Post-medieval Oxford - Oxford City Council

Trade and industry
The principal crafts and industries of the county are summarised in an early volume
of the Victoria County History (VCH ii). In Oxford, medieval trades continued with the
production of woollen and leather goods, the processes of milling and malting, brick
and tile manufacture and wood-based crafts. Also, stone-quarrying and masonry
(Arkell 1947; Oakeshott 1975) were connected with the university and with churchbuilding
or repair (Rhodes 2006). Important post-medieval additions to these
industries were paper-making (Carter 1957) and printing (Barker 1979) associated
with the growth of the University. Other new industries included specialist weaving
such as silk (VCH ii: 227, 252), and an intensification of clock making particularly in
Oxford (Beeson 1962).
Markets and fairs
Street markets and the Covered Market
Oxford Covered Market was built in the late 18 th century to replace the proliferation of
market stalls that impeded access along the main streets. Street markets by this
point still retained their medieval patterns with certain trades based in certain streets
such as in Fish Street (St Aldates) and Butcher Row (Queen Street). In 1771, the
Oxford Mileways Act was passed in order to make the main city roads free and clear
for transport. The commissioners in charge of bringing this about set about creating a
new market space but they also demolished the remaining city gates, widened
existing roads and on occasion created new roads (ibid.). The covered market, built
in 1772, has been the subject of a detailed study by Graham (1979: 81). For a
summary of the development of the market and subsequently retail shopping in
Oxford see Crossley, Day, and Cooper (1983).
Butchers and the butchers shambles
A shambles was built in Queen Street, known as Butchers' Row, in 1556 (UAD 1356,
1358). Butchers were forbidden to sell meat elsewhere except on market days. The
building was extended in 1636, burnt down in 1644 and rebuilt in 1656. When the
covered market opened in 1773, the shambles was demolished (VCH iv). The
Butchers Guild of 1536 had ceased to be effective by the 17 th century and the city
controlled the Butchers Row in the markets. In 1703, the city approved an
incorporation of butchers and poulterers effectively replacing the earlier guild (VCH
iv: 317). A well recorded in Queen Street in 1973 may have been used by the
butchers (UAD 752). A 16 th -early 17 th century pit at 31-34 Church Street produced
tentative evidence for butchery waste (Hassall, Halpin and Mellor 1984).
Guilds
Oxford was never a large enough town to have a large number of long-established
gilds and companies, though a few could boast a long history. The situation was also
confused by the university‘s licensing of traders as ‘privileged persons’ protected by
university statues (and courts) rather than being subject to secular control, and this
long remained a source of friction between town and gown.
The cordwainers remained on Northgate Street eventually building a new guildhouse
adjacent to the Bocardo, known as Bocardo House or Shoemakers Hall (Crossley et
al. 1979: 314). The guild continued to operate until 1849, however its fortunes and
influence had long since dwindled (ibid.: 315). By the early seventeenth-century, the
Oxford leather industry was widely renowned, particularly the making of saddles. Two
pieces of leather recovered from the Castle moat were worked (in this instance seal
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