Mayors of Oxford in early medieval times
1205–1348
Before the mid-thirteenth century, Oxford was governed by two reeves, while the chief spokesman for the burgesses was the Alderman of the merchant guild. Laurence Kepeharm, sole alderman in c.1200, was the first person to be described (in the Osney Cartulary) as Mayor of Oxford. At first there was uncertainty about the Latin word for the French “maire”, and originally “marrus” was used, but “maior” was soon accepted.
At first Mayors held office for life, but from the 1230s they were elected annually, beginning their term of office on Michaelmas Day (29 September). Often, however, the same man was elected for a number of years running.
Follow the pointer at the top to view each page of this section chronologically.
The dates of this first group of Mayors are not certain.
- Laurence Kepeharm (1205–1207)
- Philip the Miller (1209, 1214)
- Thomas Fitz-Edwin (1216, 1224)
- John Pady (1227–1229)
- Peter Torald (1232–6, 1240, 1243–4)
- Geoffrey de Stockwell (1237–9)
- Laurence Wyth (1241–2)
The following thirteenth-century dates are generally accepted, but may not be totally accurate. For instance, William Le Espicer may have been Mayor in 1285
- 1245/1246: Adam Fettiplace (1st of eleven terms)
- 1246/1247: Nicholas de Stockwell (1st of four terms)
- 1247/1248: Thomas, son of Walter (1st of two terms)
- 1248/1249: Nicholas de Stockwell (2nd of four terms)
- 1249/1250: Wydo, son of Robert
- 1250/1251: Thomas, son of Walter (2nd of two terms)
- 1251/1253: Uncertain: Nicholas de Heureth a possibility
- 1253/1261: Adam Fettiplace (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of eleven terms)
- 1261/1264: Nicholas of Kingston (1st, 2nd, and 3rd of fourteen terms)
- 1264/1266: Nicholas de Stockwell (3rd and 4th of four terms)
- 1266/1268: Adam Fettiplace (10th and 11th of eleven terms)
- 1268/1269: Nicholas of Kingston (4th of fourteen terms)
- 1269/1270: John of Coleshill
- 1270/1273: Nicholas of Kingston (5th, 6th, and 7th of fourteen terms)
- 1273/1274: Henry Owen (1st of seven terms)
- 1274/1276: Nicholas of Kingston (8th and 9th of fourteen terms)
- 1276/1277: Philip de Eu (senior)
- 1277/1278: Nicholas of Kingston (10th of fourteen terms)
- 1278/1281: Henry Owen (2nd to 4th of seven terms)*
- 1281/1285: Nicholas of Kingston (11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of fourteen terms)
- 1285/1286: John Culvert (1st of two terms)
- 1286/1287: Philip de Eu (junior) (1st of four terms)
- 1287/1288: John of Ducklington (1st of eleven terms)
- 1288/1289: Henry Owen (5th of seven terms)
- 1289/1290: Nicholas le Orfeur
- 1290/1291: John de Eu (1st of three terms)
- 1291/1293: Henry Owen (6th and 7th of seven terms)
- 1293/1294: John Culvert (2nd of two terms)
- 1294/1295: Thomas de Sowy (1st of four terms)
- 1295/1297: Philip de Eu (junior) (2nd and 3rd of four terms)
- 1297/1298: Andrew de Pyrie
- 1298/1299: Robert Worminghall
- 1299/1300: Philip de Eu (junior) (4th of four terms)
- 1300/1301: John de Eu (2nd of three terms)
First half of the fourteenth century
- 1301/1304: Thomas de Sowy (2nd, 3rd, and 4th of four terms)
- 1304/1305: John de Eu (3rd of three terms)
- 1305/1310: Sir John of Ducklington (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th of eleven terms)
- 1310/1311: Philip Worminghall
- 1311/1315: William of Bicester (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of thirteen terms)
- 1315/1317: Sir John of Ducklington (7th and 8th of eleven terms)
- 1317/1318: William of Bicester (5th of thirteen terms)
- 1318/1319: Henry de Lynne
- 1319/1321: John of Hampton (1st and second of three terms)
- 1321/1322: Sir John of Ducklington (9th of eleven terms)
- 1322/1323: John of Hampton (3rd of three terms)
- 1323/1324: Robert of Watlington
- 1324/1325: Sir John of Ducklington (10th of eleven terms)
- 1325/1326: William of Bicester (6th of thirteen terms)
- 1326/1327: Sir John of Ducklington (11th of eleven terms)
- 1327/1328: Andrew Worminghall
- 1328/1329: Richard Carey (1st of seven terms)
- 1329/1335: William of Bicester (7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th of thirteen terms)
- 1335/1336: Richard Carey (2nd of seven terms)
- 1336/1337: Simon of Gloucester
- 1337/1338: Henry of Studley (1st of two terms)
- 1338/1339: Stephen Addington
- 1339/1340: William of Bicester (13th of thirteen terms)
- 1340/1343: Richard Carey (3rd, 4th, and 5th of seven terms)
- 1343/1344: Richard Carey (6th of seven terms)
- 1344/1345: Henry of Studley (2nd of two terms)
- 1345/1346: Richard Carey (7th of seven terms)
- 1346/1348: Richard Sellwood (1st and 2nd of two terms)
* 1279/80 uncertain: it could be Andrew de Worminghall senior