Victorian archive arrives at college

3:34pm Tuesday 29th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A Victorian book featuring part of the history of an Oxford University college has arrived in the city following a lengthy journey around the country.

The early Victorian treasure is a leatherbound book providing a record of education at Spring Hill College, where Moseley School in Birmingham now stands.

In 1889, Spring Hill students transferred to the newly-completed Mansfield College in Oxford, which holds several reminders of its Midlands heritage, including deeds and a portrait of Sarah Glover, a member of the Mansfield family.

On Thursday, the book, containing records of college meetings, was handed over at a ceremony at the college.

Rod Ling, a teacher at Moseley School, said an antiquarian book dealer in Norfolk, spotted the historic volume.

The dealer contacted Moseleians member, columnist and broadcaster Prof Carl Chinn at the University of Birmingham, who immediately recognised the connection with Spring Hill College, and contacted Moseley School staff.

Mr Ling said: "Written in the copperplate hand of the board secretary, John Hammond, it is a fascinating account of how learning was administered in the formative years and beyond, up to 1859."

Moseley School bought the book for £200 and decided to donate it to Mansfield.

College staff returned the compliment by presenting two books to the school.