These two eighteenth-century dog collars are part of the Manning Collection and are dated in the accession records 25th February, 1921. They are numbered as Object numbers. AN1921.184 and AN1921.185

The Museum's record describes them as:

1. A Brief History of Dog Collars

Dog collars are known to have been in use from the time of the Egyptians. This image of a dog (fig. 3) petrified by ash during the volcanic destruction of Pompeii in 79 AD clearly shows the animal wearing a collar and some detail of the fastening is still visible.

The wearing of collars served several purposes; when worn in conjunction with a leash, it enabled the handler to better control the dog as in the case of hunting dogs. Guard dogs, sheep dogs and dogs used for sport wore collars with spikes and studs. These spiked collars were intended to protect the dogs from predators such as wolves or the animals they were hunting such as bears and boars.

2. How dog collars were made and sold

The two dog collars from the Manning Collection were probably made by tinsmiths, and then engraved separately. Tinsmiths made domestic hardware such as buckets and milk churns using sheet metal. These objects were then sold through ironmongers’ shops and stalls, as well as by tinkers and pedlars.

James Woodforde, the eighteenth century diarist, (Diary of a Country Parson, 1758 - 1802) was at Oxford in 1759, first as a scholar of New College, then as a Sub-Warden in 1773 and a Pro–Proctor in 1774. During his years at Oxford he kept different horses and dogs, and when he finally leaves in 1776 to take up a living in Norfolk, he takes a dog with him. He gives the following information about his dog’s collar in his diary entry of May 23rd, 1776.

‘Our great dog’-for whom a brass collar had been purchased at Oxford for 5s.6d. –‘performed the journey very well’

The Dashwood collar has rolled edges. The tinsmith would either buy rolled metal from a metal dealer or the edges would be hammered with a mallet, and the metal curved over a mandrel (the spindle of a lathe to which work is fixed and then turned). The Kendal collar has been rolled over a wire core. It has traces of paint outside and inside. Both collars may have been lined with fabric, which would have been more comfortable for the dogs.

Both collars have the kind of eyelet holes that suggest they were fastened with padlocks, the owner being the one who has the key. As mentioned before, dog collars engraved with the owners name were essentially a device for proof of ownership.

The medieval tapestry ‘The Boar and Bear Hunt’ (1425-30) which is on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum, depicts both hunting dogs with stud collars and dogs with a collar called a martingale. This kind of collar was used to control hunting dogs that had smaller heads than their necks. Some of the dogs are also shown being held by leashes, ready to be let free for the chase when they have picked up the scent of their prey.

Another image that shows hunting dogs with collars is Paolo Uccello’s The Hunt in the Forest, c 1470 ,which is in the Ashmolean Museum.

This detail from The Hunt in the Forest shows a dog with a collar and leash. The leash is very slender, and seems to have two strands that are attached to the handler’s sleeves. Another image from the Ashmolean Museum also shows a dog with a collar and leash. This English delft ware tile, made in Bristol between 1750 –1765, depicts an eighteenth century man walking in a landscape with his dog.

Collars were also used as decorative features, and the more elaborate they were, the more they enhanced the status of the owner. More importantly, dog collars came to be used as a means of identification. When they were marked or engraved with the dog owner’s name, the collar became the object that gave proof of ownership. As we shall see, with so many dogs in Oxford during the eighteenth century, this was a very necessary item. Our two dog collars from the Manning Collection would have marked the canine property of George Dashwood and Charles Kendall.

3. Mr. Charles Kendall and Mr. George Dashwood

We do not know why these two dog collars, inscribed with the names of students who were at the University more than ten years apart, were found in the same drain more than 170 years later. We do however know something about the two young men whose names are engraved on the dog collars.

Charles Kendall was born in Sheviock, Cornwall on about 26th February 1690. He was the son of Nicholas Kendall (1657-1739) of Glyn, Cornwall and Jane Carew (1664-1717). Nicholas Kendall was the Archdeacon of Totnes.
Charles joined Exeter College when he was aged 16. He joined Middle Temple in 1712 and gained a BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law) from All Souls in 1717 and a DCL (Doctor of Civil Law) in 1722. He died and was buried at St Lawrence, Exeter, in 1731 aged 41.

