Meeting 23rd January 2018

Talk by Simon Wenham

"Morris’ Motopolis: the Motor Works and Transformation of Oxford”

Venue : SC Village Hall

Date/Time : Tuesday 23rd January 2018  7.30 pm

There was an old adage that things move slowly in Oxford, but this completely changed when William Morris relocated his factory to the eastern suburbs of the city in 1912. His business became the biggest producer of cars in the country in the interwar period, which had a massive impact on the local area. Simon Wenham's talk explored the ways in which Oxford was transformed, in the aftermath of becoming the fastest growing city in the country.

His illustrated talk described the importance of the Morris Motor Works founded by William Morris (Lord Nuffield) and explored the ways in which Oxford was transformed, in the aftermath of becoming the fastest growing city in the country.

As a generous philanthropist and benefactor, Lord Nuffield's influence was widespread. Many local people worked at the car factories which played a significant part in the history of Oxford.

About the speaker

s200 simon.wenham

Dr Simon Wenham works as a research assistant to an Oxford academic and is also on the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University's Continuing Education Department (teaching history).

Simon’s research interests relate to the social history of Victorian Britain, the river Thames, the city of Oxford and the development of leisure. Other historical interests include child labour in the Industrial Revolution, the holocaust, slavery in antebellum America and the reformation. He has also provided advice for a number of books on a variety of topics.

Simon gives various popular-level talks to different groups and has spoken at academic conferences and seminars in the UK and abroad. 

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