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APRIL 2015

Welcome to this month’s newsletter, I hope you’ve all enjoyed your chocolate! This time we have an exclusive Mayor’s Chair, as Peter himself is in the hot-seat. More of Oxford’s history is revealed to us, and there’s an exciting event taking place courtesy of the Museum of Oxford Friends, so please come along and show your support!

In this issue:Roger Bacon 2Mayor’s Chair 4MoOFs newsletter ad 5What’s On 6

Volu

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Welcome!

If you would like to get involved with the newsletter, or indeed any aspect of the Museum, please contact

David Juler.

Folly Bridge is a stone bridge over the River Thames that carries the Abingdon Road south from the centre of Oxford. It

apparently stands at the site of the original ford, over which oxen were driven across the Isis – the ancient name for the

stretch of the river/Thames between Folly Bridge and Iffley Lock. The first known stone bridge on the site was built by

Robert d’Oilli c.1085, although there was believed to be a wooden bridge in earlier times, and remains of the Saxon

structure may still be seen beneath the present bridge today.  

In 1369, when there was a grant of pontage on "Grauntpount",

the structure was said to be "so dangerous as to be well nigh impassable".

Until the late 17th century the bridge we now know as Folly Bridge was, previously known as South Bridge, forming part

of a long causeway, named Grandpoint, which stretched along most of the line of Abingdon Road. ‘Friar Bacon's Study’ was

there till 1779, when it was removed to widen the road, and a toll-booth gateway tower used to straddle the approach to the

bridge, which was on the Abingdon to Banbury turnpike. 

Roger Bacon (c1214 –   c1294), nicknamed Doctor Mirabilis or

‘wonderful teacher’ because of his extensive knowledge, was an English philosopher, alchemist and Franciscan friar who

lived and worked at ‘Friar Bacon's Study’ which stood as a

gateway across the south end of Folly Bridge until it was

removed to widen the road in 1799.   Placing considerable

emphasis on the study of nature through empirical methods, Bacon is credited with:

• inventing the telescope, camera obscura and

gunpowder; 

• enunciating the laws of reflection and refraction of

light and applying them to explain the phenomena of

rainbows, and attempting to construct a rainbow

using glass beads;

• fathoming the mystery of shooting stars;  

• foreseeing (i) the astronomical theories of

Copernicus and Keppler, (ii) the use of convex lenses

for magnification, (iii) the advent of mechanically

propelled vessels and flying machines;  

• discovering errors in the calendar and preparing a

corrected one - there is a copy in the Bodleian

Library.  

(Drawing, Turner bequest, dating from about 1797)

The octagonal tower gatehouse at the southern end of the bridge, associated by tradition with the thirteenth-century philosopher Roger Bacon

Folly Bridge and Friar Bacon’s Study

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Bacon was fluent in several languages and lamented the corruption of the holy texts and the works of Greek philosophers because of the numerous

mistranslations and misinterpretations. While restricted by a Franciscan statute from publishing books or pamphlets without prior approval from the Pope, he was

nevertheless in correspondence with Pope Clement IV concerning the place of philosophy within theology. He sent some of his own work to this Pope, including

his Opus Majus (Greater Work), which presented his views on how to incorporate the philosophy of Aristotle and science into a new Theology, and his Opus minus,

(Lesser Work), De multiplicatione specierum.

Between 1277 and 1279, Bacon was apparently imprisoned or placed under house arrest for his excessive credulity in alchemy and for his harsh regard for the other

innovators of his day. At some time after 1278 Bacon returned to the Franciscan House in the St Ebbe’s area of Oxford, where he continued his studies and is

presumed to have spent most of the rest of his life. He died some time round 1294 and was buried in the Franciscan burial ground at St Ebbe’s.

Bacon died without any important followers and was quickly forgotten, remaining

so for a long time until his works were rediscovered and published in the 18th Century. There is a commemorative plaque cemented into the wall between the

service bay to Westgate Centre and the multi-storey car park (demolished in 2015) marking the site of his death. In David Horan’s terms: ‘It might be the closest spot

to Bacon’s headquarters, but suggests a strange set of priorities when it comes to celebrating one of the greatest of all medieval thinkers and scientists.’ (David

Horan, Oxford, Signal Books, 1999, p 159)

Friar Bacon’s Study

Bacon’s statue, Oxford University Museum

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Interested in Contributing to MoOFs or the

Newsletter?

