Here we feature photos from the Oxford Mail archive from the late 1990s. Buses were still permitted in Cornmarket in 1998, before they were removed the following year.

And after 200 years, Morrells brewery closed in 1998.

In July 1998, the Oxford Mail reported that Morrell's workers arrived at the St Thomas' Street brewery knowing that time was about to be called on 200 years of brewing.

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For some, Oxford without a brewery was just about as unimaginable as Carfax without its tower. But any real hope of survival had already gone.

Weeks of rumour about the future of the historic brewery and its 132 pubs had been followed by the unedifying sight of one of the city's most famous families tearing itself apart in public.

Oxford Mail: Lord Mayor Dr Frank Garside and Col Bill Morrell in the sampling room in 1998

Any doubts about the bitterness of the feud were removed when brewery boss Charles Eld found himself being escorted from the building.

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By the time the 'grand old lady' of the Morrells family, Margie Eld, quit as a director after 54 years, many had already concluded that the brewery was in its death throes.

Her words as she left the Lion brewery were not designed to bring any cheer. "I am convinced that the new management intends to sell all the assets of the business as quickly as possible and to make all employees redundant," she said at the time.

For many years the main source of power was a water wheel driven by a stream passing under St Thomas' Street.

Over-production in the beer industry had seen a wave of brewery closures all over the country that year.

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Morrell's was thought to be under particular pressure from its aggressive competitor just down the road, Morland, riding high on the back of its Old Speckled Hen brand.

The Abingdon-based brewery has also closed but the micro-brewery Loose Cannon's beers, made in the town are now popular.

After Morrell's closed, The Lion Brewery was developed into 79 luxury apartments in 2002 and historic features were retained, including brewery gates.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.