The Lord Mayor of Oxford is to help mark the 125th anniversary of Blackwell's bookshop with a reception tonight.

The Lord Mayor, Pat Stannard, who will host the event at the Town Hall, said: "Generations of local people have found inspiration and a haven in the bookshop."

The first BH Blackwell had to set up his business in east Oxford because the university did not want traders inside the city walls. He played a prominent part in the life of the city, becoming the first librarian of Oxford's public library.

His son, the second BH Blackwell, revived the bookselling business by opening a shop at 50 Broad Street on January 1, 1879. He was secretary of the allotment society, and the city's first Liberal councillor.

His son, Basil Blackwell, continued the tradition of public service as a magistrate, earning himself a knighthood and the Freedom of the City of Oxford.

Tonight's reception is followed on Thursday by a reading and reception at the Bodleian Library, which is hosting an exhibition of early editions of Chaucer, including the Shakespeare Head edition published by Sir Basil. On Friday, Blackwell's is holding a family event at Merton College.

Blackwell's is celebrating its 125th anniversary this week and not its 250th as incorrectly stated previously. We apologise for the error but are confident time will prove us to be correct.