Marilyn Yurdan – författare

Oxford in the 1950s and ’60s offers a rare glimpse of life in the city during this fascinating period, which started with post-war austerity and ended with Britain becoming the music and fashion capital of the world. However, as this amazing collection of over 190 photographs, mainly from the library of Newsquest Oxfordshire, show, there is much more to these two decades than pop groups and mini skirts, and it the lives of ordinary people which have been captured by skilled photographers. Including views of Oxford’s streets and buildings, shops and businesses, pubs and hotels, cafes and restaurants, the Colleges and University departments, as well as some of the villages which form the suburbs of the city, this delightful book is sure to appeal to all who remember these decades and everyone who knows and loves this vibrant city.

Oxfordshire’s best-known employers are the manufacturers of cars, blankets and cakes, as well as those dealing in tourism, education and publishing. It is still essentially a rural county and many of its trades and crafts are related to the countryside. A number of Oxfordshire businesses have been handed down through several generations, adapting and modernizing as necessary over the years. Many have finally closed after decades of trade, but are nevertheless fondly remembered, one or two even reappearing as exhibits in the county’s museums. Some major employers have failed to survive, while others have become part of high street chains and at least one has expanded to form its own. Featured in this book are carvers and barrel makers, university employees and leather-workers, hop-pickers and bee-keepers, brewers and marmalade makers, railwaymen and bus drivers, thatchers and blacksmiths, and, of course, shops galore, including an ironmonger’s which dates back to Tudor days. With 200 superb photographs, this book will appeal to everyone with an interest in the history of the county, and also awaken memories of a bygone time for those who worked, shopped or simply remember these Oxfordshire firms, trades and businesses.

The nursery rhyme 'Ride a Cock Horse' has made Banbury one of the best-known towns in England. It is also famed for Banbury cakes and its Cross. Once an important wool trading centre, in 1628 the town was ravaged by fire, which destroyed many buildings, though some have survived to the present day. This superb selection of 200 photographs provides a nostalgic insight into the changing history of the town over the last century. Each image is accompanied by a detailed caption, bringing the past to life and describing many aspects of life in the town, including chapters on work, industry, schools, markets and local events – including the annual carnival, College Rag, and funfair – and providing a vital record of vanished vistas and past practices. This book will appeal to everyone with an interest in the history of Banbury, and will also awaken memories of a bygone time for all who know this part of Oxfordshire.

Elizabeth Ambler started compiling her household book of cures in the early eighteenth century, including historic treatments passed down over the decades. These intriguing remedies include Sir Walter Raleigh’s Receipt against Plague, Viper Broth and Snail Milk Water, as well as Ginger Bread and Apricot Ratafia. In addition to traditional flowers and herbs, ingredients consist of precious stones, exotic and expensive spices, and large amounts of brandy and wine.Set against the backdrop of the family’s country houses, silverware and lavish portraits, this book is much more than just a collection of curiosities: it offers a fascinating insight into the sickness and health of our Georgian ancestors, and into what really went on in their kitchens.

The people of Oxfordshire certainly know how to enjoy themselves, and take part in many varied and remarkable customs, sports and traditions that are held annually around the county. Some of these, like the May Morning and Beating the Bounds, go back for centuries but have been altered and adapted over the years. Others are relatively recent revivals, such as the agricultural show at Thame, which is Victorian in origin. The last fifty years has seen an unprecedented number of new celebrations, which have become traditions in their own right. Foremost among these are the Cropredy and Towersey folk festivals. Above all, these events are community-based and often also charity fund-raisers. Some of those featured here include the Bampton Great Shirt race, egg jarping at Chinnor, the Banbury Hobby Horse festival, Abingdon Morris Dancers Mock Mayor Elections, the Pumpkin Club, and the pub game Aunt Sally, which is virtually unknown outside of the county, among many others. Illustrated with 180 superb photographs, this book features funfairs and fêtes, celebrations and carnivals, games and shows, each one a unique celebration of Oxfordshire’s heritage.