A history of the Oxford college barges

In sharing the following information, we are deeply endebted to the work of Clare Sherriff, who has laid out the history of these unique craft in painstaking detail in her book, 'The Oxford College Barges - Their History & Architecture' (2003) 

PRE-HISTORY - THE CITY OF LONDON LIVERY BARGES

The college barges had their origin in the London livery barges.

Travelling by water has, since early times, been a principal method of transport in and around the city of London, especially for royal or state processions, from Greenwich to Whitehall and Hampton court. 

Housing up to 18 rowers, the City of London Livery Barges were 15th Century ceremonial vessels whose design had metamorphosed through a long tradition, via the Venetian state barges, dating back from the craft of Roman and Viking times. Though with flat hulls, the design of their seafaring forebears was evident, with 'strong design links to past nautical traditions. all the way from Noah's Ark through Cleopatra to Nelson's Navy'. (taken from the pamphlet c. 2000 raising awareness of the renovation of the St John's Barge in 1988).

'They visited the principal castles, palaces and sites of Church and State from the Tower of London up to Windsor and down to Rochester, including law courts, prisons, places of execution, Parliament, Lambeth Palace, Runnymede and Somerset House.' 

'The Livery Companies were early trading societies based on the Northern trading guilds of Antwerp.' Every year until 1856 the barges gathered on the Thames in London for the Lord Mayor's Procession. Each livery company had a symbol, emblazoned on arms, signifying their origins to the outside world. 

'The Skinners Barge of 1656 shows a multi-pillared, two tiered temple-type edifice, followed by the stern section which housed "the mynstrelsie" with seats for musicians with "drummes, flutes and trumpets blohyng". The barge master steered from this lofty and seemingly noisy vantage point...resplendent in their livery uniform.'

London State barges c1850 - with some artistic licence (engraving after a painting by Roberts)

HISTORY COMES TO OXFORD

With the shift in emphasis towards physical exercise in Victorian times, from the more leisurely activities of Georgian England, and the first Henley Regatta in 1839, The Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC) was formed in 1839 as rowing saw a surge in popularity. Its inventive backers initiated the purchase of six of the remaining London Livery Barges to serve as changing rooms and viewing platforms for the rowers and their supporters. They were brought back by horses along the Thames towpath to Oxford. 6 more set off to Cambridge by sea but sank on the way. 

In 1846 the OUBC bought the Merchant Taylors Company Barge, which was later passed on to Univ, the Goldsmith's Barge 'with its distinctive angels' came to Oriel College, and the Lord Mayor's Barge went to Queens. The original angels still decorate the purpose built Orial boathouse today.' 

A TRADITION OF ENERGETIC FUNDRAISING

Repairs have always been expensive. Many of the London barges had been built c.1800 and were in need of repair. 'By 1858 any student who used the barge or was a member of the Boat Club was obliged to pay an annual subscription. By this means the colleges raised funds to support their barges.' Probably college governing bodies, influenced by the success of the crew on the river, were also generous in their contributions to repairs. 

'£400 was spent on barge repairs and repainting in 1868 alone.' An accounting entry describes, ' the somewhat gargantuan feat of getting the boat out of water with screw jacks and the subsequent fresh varnishing with rossin and tallow the boat's bottom.. in those days, the boat [builders] men were even provided with beer for "men at work", at a cost of 8s 9d.'

For Henley Regatta, colleges who owned their own barges would set up special 'Henley Funds' in order to 'tow them down river to the regatta, equip them with flowers, lobster, strawberries and cream and entertain their guests most royally.' There were printed admission tickets to 'the top of the barge [...] the upper decks providing an excellent viewing platform.'

THE NEW COLLEGE BARGES

The first of the commission-built Oxford College Barges was built in 1854 for the OUBC. A receipt for interiors includes '4 mirrors with solid oak frames, velvet seating, rich carpet, blue tasselled blinds, 3 marble washstands (and a dozen blocks of almond soap), oak magazine racks, 12 windsor chairs and a good-sized table to sit around, evoking the interior of a gentleman's club rather more than a rowing clubhouse.'

Reminiscent of the original Livery Barges, the exterior design retained features such as the length - between 60 to 90 foot, a large 'house' structure placed on top of a flat hull with shallow draft, an upper deck viewing platform, grand doorcases and entrances often supported by columns, and the great stern rise, with its 'grand sweep' to accommodate minstrel and bargemaster.  The livery companies' love of pageantry would probably have appealed to the 19th century Oxonians, and the colleges naturally followed the tradition of displaying their own symbols and coats of arms on their barges, carrying 'the college identity away from the solidity of stone or brick to something more theatrical.' CS

Another accounts ledger entry describes 'benches and a full-length canopy being provided for the comfort of the viewers'. The new barges had a stove to heat water for washing. Oars were stored in racks on the ceiling in the main saloon. Side doors allowed rowers to step out onto a pontoon which was often moored alongside the barge, in order to launch. The first Corpus Christi barge had a bench seat along both walls of the main saloon.

Architects were inspired by naval architecture. The designs were mostly Classical, but some followed the other stylistic giant - Gothic. The new barges were designed to impress. They showcased variations of Edwardian Baroque, Arts & Crafts, and Art Nouveau styles. Many were built by Salter Bros in Oxford (possible link here)

Four of the barges had figureheads. Queen's had an eagle, Trinity had a griffin, Jesus had a dragon, and Corpus Christi had a pelican.  While the Jesus, Queen's and Corpus barge figureheads are straightforward pieces of heraldic carving the Trinity griffin is unashamedly a piece of fairground bugaboo. 

'The use of architectural decoration...pillars, porticoes, arabesque and foliate devices, cornices, architraves and various forms of inventive fenestration were common detailing. Gilded lions, fish, lambs, seahorses, shells, angels, mermaids, wyverns and dragons...' 

These were iconic references to identify ownership, 'a recognised language used to codify quality, prestige, and meaning.' 

As mentioned above, our thanks go to Clare Sherriff for her dry wit and for providing so many of precious details. On listing Oriel College boat club accounts from 1859 she notes 'other entries include one for coals and three for brandy, a secondary warming agent seemingly necessary for the nineteeth century rower.' 

CHRIST CHURCH MEADOW

In 1930 there were up to 26 barges moored along the Isis at Christ Church Meadow, which acted as floating changing rooms, viewing platforms and club houses.

However, In the 1960s/70s the College Barges fell into disrepair and became abandoned and neglected as new boathouses were built on Christ Church meadow. The colleges no longer prioritised the upkeep of the barges. 

This is when the Oxford College Barges Preservation Trust stepped in.

To find out more, go to The Oxford College Barges and About Us pages.