Oxford on Film: From Attic to Archive

Oxford on May Day 2025 on a glorious sunny morning. Glide gently along the River Cherwell at dawn as a punt glides through misty meadows on the River Cherwell. Oxford awakens to May Day in 2025 on an unusually warm and golden morning. Drift gently along the River Cherwell at dawn as a punt glides through misty meadows beside Christ Church College, the city slowly revealing itself in soft light. Th...

Step back to summer 1924 as Oxford crowds gather on college barges to watch the Thames Regatta—one of the earliest films of the city, captured for Albert Kahn’s visionary Archives of the Planet project. Experience Oxford in the summer of 1924 through one of the city’s earliest surviving films. Shot on 35mm by French filmmakers Roger Dumas and Camille Sauvageot, this remarkable footage captures the...

Archive footage from 1993 to 2025, Oxford comes alive on May Morning! Choirs, dancing, and crowds under Magdalen College—see how this centuries-old tradition has changed… or stayed delightfully the same. Join us for a magical journey through Oxford’s May Morning celebrations, comparing archive footage from 1993 with scenes from 2025. On both perfect spring mornings, locals and students packed the...

Step into 1937 Oxford! Watch Queen Mary break ground on the new Bodleian Weston Library, explore lost city streets, and meet the young archaeologist racing to save history. Step back to 1937 and witness the transformation of Oxford’s historic Broad Street as the iconic Bodleian Weston Library rises from the heart of the old city. In this episode, we explore the visionary design of Sir Giles Gilber...

Archive footage of Oxford University's Encaenia ceremony Dive into the majestic tradition of Oxford University's Encaenia ceremony with this captivating compilation of archive film spanning decades of history. From the elegant procession captured in 1928 and 1937 to the vibrant celebrations of 2018, experience the grandeur of this unique event. The archival film shows the traditional procession th...

Archive film of Oxford from June 1943 and June 1944 Embark on a journey through time with this third extraordinary compilation of Oxford wartime footage, offering a glimpse into Oxford's bustling shopping streets in June 1943 and June 1944. Witness the US army film footage showing the camaraderie of soldiers as they stroll along Cornmarket and High Street, the streets busy with shoppers, army vehi...

Archive film footage of High Street, Oxford from 1937 and 1944. Step back in time and stroll down the iconic High Street of Oxford, where history unfolds before your eyes in this captivating compilation. Watch the 1937 film footage as students emerge triumphantly from the Examination School, their faces alight with the end of their finals. Then, fast forward to June 1944, where the bustling High s...

Archival film uncovers the quirky dos and don'ts that governed student life in the golden age of the 1920s and 30s. Welcome to "Rules and Regulations," a delightful compilation of vintage footage showcasing the whimsical world of Oxford University students in 1928 and 1937. Join us on a hilarious journey through time as we uncover the quirky dos and don'ts that governed student life in the golden...

Archive footage of cycling through the busy streets of Oxford and Cowley in the 1920s, 40s, and 50s. Hop on your vintage bicycle and pedal back in time to the bustling streets of Oxford and Cowley in the 1920s, 40s, and 50s. In this mesmerizing film footage, witness the timeless charm of students and workers as they navigate the cobblestone lanes with style and grace. From the Oxford High to the i...

The changing faces of St Giles' Fair. In this episode we look at St Giles' Fair which is held for two days in September in the heart of the city. The changing faces of St Giles' Fair, held in the same location since medieval times. We look at archival film and photography footage of St Giles' Fair which is held for two days in September in the heart of the city outside St John's college. Step righ...

This film was made in April 1918 as a recruitment tool by the government's Women's War department. In this unique episode we look at one of the oldest surviving films of Oxford. Made in April 1918, the film is titled -“Recruiting march and presentation to Princess Mary of the Women's Land Army, Oxford, 1918”. The march begins in St Giles with women entering the enrolment hut by the Martyrs' Memori...

In this episode we compare and contrast locations in and around Oxford from 1918, and the present day. In this episode we compare and contrast locations from film taken during April 1918, and the present day. How have the places and people changed? After 100 years how different is Oxford? The archive film is provided from “Recruiting March of the Oxfordshire Women's Land Army,” by Women's War Depa...

In this episode we look at social history scenes from various archive films showing Oxford at work, rest and play. The film contains film footage of Oxford from the 1930, 1940s and 1960s including footage of sports events at Iffley Rd and the old Oxford football ground.

In this 2nd episode, we collate rare colour Oxfordshire footage shot in 1944 by US airforce officers. Film clips concentrate on the social life in Oxford city centre, Wallingford, Dorchester, Abingdon and surrounding villages. Rare world war two colour provided by William Lorton from the archive of relative James R. Savage, filmed during his time as a Flight Surgeon for the 14th Photo Reconnaissan...

Thousands gather on the High Street on May Morning, Oxford 1993. Thousands gather on the High Street on May Morning, Oxford 1993 to hear Magdalen's choristers singing. The bells of Magdalen College Tower ring at 6am, early morning revellers gather on the bridge below, as Morris dancing takes place in Radcliffe Square and Broad street. Oxford celebrates May Morning. Th...

In 1949, filmmakers Guy L. Coté and Hugh Wyn Griffith directed the film ‘Sestrieres’ for the Oxford Ski Club, about their trip to the Italian ski resort, Sestriere. We compare this with film of a recent trip, highlighting obvious changes in student life!

Rare 16 mm film footage from the mid-1930s of american tourists touring the Oxfordshire countryside by bike, and also footage shot by US airforce crew in 1944 visting Wallingford and Aylesbury. This episode sees American visitors to the city of Oxford exploring the surrounding area, through Cotswold provincial towns such as Chipping Campden and Stratford-upon-Avon, to places in Oxfordshire such as...

Film of the joint expedition to Kish, Mesopotamia, by Oxford University with the Field Museum of Natural History, of Chicago, Illinois, from 1920-29. The 16mm footage reveals the immense scale of the archaeological dig involving hundreds of people.

World War Two arrives in Oxford in this episode, using never before seen Oxford footage from a US Flight Surgeon for the 14th Photo Reconnaissance Unit at Mount Farm Airbase, Dorchester. Includes colour and monochrome film from 1944. World War Two arrives in Oxford in this episode, in which William Lorton – producer and director of the short documentary, ‘Spitfire 944’ – talks about the 16mm foota...

Salter’s Steamers have operated since 1858, and we revisit them in the 1940s as an American U.S.A.F Unit make use of a break from their war service to enjoy a leisurely day on the Thames to Wallingford. Includes rare colour 16mm film from autumn 1944.

We compare and contrast locations in and around the city from the 1940s, and the present day. How have the places and people changed? How present is the Second World War in 1940s Oxford? After 70 years how different is Oxford?

In this episode we take you on a trip through time as we introduce a selection of the archive film footage that the Dreaming Spools project has discovered. Published in 2014.