On 14 December 2007 Wantage MP and Shadow Arts Minister, Ed Vaizey presented certificates to the winners of the Design-a-gargoyle competition at the prize-giving ceremony in the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

The competition was launched in June as part of Opening Doors Opening Minds which was organised by the Trust in partnership with the University of Oxford and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The competition followed the main project aim to engage young people in the rich history of Oxford and was part of the County’s millennium celebrations.  Young people from Oxfordshire were challenged to find ideas based on one of three themes – myths, monsters or people that have a historical connection with the county within the last millennium. Hundreds of entries were received and more than one hundred fantastic ideas were put before the judging panel that included the Trust’s Director Debbie Dance along with sculptor Martin Jennings; Bodley’s Librarian, Dr Sarah Thomas; and Oxford University Head of Building Conservation, Isobel Hughes.   The winning designs drew their inspiration from many areas, but most fittingly for the library, many were from the world of books.

The winners will see their design interpreted by a stonemason and by autumn 2008 these will be made into real gargoyles. The nine new gargoyles are to be erected on the northwest face of the famous 17th century Bodleian Library for all to enjoy for many years to come.

The Trust’s Director, Debbie Dance, said: ‘We are delighted to have been part of the competition which has given children in Oxfordshire such an amazing opportunity to add something to their city.  What a wonderful way to encourage children to look above the shops and see the great variety of historic gargoyles that stare down at them, and now to create one for themselves.’

See the winning designs on http://www.ox.ac.uk/public_affairs/gargoyles/designagargoyle.html

© 2002-7, Oxford Preservation Trust