Email david.juler@oxford.gov.uk to

find out more

Pure Drew

In the Mayor’s chair

Peter SimpsonFor this month’s newsletter the tables have turned on our resident ‘David Frost’, Peter Simpson, proud recipient of an OCVA Volunteer Award. Peter is used to hearing about volunteers’ lives but for this edition we felt it was about time to hear his story.

Peter was born in London during one of the hardest winters on record. As part of the baby boomer generation, his education in North London saw Peter receive plenty of ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels but not the desire to attend university. Instead, due to a love for the written word, Peter trained to be a librarian. Although he found this a little dull, managing a Rhythm and Blues band in his spare time gave Peter an insight into the vibrant arts and culture scene in London. Leaving library work, Peter joined the National Theatre at the Old Vic in a front of house role. Meeting visitors and talking to customers is something that is apparent throughout Peter’s life.

Spin the globe; randomly put your finger on a country and Peter has probably been there. A sudden decision to emigrate to Canada (well, it was going to be Australia but at that time Peter was aware of a pub curfew at 6pm) saw him leaving on a ship from Southampton. Travelling from Quebec to Toronto before hitch hiking to Vancouver, Peter worked on the Trans Canadian railway laying tracks before eventually working for Standard Oil in computing. Peter had to decide to either extend his VISA or return to ‘Blighty’, a decision which saw Peter come back to England to work in the London Coliseum. Working as the bar manager at the Coliseum, Peter was privy to seeing some of the great stars of opera rehearse and perform, instilling in him a love for the classical art form.

Travel was never far removed from Peter’s mind. Starting up a tour company offering overland trips through Africa was as ambitious a project as any. Buying up ex-army vehicles and trekking across the Sahara with a Tuareg guide across an old camel route ended in disaster, as the group spent months in the desert as opposed to the intended weeks. Attempting to cross the Congo saw their supply truck being washed away but it was the eventual foray into Uganda which brought the trip to a heart stopping finale. Driving ex-military vehicles into Uganda, at that time run by Idi Amin, resulted in the group being arrested and eventually mock executed before being released. A truly harrowing experience which saw the end of Peter’s enterprising, although not the end of his passion for seeing the world.

Back in England, Peter decided to concentrate on catering and moved to Oxford. Working at Oxford Airport, Peter arrived in the city p r e t t y m u c h simultaneously with the Museum of Oxford first opening in 1975. He was one of the first through the doors to the Museum and loved the method used for telling the history of the city. But keeping Peter in one place for any substantial period of time seems almost impossible. Back in London, Peter worked with a huge catering company called Trust House Forte, rescuing struggling restaurants around London and the South and advising them on how they could turn around their efforts.

The hotel trade then followed and saw Peter travelling across the world again. He found himself, first of all in Qatar for 2 years and then in Macau in the far-east. After visiting several different destinations, Peter was head hunted by the Hilton hotel group as someone who could install specialised computer software in their Park Lane hotel. After being successful in this role he was given a new remit, moving from a focus on one hotel in London to Hilton Hotels around the world. It was a strange contract which included a clause to prevent Peter from marrying and also relied on him having two passports at any time. Peter lived with his suitcase constantly packed and was required to respond to and jet to anywhere in the world he was needed. This role saw him visiting South America, the Caribbean and even a Hilton Hotel at Mecca.

When Peter retired, he moved to Summertown and once again was struck by a Museum of Oxford headline on a newspaper. This time it was the threat of closure that brought Peter to the museum to volunteer rather than visit.

Peter was a keen sportsman, enjoying running and tennis and even turning semi pro as a footballer. Today Peter enjoys taking up courses at Oxford’s continuing education department and being a keen cook. Oh yes, he also aspires to one day owning a big dog!

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David Juler

Date:Time:

Venue:

What’s On

Poseytude Exhibition

2 – 30th May

Free

Gallery

Africa Dance Oxford

16th May, Various times

The Old Museum

Ros Barber on Christopher Marlow

Thursday May 28th, Free, 7pm – 8pm

Blackwell’s

The Physics of Time

2nd May, £20, 3 – 5pm & 8 – 10pm

Church of St John the Evangelist

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At the Museum....

Elsewhere...

Contributors: Prue Drew,

Art Editor: Yi Wu

Editor: Felicity Hammond David Juler, Judith Price