Item 2023.141.13 - Shepherd & Woodward Academic Gown, University of Oxford

Arthur Shepherd bought his first Oxford business from a tailor called Arthur Brockington and opened at 62 Cornmarket Street in 1877. This was later taken over by Arthur's son Ernest, who amalgamated with Wilton Woodward, another tailor, in 1927 and moved the business to 109-114 High Street. He then moved to 6 Cornmarket, and in 1907 demolished this shop together with its neighbour at No. 8 Cornmarket to form a large new shop. Dennis Venables [b.1909] was apprenticed to the business and became tailor at Bartlett & Carter before opening his own shop with a Mr Bradbury in 1935. He bought Ernest Shepherd's share of Shepherd & Woodward in 1947 [when Mr Shepherd died]. The firm opened a branch shop in Summertown in 1967. Academic robemakers, James Clarke & Son, became part of Shepherd & Woodward in Sept 1966, and moved from Pembroke Street to Collins Street 1968. Shepherd & Woodward remains a supplier of academic gowns to Oxford University, with the majority of the robes made in their workrooms onsite. The company continues to be run by members of the Venables family.