Oxfordshire (pop. 725,291) is an agricultural county in England. It covers about 1,006 square miles (2,605 square kilometers) and has unspoiled scenery, beautiful villages, and historic houses that attract many tourists. It is famous because Oxford, the administrative center, has one of the world’s oldest and greatest universities, the University of Oxford, often called Oxford University. Many children have heard of Banbury, one of the county’s largest towns, because of the nursery rhyme that begins: “Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross.”
Oxfordshire was increased in size in 1974. A large area that had been in Berkshire was added to the county. This area included the towns of Abingdon, Wallingford, and Wantage. It also included the Vale of White Horse (see White Horses).
People and government
Local customs.
At Oxford, May Morning (May 1) is celebrated by choristers singing at the top of Magdalen College tower. Afterwards, carillonners play melodies by ringing the tower’s bells.
Recreation.
Oxford University’s cricket team plays against first-class county teams. Oxford United football team has for a long time played in the Football League. Fox-hunting is popular. In the summer, many people go boating, fishing, or swimming on the River Thames. The International Rowing Regatta at Henley takes place in June. Oxford is a center for many cultural activities. For example, Oxford Playhouse has a repertory theater (see Theater).
Local government.
The county has five local government districts: Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire.
The crown court sits at Oxford. The Thames Valley Police has its headquarters at Kidlington.
Economy
Manufacturing.
The largest industry is motorcar assembly at Cowley, a suburb of Oxford. The business was founded by Lord Nuffield. Also in Oxford are some of Britain’s largest printing and publishing firms. Other Oxford companies make agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, and furniture. Banbury has factories that produce agricultural implements, aluminum goods, car accessories, food products, such as instant coffee, and furniture. Abingdon’s products include beer, concrete, and scientific instruments. Witney is a center of traditional Oxfordshire industries, such as making blankets and gloves. Workers at Charlbury and Woodstock also make gloves. Other Witney products are beer, engineering, printing, and scientific instruments.
Agriculture.
Oxfordshire is a rich agricultural county. Farmers use a large proportion of the land for growing such crops as barley, oats, and wheat. They also grow some noncereal crops, such as kale, mangolds, potatoes, sugar beets, and turnips. Both beef and dairy cattle thrive on Oxfordshire pastures. Some of the best dairy farms are in the Vale of Aylesbury, in the east of the county. Oxfordshire has as many sheep as it has cattle. Smallholders grow flowers, fruit, and vegetables in the regions around some of the towns.
Tourism.
Oxford is one of England’s leading tourist destinations. Oxfordshire’s other attractions include its small towns and villages. Boating is a popular pastime.
Transportation and communication.
Oxford is well served by a network of main roads. They include the A40 from London to South Wales and the A34 from Southampton to the Midlands. The M40 motorway, which runs through Oxfordshire, connects London with Birmingham and the north of England. Oxford has rail links to London, to Wales and the west of England, and to the Midlands and north of England. The main airport is at Kidlington. A canal runs from Oxford to Birmingham. Oxfordshire has its own British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio station and a commercial radio service, a local evening newspaper, and at least 30 weekly newspapers.
Land and climate
Location and size.
Oxfordshire lies in the center of southern England. It is bounded by Warwickshire and Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, the unitary authorities of Swindon, West Berkshire, Reading, and Wokingham to the south, and Gloucestershire to the west. It extends 42 miles (68 kilometers) from north to south and 33 miles (53 kilometers) from east to west.
Land regions.
There are three main land regions. Uplands in the northwest are an extension of the Cotswold Hills. These uplands, which are composed of limestone, average about 490 feet (150 meters) above sea level. They rise to over 740 feet (225 meters) in the Chipping Norton area.
Uplands in the southeast of the county are an extension of the Chiltern Hills. Uplands in the south are part of the Berkshire Downs. These uplands, which are composed of chalk, reach their highest point, more than 785 feet (240 meters) above sea level, near Watlington.
Between the two uplands lie the Vale of Oxford and the Vale of White Horse. The Vale of Oxford is low lying, with undulating hills, mainly between 197 and 295 feet (60 and 90 meters) above sea level. The Vale of White Horse is a flat expanse of clay, with many streams.
Rivers.
The Thames is the main river of Oxfordshire. It rises in the Cotswold Hills, in Gloucestershire, and forms the boundary between Oxfordshire and Berkshire for about 20 miles (30 kilometers). The Thames flows out of the Vale of Oxford through the Goring Gap, which lies between the Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs. The four main tributaries of the Thames are the Cherwell, the Evenlode, the Thame, and the Windrush.
Climate.
Average January temperatures in the lowlands are about 37 °F (3 °C). Average July temperatures in the lowlands are about 63 °F (17 °C). Upland temperatures run about 7 Fahrenheit degrees (4 Celsius degrees) cooler. The average annual rainfall is 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) in the lowlands and 30 inches (76 centimeters) in the uplands.
History
Prehistoric people built the ancient stone circle at Little Rollright, and similar circles at Enstone, Steeple Barton, and Stanton Harcourt. The Icknield Way, part of which runs along the Oxfordshire Chilterns to the River Thames at Goring, is one of the oldest roads in the British Isles. The Romans built many roads in the area. Akeman Street, which linked St. Albans and Cirencester, passed through Bicester. The Romans built settlements at Alchester, near Bicester, and at Dorchester.
In the late 700’s, the Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex fought over the area. The Thames divided the two kingdoms. The Saxon king Ethelred II built royal palaces at Headington, Islip, and Woodstock. His son, Edward the Confessor, was born at Islip. The Danes invaded the area in the 800’s, and some settled there.
Oxford University dates back to the 1100’s. In Oxford, a granite cross marks the spot where the martyrs Archbishop Cranmer, Bishop Latimer, and Bishop Ridley were burned to death in the 1550’s.
During the English Civil War, Charles I set up his court at Oxford. The Royalist and Parliamentary forces fought many battles in the county.
Warren Hastings, the first governor general of India, was born at the village of Churchill in 1732. Writers born in the county include novelist Maria Edgeworth, who was born at Black Bourton in 1767. Historian J. R. Green was born at Oxford in 1837. William Morris, the writer and social reformer of the 1800’s, lived at Kelmscott. Other novelists who lived in Oxfordshire include Joyce Cary, Graham Greene, and Iris Murdoch. The statesman Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.
