Oxford's Enigmatic History: Strange Traditions You Haven’t Heard Of

Oxford University, steeped in centuries of enchanting history, boasts a rich tapestry of traditions that have shaped its unique culture. By delving into the deep archives of its history, we retrieve some of the most eccentric and creative traditions that, though now dissipated, continue to cast their enigmatic shadows over the hallowed halls of this iconic institution.

One of the oldest oddities was the "Sconcing" ritual, a whimsical custom that began in the 17th century. If a student was found to have broken a rule or was found guilty of a social offence, they faced the punishment of being ‘sconced’. This usually involved paying a fine, usually a bottle of wine or a few pence, or facing ‘public humiliation’. It could also be translated to being made to drink a tankard of ale or another alcoholic beverage. The earliest evidence for this ‘sconcing’ is from as early as 1617. Minor offences for which this might have been imposed consisted of speaking about women, religion, work or politics at dinner, referring to the portraits in the college hall, or wrongly pronouncing the Latin Grace. While the specifics of the ritual were constantly changing and unique to individual professors, the prospect of sconcing was a fanciful combination of justice and entertainment that has been mirrored through the centuries.

Another - perhaps more intellectual - tradition in Oxford's past was a game called ‘Random Verbs.’ Originating in the 19th century, students participated in a curious game  where they attempted to use a randomly selected verb in conversation as many times as possible throughout the day. This exercise, a quaint blend of quick wit and linguistic skill, added a playful humour to social interactions, showcasing the fun-loving side of Oxford's community as well as exhibiting their impressive intelligence.

Another Oxfordian tradition revolves around Oxford time being delayed five minutes from Greenwich Mean Time. To demonstrate this, Tom Tower on Christ Church would sound 101 times every evening at five minutes past nine – to both announce to the students that it was curfew and they should return to their dorms, as well as honouring the 101 original Christ Church scholars. Similarly, in 1971 student Barry Press, introduced a ceremony to mark the completion of a year-long stint in which the UK remained on BST (British Summer Time). Press stated that he ‘thought that in theory maybe it wouldn’t go back, and that we ought to help it. And this seemed the obvious thing to do.’ At 2am British Summer Time, students walk backwards around the quad until an hour has passed and it’s now 2am Greenwich Mean Time, allegedly to ensure that the clocks manage to change.

The 18th century ‘Hebdomadal Council Oath’ has remained famous as a puzzling ritual that pervaded the university. Supposedly, members of the esteemed council would take an oath that silenced them on all matters discussed during their meetings. This shrouded mystery created an atmosphere of secrecy surrounding the council’s proceedings, leaving the students of the university suspicious of the furtive qualities of the council's deliberations.

While these strange traditions from Oxford's past may seem like artefacts of a forgotten era, they reveal a peek into the idiosyncrasies that have shaped the university's enigmatic eccentricity and prestige.