Maison Française d’Oxford

'The idea of establishing a French presence at the heart of the British academic world dates back to at least the beginning of the 20th century. It was defended in particular by the members of the French Club, which existed at the University of Oxford at the time and which brought together a community of francophile students. However, it was not until after the Second World War, in more favourable circumstances that this project was fully executed. The support that the United Kingdom had provided to the Free French provoked a desire to consolidate the links between the two sides of the Channel, in cultural as much as academic terms.'