OXFORD United, a former king of England and JRR Tolkien feature in a new venture telling the history of Headington.

The city council has installed eight story stations across the suburb, where residents can listen to tales dating back to the fourth century.

Audio devices will inform people of years of history at locations stretching from Bury Knowle Park down to Oxford Brookes University.

Residents can learn about everything from Ethelred the Unready, who ruled England between 978 and 1016 and is believed to have had a palace in Headington, to John Buckley’s famous Headington Shark.

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The project was conceived by former councillor, Ruth Wilkinson, and the recordings written and read by Headington residents.

Marie Tidball, the city council’s cabinet member for supporting local communities, feels the story stations illustrate the area’s varied history.

She said: “From Roman pottery to John Henry Brookes, the story stations bring the history of Headington to life.

“They describe significant figures from Ethelred the Unready to Tolkien, and preserve the stories of important landmarks like the Headington Shark.

“The story stations will help revive the oral history tradition and they’re a great way for people to learn about their local area.”

Each story station features a wind-up or solar powered audio device, while the recordings draw inspiration from Stephanie Jenkins’ Welcome to Headington website.

Oxford Mail:

Brookes University’s School of Arts produced the audio, with the stations installed by the council’s direct services company, ODS.

Even lifelong residents may be unaware of Ethelred the Unready, or that Headington’s clay pots were exported as far as northern Europe around 300AD.

Familiar local tales also feature, such as how Headington United became Oxford United in 1960.

The club were born at The Britannia Inn on London Road and played their home games at The Manor Ground, since replaced by The Manor Hospital, from 1925 to 2001.

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Residents can also find out about the life of John Henry Brookes, principal of the college that became the university now bearing his name.

Stef Garden, city councillor for Headington, hopes the project will become a source of pride for residents.

She said: “Headington has a long and rich history that long predates it becoming part of Oxford.

“The story stations will help bring this to life and bring our community together.

“As a ward councillor for Headington, I am proud to be involved in this project.”

Patrick Coulter, chair of Headington Neighbourhood Forum, added: “Our neighbourhood plan recommended schemes such as this which help develop the identity of Headington and promote our rich history.”

A planning permission agreement saw Oxford Brookes University fund the story stations, which also remind people about social distancing guidance.

Four stations are in London Road, with two located in front of Cancer Research UK and Barclays Bank and another couple outside Dorset House and across from Headington School.

Two are in Bury Knowle Park – one in the Narnia-themed structure and another within the circular benches – while the seventh is next to the bus stop outside Brookes University in Headington Road.

There is also a bespoke cut-out shark and inset wind-up audio unit on the corner of London Road and New High Street.