New Hinksey, South Oxford
New Hinksey was established in the late 1840s as result of the building of Oxford’s first railway line. It was an ‘island’ suburb, half a mile out of Oxford and surrounded by open fields and water meadows until development to the north linked it to the city thirty years later. It is a maze of narrow intersecting streets lined with two-up-two-down terraced cottages. Although now largely residential, there is still plenty of evidence of the many shops and pubs which once thrived here, and it contains a lake crossed by the enigmatically-named Devil’s Backbone; Oxford’s former waterworks pumping station; a handsome vicarage and church; and a primary school still occupying its Victorian buildings. Come and find out more about the history of this unusual and perhaps little-known part of Oxford.
“Splendid … you made us see things that in the past we’ve passed by, and you gave us a historical context for what we were seeing. You were informative and really interesting.” Gilliane Sills, Association of Oxford University Pensioners, November 2023.
“What a fascinating insight into a small area of Oxford you gave us yesterday afternoon. Thank you very much for sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge so generously. I enjoyed the tour enormously.” Josephine, Oxford resident, July 2021.
Contact me on 01865 242760 or liz@lizwoolley.co.uk to book this walk.