Home > Oxfordshire > Oxford > Swindlestock Tavern Swindlestock Tavern

Picture source: Movement80

The Swindlestock Tavern was situated on Carfax.  This tavern opened 1255, starting place of the notorious St Scholastica Day Riots of 1355 in Oxford. Beginning with an “assault” on the taverner (the mayor of Oxford at that time) the battle lasted into a third day resulting in the death of 62 university and 30 townsmen. As a punishment the King “gave” Oxford to the university. In 1976 the town was finally released from the punishment. Did the tavern learn from its mistake? In 1705 the decision was taken to demolish the tavern following riots in the city, so probably not. The original taverns medieval cellars are still beneath the current building now used as a branch of the Santander Bank.

Do you have any anecdotes, historical information, updates or photos of this pub? Become a contributor by submitting them here. You can also make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.