd s “ Bos O x o n ie .” T h e C o rp o ra tio n p late
in c lu d e s a tw o -h a n d le d g o ld p o rrin g e r of 4407.. 5 d w ts.
p re s e n te d in 1680 o r 1681 b y G e o rg e , second D u k e of
B u c k in g h a m , w h o se a rm s , w ith th o se o f th e c ity , are
e n g ra v e d u p o n it , an d is one o f th e v e r y fe w v esse ls of
t h a t m e ta l b e lo n g in g to a co rp o ra te b o d y . T h e “ C o ro ­
natio n ” c u p , a ta ll co v e re d c u p of silv e r g ilt, 22^ in ch es
h ig h , d e riv e s it s c h ie f in t e r e s t fro m th e p r iv ile g e g ra n te d
in t iie e a r ly c h a r te r s to th e M a y o r an d C o m m o n a lty of
O x fo rd to se rve , w ith th e c itiz e n s of L o n d o n , th e office
o f b o te lr y a t th e co ro n a tio n s o f p u r so v e re ig n s, and to
re c e iv e fo r t h e ir fe e th re e m a p le c u p s o r m a z e rs, and
th e p re s e n t c u p , th o u g h not a m a z e r, ap p ears fro m
t h e in s c rip tio n on it to h a v e been g iv e n to S ir S am p so n
W h ite k t. m a y o r o f O x fo rd , b y C h a rle s H . a t h is co ro ­
n atio n ; th e b o w l, fo o t an d c o v e r a re w r o u g h t w ith
flo w ers an d r o y a l b a d g e s, in low r e lie f ; th e re are also
tw o c o v e re d g r a c e cu p ? of s ilv e r g ilt, b o th v e r y fine
ex a m p le s , one p res e n te d b y th e E a rl o f A b in g d o n in
1775 , an d th e o th e r in 1781 b y th e H o n. P e re g rin e B e rtie ,

