OXFORD’S civic mace dates from 1660, but one part of it is much newer after it ended up – with some councillors – in the River Cherwell.

On August 17, 1892, three years after the city had been extended and become a county borough, the mayor and a group of councillors decided to make a tour of the city boundaries.

On a warm summer’s day, everything went well until they reached Marston and had to cross the Cherwell.

The punt conveying the civic party had just left the bank when one late arrival suddenly jumped on board, capsizing the craft.

The civic dignitaries managed to scramble to safety, but the mace sank into the mud.

Two young men, who had watched the disaster, promptly dived in and brought the mace to the surface, but the cross above the orb was missing. It was never found and a new one had to be made to replace it.

The mace, which stretches to 64 inches and weighs nearly 18lb, is the largest in the country.

When the council decided the city should have a new mace in 1660, it entrusted the weighty matter to four members.

But they were warned that before coming to any agreement, they were to report to their colleagues on the cost.

It appears that the council was in the middle of a financial crisis.

This was because the council had had to spend more money than was in the city treasury and as a result, had had to borrow £800 to meet its commitments.

In fact, it looks as if the council paid for the mace by an early form of hire purchase – records show that £20, two sums of £10, an odd £4 10s 3d and a final figure of £20 were handed to John Slatter.

His fine handiwork was seen for the first time by King Charles II when he visited Oxford in September 1663.

Today, the mace is a priceless part of Oxford’s civic memorabilia and strict rules are in place over its security.

As we reported last week, council officers, led by Macebearer Tim Cox, aim to set up an archive of Town Hall events and would like help from Memory Lane readers.

  • Send your memories and pictures of Town Hall events to the Press Office, Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX, call 01865 252162 or email pressoffice@oxford.gov.uk