By Tim Lambert
Late 9th Century
Alfred the Great creates a fortified settlement at Oxford
911
Oxford is first mentioned in writing. It is a small but flourishing market town.
1009
The Danes burn Oxford
1018
A conference is held at Oxford following a dispute over who is king of England
1072
The Normans build a fort at Oxford
1086
Oxford has a population of about 5,000
1142
During a civil war, Oxford is burned
1167
Oxford University is founded
1228, 1236, 1238, 1248, 1272 and 1298
Riots take place at Oxford
1258
Rebel barons meet at Oxford and force the king to accept reforms called the Provisions of Oxford
1355
Three days of fighting between townspeople and students at Oxford
1542
Despite the decline, Oxford is made a city and given a bishop
1550
Oxford has declined since the Middle Ages and only has a population of about 3,500. The townspeople rely on the students to buy their goods.
1603
Oxford suffers an outbreak of plague
1625-26
Plague strikes Oxford again
1642
During the Civil War, royalists occupy Oxford
1651
The first coffee house in England opens in Oxford
1659
A free grammar school opens in Oxford
1770
Radcliffe Infirmary is built. Oxford remains a quiet market town.
1771
A body of men is formed to pave, clean, and light the streets of Oxford (with oil lamps)
1774
A covered market is built for vegetables, meat, and fish
1776
New Road is built
1801
Oxford has a population of nearly 12,000
1819
Oxford is lit by gas
1826
Warneford Hospital is built
1832
Cholera strikes Oxford
1844
A railway is built from Oxford to London
1847
Littlemore Hospital is built
1849
Cholera strikes Oxford again
1854
Another outbreak of cholera in Oxford
1860
The Natural History Museum opens
1889
Oxford is made a county borough
1892
The first electricity generating station in Oxford opens
1910
The first cinema in Oxford opens
1913
Morris begins making cars in Oxford
1924
The Museum of the History of Science opens
1926
Christchurch Memorial Gardens are laid out
1934
Hinksey Park opens
1936
Oxford Police Station is built
1938
Oxford airport opens
1940
Churchill Hospital is built
1952
Cutteslowe Park is laid out
1965
Templars Square Shopping Centre is completed
1966
The Gallery of Modern Art opens
1970
Queen Street is pedestrianised
1972
Westgate Shopping Centre opens
1975
The Museum of Oxford opens
1991
A Science Park opens
2011
The population of Oxford is 149,000