[ kelly 's

th en M .P . fo r th e c i t y ; a sta n d in g c u p of silver •
c o v e r s u rm o u n te d b y an e q u e stria n fig u re of the T
D u k e of W e llin g to n , g iv e n to t h e c it y in 1841 by ft
J o h n K id d , r e g iu s p ro fesso r o f m e d ic in e , was orieii n
p resen ted in 18 11 to J . G re e d esq. ca p ta in and adjut
in th e O x fo rd L o y a l V o lu n te e rs , and bequeathed T
him to D r. K id d , fo r m e r ly a ca p ta in in th e same r
m e n t; th e r e m a in in g p la te in c lu d e s fo u r silver tankaT"
also g if ts , an d d a tin g fro m 1615 to 1713, a silver sn ff
box of 17 12 , and a q u a n tity o f ta b le plate.
T h e C i t y P o lic e S ta tio n , w h ic h h a s an entrance fm
B lu e B o a r s tr e e t, fo rm s p a r t of th e n ew m unicipal builft'
in g s, an d co m p rise s a c h a r g e ro o m , ch ief constable's offio
p a ra d e ro o m (70 b y 55 fe e t), w e ig h ts and m easures depart
m en t, cells and w a it in g ro o m s fo r p riso n ers, sleeping apart
m en ts fo r co n sta b les, m ess ro o m , recreatio n room,9and si
o n ; u p t o 1 J a n u a ry , 1870, t h e U n iv e rsity and City po]]^
w ere d is tin c t b o d ies, ea ch w ith p e c u lia r pow ers of remote
o rig in ; b u t t h e y h a v e sin ce been am algam ated , and the
u n ite d fo rc e , c o n s is t in g of a c h ie f co n sta b le, one chief
in s p e c to r,
th re e
in s p e c to rs ,
12
sergean ts and 6'
co n s ta b le s , is u n d e r t h e m a n a g e m e n t of the watch
c o m m itte e of t h e C i t y C o u n c i l ; t h e sta tio n has sleeping
ro o m fo r 17 m en .
T h e p o lice a re now , u n d er th e C i t y of Oxford Order
1889, p laced u n d e r th e p ro v isio n s of th e “ Municipal
C o rp o ra tio n s A c t, 1882,” in lie u of t h e “ Oxford Police
A c t. 18 8 1,” w h ic h ( e x c e p t secs. 22 an d 23) has been
w h o lly rep e a led b y th e sa id O rd er.
T h e C o u n ty P o lic e S ta tio n is in th e N ew road, west
o f t h e C a s tle M o u n t.
T h e N ew C o rn E x c h a n g e , e re cte d in 1895, between
G e o rg e s tr e e t and G lo u c e s te r G re e n , in place of the former
E x c h a n g e , b u ilt in 1861-2 in th e old T o w n H all yard, is of
red b r ic k w ith fre esto n e d re ssin g s , fro m plans by Mr. H.
W . M o o re, a r c h it e c t, of O x fo rd , an d , b esid e s the Exchange
h a ll, in c lu d e s a F ir e B r ig a d e sta tio n , w ith a tower about
60 feet in h e ig h t, a clu b ro o m , and a residence for the
forem an , as w e ll as a ra n g e of sh o p s fa cin g G eorge street,
an d o th e r b u ild in g s , b e s id e s offices an d lavatories, the
p rin cip a l en tra n c e b ein g in G e o r g e s tre e t. T he foundation
stone w as la id b y th e M a y o r, 22 O c to b e r, 1894.
T h e O x fo rd V o lu n te e r F ir e B rig a d e , established in
1870, ch ie fly b y th e e ffo rts o f M r. Jo sep h Round, mayor
1874-5, and su p p o rte d b y v o lu n ta r y contributions, con­
s is ts of a p re s id e n t, a ch ie f o fficer, tw o superintendents,
tw o en g in eers, one fo re m an , t h r e e as sista n t engineers, and
50 m e m b e r s ; th e p rin c ip a l s ta tio n is in G eorge street;
th ere are tw o s te a m e n g in e s an d a m an ual engine, a
ho rse fire esca p e , tw o h o se c a r ts an d hose van, together
w ith th e u s u a l a p p lia n c e s : t h e r e are branoh stations in
th e C o w le y ro a d ; C h u r c h s tr e e t, S u m m e rto w n ; Church
w a lk ; B o tle y ro ad and F o lly B rid g e .
T h e F re e P u b lic L ib r a r y and R e a d in g Room , now lodged
in th e new m u n ic ip a l b u ild in g s , w as originally opened
1 J u n e , 18 5 4 ; th e p re s e n t lib r a r y w as opened for use in
1895, and co n sists of r e a d in g , referen ce and lending de­
p a rtm e n ts and a c h ild r e n ’s r o o m ; th e lib rary contain«
p resses fo r o v e r 50,000 v o lu m e s , an d th e reading room
is a v a ila b le fo r a b o u t 200 re a d e rs a t one time.
The
w in d o w s a re ad o rn ed w ith sh ie ld s of th e arms of Sir
T h o m a s B o d le y k t. J . R. G re e n , th e historian, Sir
W illia m D a v e n a n t k t. p o et la u re a t e , and Sir William
B o x a ll k t . R .A ., D .C .L . T h e lib r a r y , under Art. xxv
o f th e C i t y of O x fo rd O r d e r of 1889, re-constituting the
C o rp o ra tio n , is v e s te d in an d m an ag ed by the Cor­
p o ra tio n , th r o u g h a sp e c ia l co m m itte e .
T h e P ro b a te C o u r t, in th e N e w road , is a building
of sto n e in th e G o th ic sty le , and w as erected in 1864;
im m e d ia te ly o p p o site and a d jo in in g th e entrance to the
C o u n ty H a ll is th e D io cesan r e g is tr y . T h e d i s t r i c t of the
P ro b a te r e g is t r y is c o -e x te n s iv e w ith th e diocese.
T h e O x fo rd C e n tra l C o n s e rv a tiv e and Unionist Club, in
G e o rg e stre e t, w a s op en ed b y t h e la te S ir George Chesney
K .C .B ., M .P ., 26 M a y , 1894.
.
,
T h e R e fo rm C lu b , in c o rp o ra te d in 1870 as a social ami
p o litica l as so cia tio n , has o v er 500 m em b ers, in c ln d in g a n
th e le a d in g L ib e r a ls of th e c ity . T h e club rooms are e
th e L ib e r a l H a ll, in N ew In n H a ll street, a building °
stone, e re c te d in 18 77, fo r th e m e e tin g s of ward asso­
ciatio n s.
T h e C lare n d o n C lu b (n o n -p o litica l) has premises a
54 C o r n m a r k e t stre e t.
T h e E a s t O x fo rd L ib e r a l C lu b , w hich has 2 °. nl jn
b e rs , w as fo rm e d in 1891, and occu p ies premise
C ro w n s tr e e t, C o w le y S t . J o h n .
, ..
T h e C o u n ty H a ll an d A s s iz e C o u rts , erected m >v
a t a c o s t of ^ 15 ,0 0 0 , are in th e N ew road, and occ It
in p a rt th e s ite of th e g r e a t h a ll and northern ya s
O x fo rd C a s t l e ; th e y are m a s s iv e ly b u ilt of ston^,|1
th e C a ste lla te d sty le , th e h a ll b ein g in the c.entrej00Dli
a c o u r t on e ith e r sid e ; th ere is also a grand jury

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