George Dashwood was the son of George Dashwood of St Anne’s, Soho, Westminster, and Algerina Peyton, the daughter of Sir Algernon Peyton, Baronet of Doddington. George was born on the 12th March 1703 at Boxford,

Berkshire. He matriculated from University College on the 12th July 1720 aged 16. Both his parents died in 1706. When he left Oxford, he seemed to have returned to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk to live out the life of a country gentleman at Peyton Hall until his death in 1762. Peyton Hall belonged to his mother’s family. George married Margaret, probably his cousin, who was the daughter of Sir Sewster Peyton Baronet of Doddington.

4. Student Life in Eighteenth Century Oxford

In the eighteenth century, there existed four categories of students at Oxford University. Firstly, in the top rank were the noblemen. This was a comparatively small group whose privileges were many and obligations few even to the extent of attaining any academic standards. They were able to fill their days with the pursuits they enjoyed and were exempted from the prohibitions applying to other categories of students and could keep servants, horses and dogs.

Secondly, were the gentleman commoners. They were almost equally privileged, and even more notorious for their wildness and misbehaviour. These were the sons of country gentlemen, successful merchants and professional men. Later in the century attempts were made to curb both their privileges and excesses. However, at this time they could still gain an honorary degree, having completed two and a half years of residency without exercising any academic effort.

Thirdly, came the greater proportion of students, the commoners. Originally this meant those who had to pay for their ‘commons’ or food and lodgings and to whom all regulations applied. They were disciplined by their tutor and or the Dean of their college.

At the bottom of the pyramid came the servitors, sons of poorer families who would receive free board and tuition and a small termly allowance in exchange for varied college duties in Hall and in attendance on the superior undergraduates.

5. Dogs at Oxford University

It was the first two categories of students who were most likely to keep dogs, even though only the noblemen were allowed to.  The nobleman student was free to spend his time hunting, hare coursing and pursuing other sporting activities. The keeping of dogs and horses was essential to the enjoyment of such pastimes. The gentleman commoners also kept dogs, and probably not just for sport but also as companion animals too.  James Woodforde records in his diary entry for July 10th, 1761, his friend Hearst’s distribution of his dog Chloe’s puppies to his student colleagues.

‘Hearst about this Time gave me one of Chloe’s Puppy’s, Dyer had another, Heart had one, Brewer one, Berkley Snr one, and Bell had the sixth which were all.

However, the practise of keeping dogs by any students except the noblemen class was strictly against the laws of the University, and different colleges had various statues and decrees that the undergraduates were meant to adhere to.

On the 14th January, 1734, the Vice-Chancellor and the Heads of Houses at New College made an order that;

'No scholar...shall...be allowed to have Dogs, Guns, or Nets, for the destroying of Game, to the injury of others, and the loss of their own Time’. [3]

New College was still trying to control the keeping of dogs by undergraduates some forty years later, and rustication (see notes) of three, six or twelve months was threatened as punishment for any undergraduate who was found to be keeping dogs of any breed.

Meanwhile, at Trinity College the problem was such that as of April 15th 1770, the porter was ordered to;

‘sconce (see notes) every Gentleman one shilling for his own use whose dog shall be seen in any part of the college and this as often as their dogs appear within the iron gates’. [4]

To reinforce the message it was ordered in 1788 that the statutes relative to keeping dogs and horses be printed and copies of them be distributed among the undergraduates. Trinity College students may also have attempted to circumnavigate the anti-canine laws at their college by themselves offering one shilling a time to the porters to keep quiet whenever their dogs were seen in college.

Worcester College was known to also fine its undergraduates for keeping dogs, and in 1785 this fine was 2s. 6d. Hertford College, in its Rules and Statues for the Government of Hertford College 1747, also included rules for dealing with students and dog keeping.

