Oxford Town and Gown came together in 1771 as Paving Commissioners, the city's principal local government body. Within thirty years this remarkable collaboration did much to transform Oxford from a medieval to a modern city. Eighteenth century Oxford was a place of great contrast with the architectural splendour of its university and college buildings set among narrow streets and timber-framed houses. Ancient gates and market stalls obstructed traffic and rubbish piled up in unpaved streets. Neither Town nor Gown could satisfy the growing appetite for urban improvement so they came together...