Making Cars - A history of car making in Cowley - screening and guest panel Q&A

12 September 2026, 11:00-12:30; 13 September 2026, 15:00-17:00
Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP), Cowley

cowley carmakers community history webpage

Special events as part of Oxford Open Doors 2026

  • Saturday 12 September - 11:00-12:30: Screening of 'Making Cars' (episode 1) with introduction by local historian Maurice East

  • Sunday 13 September - 15:00-17:00: Screening of 'Making Cars' (episode 1) followed by guest panel Q&A and discussion

Free event. Pre-booking required www.uppcinema.com/show/oxford-open-doors-making-cars/

 

What's on

‘Making Cars’ is a ground breaking five-part TV series which told the history of the Morris Motors and Pressed Steel factories at Cowley through the voices of the men and women who worked there. The first episode was aired in January 1983 on a new TV station - Channel 4. The shows were hugely popular and a book was produced to accompany the series. Despite the appeal the series faded into history. 

Luckily, thanks to local researchers, a copy of the series has been found and digitised for screening at Oxford's oldest purpose-built cinema, The Ultimate Picture Palace (built in 1911 and now Grade-II Listed and community-owned) as part of this year's Open Doors weekend. 

Our screening on Saturday will feature episode one preceded by an introduction from local historian Maurice East. 

Our screening on Sunday will feature episode one followed by a guest panel Q&A and discussion. 

These events are part of Oxford Open Doors 2026 

How to book

Book via this link: www.uppcinema.com/show/oxford-open-doors-making-cars/

  • Disabled access: The cinema is on street level. There is one small step up into the auditorium, but we have a portable ramp for ease of access. Just ask a member of staff for assistance. We have a single bookable wheelchair space on our website, identifiable by a Wheelchair User icon on our Seating Plan. This space is not a fixed seat, but a space for users who wish/need to sit in a wheelchair during screenings. We don’t have currently accessible toilets on site. The toilets in our listed building are below the screen and down a few steps. While we currently have no accessible toilets, we used to have access to the ones in the church opposite and hope to be able to do so again when it reopens under new ownership.
  • Toilets available
  • Refreshments available

Information

https://www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/making-cars-history-car-making-cowley-ultimate-picture-palace