THERE were violent scenes in Oxford when drivers and conductors on the horse-drawn trams went on strike over pay.

A walkout by more than 50 staff at the Leopold Street depot in East Oxford led to weeks of strife.

Ron Tombs, of Farm Road, Abingdon, sparked our interest in the strike when he sent in a picture of the massed ranks of strikers and their supporters at Martyrs’ Memorial.

Trouble came to a head on Easter Monday, March 24, 1913.

The Oxford Tramway Company paid its drivers 21s and conductors 17s 6d for a 65-hour, often seven-day, week. The drivers wanted sixpence a day more.

The management ignored their request, then announced in the local press that it would offer drivers four pence farthing an hour and conductors three pence three farthings an hour after two years’ service.

Mr HJ Vivian, president of the Oxford branch of the Typographical Association, outlined the reasons behind the dispute at a mass meeting at Martyrs’ Memorial.

He said: “These drivers, it should be remembered, are responsible for the care of the horses and have to provide themselves with whips and aprons and protection against the weather, while conductors are responsible for the fares and have to make up all the money that Oxford people palm off on the trams.”

Later, 40 of the workers went to the home of the manager, Arthur Tyler.

Mr Tyler, who was still in bed, said he was surprised to see the men. He thought the men were satisfied with the company’s offer and were prepared to give it a three-week trial.

However, the workers made it clear that if it didn’t work, they would renew their original claim and go on strike.

This statement clearly shook Mr Tyler, who told them in no uncertain terms that if they walked out, they could consider their services dispensed with.

Fifty of the 56 employees voted to strike.

Mr Tyler and his two sons, Talbot and Donald, and two stablemen acting as conductors, kept some sort of service going between Cowley Road and Carfax and Carfax and Summertown. There were heated scenes at the Cowley Road terminal.

The Oxford Times reported: “Each time a car appeared, it was greeted with hooting, and women, some with children in their arms, shrieked imprecations at those who were making even this limited service possible.”

Efforts were also made to stop tramcars leaving the Leopold Street depot.

Early protests were fairly orderly and peaceful, but the strike turned ugly when young hooligans joined in, leading to a running battle with police, damage to trams and arrests. More next week.