The keeping of dogs by Oxford undergraduates seems to have been practised in most of the other colleges, and this fact is evidenced by the number of advertisements for lost dogs that appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal. The advertisements would give the name of the dog, the description and also the name of the young gentleman owner, which was engraved on the collar. The college was also included, as was the place to take the dog if this was different to the college, and the amount of the reward.

Lost, on Monday the 17th Instant, out of Jesus College Lane, - A Liver- coloured and White POINTER BITCH, with a Collar engraved Edward Davison, Esq., Lincoln College, answers to the Name of Dido; her Head and Ears almost Brown, the Lower Part of her Stern almost White, and she is in very good Order. – Whoever will return her to Mr. Davison aforesaid, shall receive ONE GUINEA Reward.
Jackson’s Oxford Journal, 10th October, 1789

Lost or Stolen, the latter End of last Week, from Mr. Clarke’s, Mercer in Oxford, - A Pied HARRIER PUPPY, almost full grown, with the Letter A branded on his near Side, Liver- coloured Ears, answers to the Name of RULER; had on when lost a Collar, on which was engraved ‘John Cooke, Esq. All Souls College.- Whoever brings the said Puppy, or gives Intelligence, for that he may be had again, to Mr James Clarke, in the Corn Market, Oxford, shall receive a Reward of HALF-A-GUINEA, if lost; - and if stolen, TEN POUNDS upon Conviction of the Offender or Offenders.
Jackson’s Oxford Journal October 10th, 1789

These advertisements also give some indication of the types of breeds that were favoured, as well as the names that were popular. Spaniels, terriers, pointers and harriers were amongst the favourite breeds, and the names included; Dido, Grog, Ruler, Patch, Hector, Ponto, Phyllis, Pepper and Rover. Both the Kendall and Dashwood dog collars are small, with the Kendall collar being the smaller of the two. As both collars are adjustable, they have a maximum and minimum width, but with little variation. The Kendall collar has a circumference of 28-31cms when closed and the Dashwood collar a circumference of 32-33 ½ cms when closed. If the neck measurement of a fully grown springer spaniel is 44 ½ cms, we can deduce that Dashwood and Kendall’s dogs were quite small, Kendall’s dog probably being a small terrier or whippet.

One way of evading various fines was to board the dogs outside of college. The various advertisements that appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal for lost dogs often gave the name and address of’ a person who was not the owner. The lost dog was to be returned to this address and not to the young gentleman owner’s college. We can see an example of this in the above advertisement placed by John Cooke of All Souls for his dog Ruler. We could surmise that Mr James Clarke’s place in Corn Market was where Ruler was lodging.

Woodforde seems to have had difficulties with the arrangements he made for the safe keeping of the puppy that he got from Hearst. In his diary entry for July 24th, 1761, he records that Dod, who was his bed maker,

‘had my Puppy to keep for me at his House for which I am to pay pr week 0.0.9. [6]

For some reason this arrangement proved to be unsatisfactory, because in his diary entry of October 14th, 1761 he writes,
‘My Little Dog Pero laid in my bed Chamber. I have taken him away from Dods these two days’.7 A month later he is caught keeping the dog in college and on November 16th, he records in his diary ‘I was sconced for my Dog
being in Court by Whitmore- 0.2.6.’8 The following day’s diary entry tells us;’ I have put my Dog in a Kennell behind stables, where he is to stay’.[9]

6. Stables in Eighteenth Century Oxford

Woodforde does not recount where these particular stables were, but Graham Midgley tells us that during the eighteenth century Oxford was full of stables. The area where the indoor market now stands was then occupied by stables and stable yards. Faden’s 1789 map of Oxford also shows that the dwellings, particularly around St Giles, Corn Market, Broad Street and Holywell Street had considerable open spaces behind them. The citizens of Oxford, the college servants, the shop keeps and inn keepers would have had at least the back yards which would have enabled them to make extra income by having a student’s dog to lodge with them.

