"The Pinnacle of Fame" - W. O'Chee
An extract
The beginnings of competitive rowing at Oxford lie in a now famous race between Brasenose and Jesus, which was contested in eight oared boats during the Trinity Term of 1815. This race seems to have commenced at Iffley Lock, and finished at the Head of the River, near Hall’s boathouse.
The names of the men who participated are not recorded, nor even is the margin between the two crews, however what is recorded is that the crew from Brasenose won the event, which both sides seem to have agreed in advance would bestow the title of “Head of the River”.
The following year, 1816, Brasenose and Jesus again contested the event over the same course, and Brasenose again won, claiming its second Head of the River. Again the names of the crews and the margin are not recorded, although the victor is clear.
Interestingly, these races were not raced in four or six oared boats - the common craft of the day - but in purpose built eights. That means it was not a casual affair between two ad hoc crews from Brasenose and Jesus, but a clear race between established college boat clubs, for which they had commissioned purpose built boats.
Looking back over 200 years, the significance of the event becomes clearer. Rowing had progressed from being the province of professional watermen, uncouth and unpopular, to being adopted as a recreational pursuit in Oxford, and shortly thereafter, at Cambridge. From there it was adopted by the privileged classes in London and the counties.
Now, for the first time, rowing was undertaken in an organised competition between two clubs who prepared and trained for an established event. The modern sport of rowing as the world knows it, began in Oxford, between the clubs at Brasenose and Jesus. Moreover, it is clear that the Brasenose College Boat Club, and the Jesus College Boat Club are the oldest competitive rowing clubs in the world, for no club anywhere can boast of having rowed competitively prior to their race for the Head of the River in 1815.
It is into this milieu that William de Ros followed Southey from Westminster to Oxford…
William de Ros kept a diary, presently in the possession of the 28th Baron. In his diary, de Ros recorded on the 17th February, 1817, that “my four-oared wherry arrived” in Oxford. He also records that there were only two other four oared boats in Oxford prior to that, one belonging to Jesus, one belonging to Mr Morres of B.N.C.
While Brasenose College and Jesus College were racing in purpose built eights in 1815, they continued to put out in fours, and were joined by Christ Church in 1817. It would seem, therefore, that 1817 was the year referred to in Brickwood’s account of Oxford rowing, when he mentions the existence of a Brasenose four, a Jesus four, and a four belonging to de Ros. This four seems to have initially been made up of his Westminster friends, but eventually became the Christ Church Boat Club.
De Ros makes an important contribution, however, for he gives us the first known name of a Brasenose rower, Thomas Morres.
Morres had gone up to Brasenose as the Nowell Scholar in 1813 and took his M.A. in 1820 before going on to become a clergyman. He presumably learned to row at Brasenose some time between 1813 and 1816. Interestingly, Morres only had one arm, and rowed with the use of a strap.
Given that Morres was the organiser of a Brasenose four, it seems entirely reasonable to posit he also organised the eight, even if that is unattested. If that was indeed the case, Morres may well have been the Father of Brasenose rowing, if not the Father of Oxford college rowing.
The names of the men who participated are not recorded, nor even is the margin between the two crews, however what is recorded is that the crew from Brasenose won the event, which both sides seem to have agreed in advance would bestow the title of “Head of the River”.
The following year, 1816, Brasenose and Jesus again contested the event over the same course, and Brasenose again won, claiming its second Head of the River. Again the names of the crews and the margin are not recorded, although the victor is clear.
Interestingly, these races were not raced in four or six oared boats - the common craft of the day - but in purpose built eights. That means it was not a casual affair between two ad hoc crews from Brasenose and Jesus, but a clear race between established college boat clubs, for which they had commissioned purpose built boats.
Looking back over 200 years, the significance of the event becomes clearer. Rowing had progressed from being the province of professional watermen, uncouth and unpopular, to being adopted as a recreational pursuit in Oxford, and shortly thereafter, at Cambridge. From there it was adopted by the privileged classes in London and the counties.
Now, for the first time, rowing was undertaken in an organised competition between two clubs who prepared and trained for an established event. The modern sport of rowing as the world knows it, began in Oxford, between the clubs at Brasenose and Jesus. Moreover, it is clear that the Brasenose College Boat Club, and the Jesus College Boat Club are the oldest competitive rowing clubs in the world, for no club anywhere can boast of having rowed competitively prior to their race for the Head of the River in 1815.
It is into this milieu that William de Ros followed Southey from Westminster to Oxford…
William de Ros kept a diary, presently in the possession of the 28th Baron. In his diary, de Ros recorded on the 17th February, 1817, that “my four-oared wherry arrived” in Oxford. He also records that there were only two other four oared boats in Oxford prior to that, one belonging to Jesus, one belonging to Mr Morres of B.N.C.
While Brasenose College and Jesus College were racing in purpose built eights in 1815, they continued to put out in fours, and were joined by Christ Church in 1817. It would seem, therefore, that 1817 was the year referred to in Brickwood’s account of Oxford rowing, when he mentions the existence of a Brasenose four, a Jesus four, and a four belonging to de Ros. This four seems to have initially been made up of his Westminster friends, but eventually became the Christ Church Boat Club.
De Ros makes an important contribution, however, for he gives us the first known name of a Brasenose rower, Thomas Morres.
Morres had gone up to Brasenose as the Nowell Scholar in 1813 and took his M.A. in 1820 before going on to become a clergyman. He presumably learned to row at Brasenose some time between 1813 and 1816. Interestingly, Morres only had one arm, and rowed with the use of a strap.
Given that Morres was the organiser of a Brasenose four, it seems entirely reasonable to posit he also organised the eight, even if that is unattested. If that was indeed the case, Morres may well have been the Father of Brasenose rowing, if not the Father of Oxford college rowing.