There were two roads William Street & Ferry Road (this could have led to a ferry near Kings Mill). Edgeway Road was called Back Lane and ran behind Ferry Road. There were only a few houses on the south side of Edgeway Road (Back Lane) but there was a Gypsy caravan parked around here the owners name was Rawlings. Park Farm was owned by the Brown family, who migrated to Oxford from Somerset. They also ran a dairy farm.

Many of the first houses were built with bricks made from Marston Clay. The clay pit was in Jack Straws Lane.

The Scout hut at the bottom of William Street was used as a school room or house from the turn of the century until St Michael's School was built. The school was certainly operating in 1928 (see log book p59 CFM book 2)

Church

The first church was at the bottom of William Street and was referred to as Chapel Hall. The Congregational Church built originally as a Mission Church was built in Edgeway Road in 1911 and cost £252.12s. This later became the United Reform Church in Marston Road.

John Hamilton Mortimer vicar of Marston 1904-52

Professor Heatley discovered penicillin as a colleague of professor Florry (buried in Old Marston churchyard)

At this time Mr Victor Biovois owned the Ferry Pub and also ran the ferry. It was Mr Biovois who renamed his pub the Victoria Arms. In Kelly's directory of 1915 Victor Biovois occupation is listed as 'carpenter' living at Fern Cottage. This family were known locally as 'Boovoys' and the ferry was called Frenchman's Ferry. How much was charged to cross the ferry? This was one question that was answered during the reminiscence project. In a photograph taken in 1908 a barn had been built on the grounds by the ferry.

The Victoria Arms had bushes in the garden which people could sit in. These were called bothies (possibly booths) or colloquially 'boffies'. These are talked about by John Mutton who remembers the insects dropping into his beer whilst sitting in the 'boffies'. Over the years unfortunately there have been many deaths caused by high spirits whilst punting back to Bardwell Road boat station.

Up until the 1930s people rarely left the village. Purchases were made from carrier's and packman who made regular journeys from the city to the outlying districts like Elsfield, Noke and Woodeaton. These came to the village on horseback and they pedalled cotton fabrics, buttons, ribbons, laces and books. Also a tinker called with pots and pans, he also mended the same. If the carrier was required to stop a large W was hung on the outside of Brasenose Cottage's.

Where the Friar is now there was a copse (Copse Lane) and every year a Gypsies family named Bucklands arrived and copesed the wood from the trees. They used the wood to make clothes pegs and bean sticks these were then sold around the houses. They must have got quite a shock when they arrived one year and found a rather large number of houses. The rapid growth of housing began in New Marston between 1934 - 1937. This began with Hugh Allen Crescent and included houses along one side of the Main Road (now Marston Road). All the houses up to Cherwell Drive including the Friar pub, Ouseley Close and the bottom part of Headley Way were built during this period. The streets were named after musicians and lakes, later they were named after local personalities involved with the civil war. During the filling in (with rubbish) of the clay pit in Jack Straws Lane a horse was dragged into the pit by the weight of its wagon and drowned.

Nelson Eadle sold vegetables, milk and coal from the 'Old Kilns'. Bert Ward delivered coal by horse and cart.

In 1936 summer outings to the seaside were run from The Friar and the Somerset.

Cinderella Sarah Hornsby lived in New Marston she was said to be half gypsy and called a 'tweenie' possibly because she was half gypsy. She was 90 when she died.

School

Milham Ford Girls School

This school was built by September 1939. The premises were shared until 1943 with Burlington School pupils (London) who were evacuated to Oxford during the war.. MF became a state grammar school in 1944 and a Comprehensive Girls school in 1974. The pupils wore straw hats called 'bashers' and a uniform tunic and shirt. The girls played the usual sports including cricket and also had a school dramatic society. The Milham March was held on Sports Day. All the girls, in height order, marched onto the playing fields to the tune of 'Colonel Bogie'. Rehearsing for this began three days before sports day. Note: The Milham March tradition ended in 1955.

Pubs in New Marston

The Friar and the Somerset were the first two pubs built in New Marston followed in the 1960's by the Jack Russell.

Part of The Friars' cellar was used by the ARP's (Air raid patrol wardens) during the war, where they had bunk beds and emergency food rations stored. This post was manned for 24 hours a day. An air raid siren was situated outside the pub on the corner of Marston Road & Old Marston Road, by the pub sign.

Old Marston had a large Army camp on both sides of the Northern Bypass. The fields then held masses of tents and lorries.

The Old Marston Home Guard were stationed behind the Bricklayers Arms. On one occasion the Home Guard and the regular army had an exercise together and the residents were all ordered to stay indoors.

Government buildings built

After the war public transport became better and Old Marston was not as isolated from New Marston as it had been.

Armistice Day. Trees were planted all over Marston in honour of the Army, Navy and RAF

Coach trips were run to the Seaside (Bournemouth) from The Red Lion

Ladies darts team based in the Friar

Social Club called the Optimists was formed in Old Marston they held regular socials including dances and theatrical events.

New School of St Nicholas was opened in 1959

1960's

Horse racing off Mill Lane (North of Bypass)

Marsh Lane built 1967

Floods in Old Marston Road near Beechy Avenue

This was the last large building project built in Marsh Lane Old Marston

The Income Tax advice office based in The Government buildings in Marston Road were demolished. The Tax office was moved to the site of the old Morris Cowley works.

Stories of life in Marston during the 30's, 40's and 50's can be heard during the Marston Millennium Festival from 23^rd - 30^th July. Venue TBA.

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Contact the festival [email protected]