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Author Talk: ‘A Jericho Scrapbook’ with Mark Davies – Jericho 200
04 October 2025 @ 11.00am to 12.00pm
About Author Talk: ‘A Jericho Scrapbook’ with Mark Davies – Jericho 200
This special event marks the publication of A Jericho Scrapbook: Inside an Oxford Community Saved from Destruction, originally compiled in 1955 by Constance Hawtrey and published this year with comprehensive notes and appendices by local historian Mark Davies, as part of the Jericho 200 celebrations.
Featuring an astonishingly wide range of reminiscences, photographs, sketches, and ephemera (and even the odd ghost story!) about this sometimes controversial Oxford suburb, Constance Hawtrey’s A Jericho Scrapbook is now complemented by Mark Davies’ new appraisals of the origins of Jericho, of the ironworks which became a mainstay of the area, and of Miss Hawtrey’s own life, including her time as an early student of St Hilda’s College.
In this talk, Mark will highlight key moments in Jericho’s early history, from before the University’s purchase of land for its Printing Press in 1825 and the establishment of the future Lucy’s ironworks the same year.
It was also in 1825 that the first streets of houses began to replace lush meadowland running down to the Oxford Canal. Jericho’s subsequent unsavoury reputation contrasts with its embrace of cultural icons such as the Pre-Raphaelites, Thomas Hardy, Inspector Morse, Philip Pullman, and Alice in Wonderland.
Join this talk for a journey through Jericho’s inspiring history and discover a unique perspective on Oxford’s ‘dangerously hospitable’ 200-year-old suburb.
Signed copies of A Jericho Scrapbook: Inside an Oxford Community Saved from Destruction will be available for purchase in the MOX Shop at an exclusive discounted price.
Further information
Mark Davies is an Oxford local historian, public speaker, and guide. His publications include the social and cultural importance of the city’s waterways (A Towpath Walk in Oxford; Alice in Waterland; Alice’s Oxford on Foot; What a Liberty!), historical crime (Stories of Oxford Castle; The Abingdon Waterturnpike Murder), and a biography of the first English hot-air balloonist, James Sadler (King of All Balloons).
He is a trustee of the Lewis Carroll Society, a member of the Society of Authors, Chair of the Jericho Living Heritage Trust (to which all proceeds of the sale of A Jericho Scrapbook will be donated), and on the committee of the Alliance of Literary Societies.
Meeting point
There is step-free, level entry access to the Town Hall via the entrance closest to Carfax Tower (to the left of the main steps as you face the Town Hall). Inside the Museum, Museum Makers is accessible via a platform lift to the Galleries and then a lift to the basement.
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
From £5.00
Tickets are subject to a non-refundable transaction fee of £1.96 and are available to purchase online or at the Museum shop.
Sales from tickets help support MOX’s work to deliver fun and accessible family activities, community engagement projects, schools workshops, exhibitions and special events for Oxford’s people in our Museum spaces.
Dates & times:
Saturday 04 October 2025 at 11.00am
Running time:
1 hour
Good to know:
Please be aware that photographs will be taken at this event for use in marketing. If you (or a member of your group) would prefer not to be photographed, please let a member of staff know during the event.
About Museum of Oxford
The Museum of Oxford is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people. Located inside the Oxford Town Hall, it explores the city’s rich history beyond the university, focusing on the lives, industries, and communities that have shaped Oxford over time.
The museum features interactive exhibits, local artefacts, and personal stories, covering topics such as Oxford’s medieval origins, its diverse communities, and key moments in its development. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, events, and activities for all ages.
