this collection includes some of the earliest and most significant records of Oxford City Council including the principal royal charters
they were listed and described in chronological order in 1887 by F Madan in Oxford City Records and in the later publication Catalogue of Charters etc (1199-1796) [1899]
many of the documents have been mounted and labelled and other interventions undertaken to preserve them and their seals
although originally described in a single chronological series the documents were re-referenced between 1887 and 1899 and items either removed or added; a large number of similar documents were also collected and bound into volumes [see OCA4/2]
a list of the principal royal charters can be found at the back of Oxford City Records [part 2: separate documents]
a much larger collection of copies of royal charters letters and writs [many of which have not survived in the City collection] together with full transcriptions and notes can be found in the published volume: Royal Letters addressed to Oxford and now existing in the City Archives transcribed and edited by Octavius Ogle MA Clerk to the Market and City Councillor [1892]
the collection also includes property deeds and leases, exemplifications of court judgements and parliamentary Acts, early coroners inquests, inquisitions, petitions, court pleas, agreements
many of the documents relate to the City's rights, privileges and properties and their preservation in relation to the University
significant topics include the town hall, William of Wykeham and New College, Oseney Abbey and Castle Mills, St Frideswide Fair, Port Meadow, Northgate Hundred, Gloucester Green [market and gaol], the Carfax Conduit
the sequence, titles and descriptions used in earlier catalogues have been retained in this catalogue thus records referenced with H in the old City catalogue [Walker's Handlist] are identified in this catalogue as Series H etc
principal royal charters are indicated by the term [ROYAL CHARTER] in the title