Things you didn't know about... Oxford

The Romans gave Oxford a wide berth
Despite evidence of 6,000 years of continuous settlement, the Romans appear to have had no interest in the place.

Osama bin Laden lived in Oxford
In 1971 the Al-Qaeda leader studied English here, though nobody seems to know where, despite a huge tabloid hunt.

Was Oxford founded by the Trojans?
Probably not, though this was a school of thought for a long time. But there is evidence for a Trojan presence in London around 1,000 BC, so it's not impossible.

Queen Matilda escaped from the town in camouflage
Besieged in Oxford Castle, she escaped through the snow garbed in a white dress. This was during her long squabble with Stephen for the throne of England in the 12th century. Oxford Castle became a gaol, HMP Oxford in 1888. Its doors clanged shut for the last time in 1996—it is now a luxury hotel, with converted cells as guestrooms.

Oxford was once the "capital" of England
Twice in fact—first when Charles l was expelled from London at the beginning of the Civil War and set up court here, and again when Charles ll did likewise to escape the threat of the plague in London.

The University of Oxford was never actually founded
There is no date which can be ascribed to the beginning of the University—it gradually evolved from clerical teaching institutions around the end of the first millennium. Henry Vlll did most to create the modern body, insisting that non-clerical subjects be taught and weakening the hold of the Church on the University. Some 25 British Prime Ministers have since attended Oxford.

The four-minute mile was broken in Oxford
Roger Bannister made this famous breakthrough on a University running track on the Iffley Road—though his time would now be considered, if not glacial, at least fairly leisurely.

Oxford holds a centennial dead-duck hunt
A dead mallard was found during excavations of All Souls College in 1438, and so on the first Feast of All Souls each century ever since, the Faculty has interrupted its dinner at high table to search the college for the duck's ghost. No one is quite sure why.

Cranmer left his mark on Oxford
When Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was burned at the stake in Broad Street—outside Balliol College—a fierce and sudden change of wind direction caused the fire to scorch the gates of the college. The gates—and the scorches—are still visible.

There has always been aggro between the University and the townsfolk
Friction between "Town and Gown" was first recorded in 1209 when rioting erupted following the murder of a local woman by students. The students fled to Cambridge... and founded the University there. The Civil War was particularly fractious here, as the University was essentially Royalist while the local townspeople followed the Parliamentarians.