On the initiative of a number of people concerned about the increased use of the motor car on the footpaths in the countryside around Oxford, a meeting was held on 26th January 1926 'to form a Society for the preservation of Footpaths, Bridlepaths and Commons in the neighbourhood of Oxford'.
The Society duly came into being and, over the years, has worked constantly to protect and improve the public rights of way throughout the county of Oxfordshire. Today, over 80 years later, the Society faces problems similar to those in 1926 but in many ways much more acute. This is the result of construction of new roads, industrial and housing developments and intensive farming.