Woodforde makes specific reference to stables in Holywell Street in a diary entry for January 25th 1764.

‘I put up my Horse at Jacksons in Holliwell, who keeps a Livery stable’

He describes his stabling arrangements more fully on 1st June 1774.

‘My mare is to remain in Oxford, & is to be had to Jacksons Livery Stable to Morrow Morning in Holliwell. I agreed to give Jackson per Week-3.feeds a day 8:0’.

The 1772 survey of Oxford shows that Mr Jackson lived at No. 30.
Holywell Street and this building is still in existence today. It is a Grade11 listed building, and is currently owned by Harris Manchester College. The large gateway to the right of No. 30 led to the livery stables, which can be seen stretching far to the north in the 1876 OS map. The censuses of the nineteenth century show that these stables survived until the 1920s, when they were converted into the Layton Garages.

No 31 Holywell Street is an eighteenth century house that now belongs to Wadham College. In the eighteenth century the large black side gate that we see today was the entrance to the Brasenose College stables. Christ Church and New College also had their own stables, and Wadham had stabling for horses opposite the college.

7. A Hunting We Will Go!

Eighteenth century Oxford must have been awash with students, dogs and horses and there was no shortage of open spaces around and about where they could go to enjoy themselves. The area east of Magdalen Bridge, which we now know as East Oxford, was in the eighteenth century open fields and farm land. One of the largest open spaces was Bullingdon Green. Bullingdon Green was an area of common pasture situated near Cowley Marsh and incorporating land which is now part of Southfield Golf Course. The land crossed what is now Hollow Way. It marked the centre of the old Bullingdon Hundred, one of the old pre- eleventh century administrative divisions of Oxfordshire. The Green was used for a variety of sporting activities and an early engraving of field sports on Bullingdon Green by J.Ryman (Bullingdon on A Summer’s Afternoon) shows young men on horseback, with three different breeds of dog, watching a cricket match.

Graham Midgley’s book includes a description of a hunting scene which took place up by Pullen’s Tree in Headington;

‘ a large party of very dashing men rode by, mounted on cropt ponies, and followed by no inconsiderable number of Tarriers, of all sorts, colours and sizes; and as they did not ride very fast, and talked very loud, we easily discovered that the object of the grand cavalcade had been a Badger-baiting on Bullingdon-Green. ‘

Dogs continued to play a part in the lives of university students right through until the nineteenth-century, although perhaps their involvement in university life became more regulated with the advent of organised college hunting packs. These helped continue what were seen as the gentlemanly leisure activities of hunting, beagling and hare coursing. The Victoria County History mentions the existence of graduate hunting packs of beagles at Exeter, as well as New College, Magdalen and Christ Church. Christ Church had its own beagle pack kept in kennels in Garsington, well into the twentieth-century. In the 1950s this beagle pack joined with the pack from New College.

8. Notes

Rustication: A term used at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham to mean being sent down or expelled temporarily. The term derives from the Latin ‘rus’ the countryside home, or Medieval Latin rustici, meaning ‘heathens or barbarians’- (missus in rusticos, ‘ sent among........’
Depending on the conditions given, a student who has been rusticated may not be allowed to enter any of the university buildings or even travel to within a certain distance of them.

Sconcing: The original definition up to and including the eighteenth century was a simple monetary fine imposed for more serious breaches of discipline. The word is known to have been used in this sense as early as 1617. Several colleges still have Sconce Books in their archive. Subsequently, from the nineteenth century onwards offences for which a sconce might have been imposed included talking at dinner about women, religion, politics or one’s work, or making an error in the pronunciation in the Latin Grace. If a sconce was granted to the person requesting it at High Table or a senior scholar, a large vessel, usually full of beer would be called for and the offender would have to drink it down in one go ( possibly whilst standing on the table). The amount of a sconce would vary from two pints (at Corpus, Jesus and Oriel) up to three and three-quarter pints at St John’s. Several colleges retain their impressive silver ‘sconce pots’. (references for definitions)