St Cross College, Oxford

For the most part, this year has been spent re-organizing the photographs in the College archives, placing them into boxes and protective sleeves designed specifically for preserving photographic material. Some photographs still remain in need of full identification, and it is hoped this will be accomplished during the coming year.

Also, during this coming year, my predecessor as archivist, Alan Coates and I will embark upon a programme of interviews with as many as possible of the past-Masters and Founding Fellows of the College, beginning with Godfrey Stafford, who was Master at the time the College moved from the St Cross Road site to the premises on St Giles. Digital audio recordings will be made of these interviews and stored in the archives.

It has become apparent that we have surprisingly few photographs from the days when the College was at the site on the St Cross Road. Below are two images (of the very small number in the archives) relating to the early history of the College. The first is a lithograph made about 1980 showing the Holywell School that in the 1960s was renovated to serve as the first building of St Cross College. The second is a photograph of the old school and adjacent 'hut' at it looked in 1966, a year after St Cross College was founded.

Lithograph of Holywell School

A lithograph (undated) by F.R. Wigston showing the Holywell School, also known as Kirby Old School, south of the Holywell Church graveyard on what is now St Cross Road. Built in 1858 by the Victorian architect Charles Buckeridge, the school room was attached to the cemetery lodge (built in 1850). It continued to be used as a school until 1938, with the lodge serving as a residence for teachers.

Holywell School and "Hut", 1966

The Holywell School and 'hut' in July of 1966, a year after St Cross College opened. The old school served as the library and meeting room for the Governing Body, while the prefabricated hut to the right housed the offices, Common Room, Hall, and kitchen. The buildings continued to serve the College in these capacities until 1981, when the College transferred to the present St Giles site.

If anyone has photographs of the College in these early days on St Cross Road, or of events that were taking place in the College buildings there, and they would be willing either to donate them to the Archives or allow them to be scanned, please do contact me at the College. All donations, or assistance with such materials, will be gratefully recorded and acknowledged.

Emilie Savage-Smith
Senior Research Fellow and Archivist