The building was formerly the Cowley St John Boys' School built in 1871 (architect Charles Buckeridge).<ref>On Foot In Oxford No.12 East Oxford, Malcolm Graham 1987</ref>
"The East Oxford Community Centre and Oxford Action Resource Centre, plus the Claimants Union - I remember how we defeated the Poll Tax by good organisation and campaigning, 1990."
-Tim Murphy
== Before then? ==