The department was originally established in 1908 with the appointment of the first Professor of Engineering Science at Oxford, Frewen Jenkin, grandfather of Lord Jenkin of Roding.
The Jenkin Building is named after him.
On 2 February 1909, the Honour School of Natural Science (Engineering Science) was formally instituted by a Statute of Oxford University.
The School was initially located at 6 Keble Road, on the south side of what is now known as the Keble Road Triangle, part of the Oxford University Science Area.
The main part of the department has remained and expanded at this location to the present day.

The Thom Building, built in 1963, is named after Alexander Thom (1894–1985), a Scottish engineer who was also a professor of engineering at Oxford.
The adjacent Holder Building followed in 1976.

The department celebrated its Centenary in 2008 and Lord Jenkin acted as its Patron.
The department was originally established in 1908 with the appointment of the first Professor of Engineering Science at Oxford, Frewen Jenkin, grandfather of Lord Jenkin of Roding. The Jenkin Building is named after him. On 2 February 1909, the Honour School of Natural Science (Engineering Science) was formally instituted by a Statute of Oxford University. The School was initially located at 6 Keble Road, on the south side of what is now known as the Keble Road Triangle, part of the Oxford University Science Area. The main part of the department has remained and expanded at this location to the present day.
The Thom Building, built in 1963, is named after Alexander Thom (1894–1985), a Scottish engineer who was also a professor of engineering at Oxford. The adjacent Holder Building followed in 1976.
The department celebrated its Centenary in 2008 and Lord Jenkin acted as its Patron.
Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford