This site is a guide and reference source for researchers and potential researchers into Oxfordshire’s history, archaeology, landscape and buildings. It aims to provide concise support and guidance on use of the mass of published accounts and raw materials concerning Oxfordshire’s past. The site offers an historical framework and sequences of information and ideas, from which selected links, downloadable texts, and suggested reading, contacts and activities are designed to enable users to go on to further and more detailed investigations of their choice.

The site has been planned as a successor to Oxfordshire: a handbook for students of local history, edited by Molly Barratt and David Vaisey, published in 1973, which encouraged and guided many new and existing researchers. This new ‘handbook’ hopes to do the same, whilst reflecting more recent developments to as wide an audience as possible. Publication online now makes this resource free and accessible. Added emphasis on archaeology, buildings and landscape is intended to widen and integrate the approach to Oxfordshire history. Listings of contacts, organisations, projects, events and publications will be regularly updated, and new content can be developed. Coverage refers to the present-day county of Oxfordshire, i.e. the historic county established c. 1007 plus the Vale of White Horse, transferred from Berkshire in the local government re-organisations of 1974.

The main features of the site are:

• A framework history of the county, to help put particular studies in context and point to possible themes and questions to explore
• An introduction to types of published history already available
• An introduction to surviving documentary evidence, including original manuscript and historic printed sources, maps, photos and film, and oral history
• An introduction to material evidence, including archaeological sites and finds, landscapes and buildings
• Links on where to locate evidence, in the county, and in collections elsewhere
• Ways of getting involved and learning more, through county and local organisations, courses, activities and networks
• The Oxfordshire History Web Board, with a rolling calendar of events, talks, excursions, projects, exhibitions, publications of Oxfordshire interest, and opportunities to contribute information and questions on work in progress

Content is written and edited by Kate Tiller and Shaun Morley.

This website was developed by Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society and the authors of the content. It is hosted by the History Faculty of the University of Oxford.

© Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society.

Image credits: "Bicester Priory Red Seal" - Liam Tiller, "Outside the Crown Inn" - Finstock Local History Society