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Bodleian Libraries launches Oxford’s Big Book public art installation
The Big Book will be open for contributions 20th to 24th August from 10am to 6pm daily.
Members of the public are invited to write in ‘The Big Book’ public art installation in the Bodleian Library’s Clarendon Quadrangle from 20th to 24th August. The installation will be launched by Richard Ovenden, Associate Director and Keeper of Special Collections, Bodleian Libraries. The Big Book sculpture, created by Oxford artist Diana Bell, is 2.2m high and constructed out of wood with canvas pages. The sculpture is symbolic of the power of books and its title is ‘Imagine’. Everyone is welcome to write on the canvas pages inside to create a unique book for Oxford.
Wednesday 11th August 2010
What better way to explore Oxford than in a punt?
A celebration of the art of punting and its history is just one of the many new events in this years programme for the Oxford Open Doors Weekend on 11/12 September.
Now in its fourth year, Oxford Open Doors is run by Oxford Preservation Trust in partnership with Oxford University and the many places and activities across town & gown. There are over 150 events and activities taking place, many of them new to the programme. Wide ranging and intriguing, highlights include the earliest printing press and the archives of Oxford University Press, the City's Old Power Station and the Radcliffe Infirmary, where new plans for the site will be on display in the Chapel, through to Thames Valley Police at Oxford Prison and tours of Oxford United Football Club to include the dressing rooms As the Royal Society celebrates its 300th year anniversary we include a science theme and explore its early roots in Oxford, through Wadham College and Sir Christopher Wren.
Debbie Dance, Director of Oxford Preservation Trust says, ‘ We hope that everyone has the date in their diary as this year's programme is the best yet. We live in a great City and Oxford Open Doors brings everyone together to share in this. We could not begin to achieve this without the extraordinary generosity, goodwill and support that we get from our many partners who help to make this event happen. We look forward to seeing you there..’
Wednesday 28th July 2010
Trust seeking to purchase Water Meadows at Marston
OPT is negotiating with two landowners in Marston to acquire 36 acres of land in the Cherwell Valley. The larger area of land is being bought via agents acting for Tescos who bought it some years ago, whilst the remaining nearly 10 acres of water meadows reaching down to the river is currently owned by the City Council.
OPT owns over 800 acres of land in and around Oxford to include 120 acres at Old Maston some of the earliest land bought by the Trust to prevent it from being developed in the 1920s. The Vicky Arms pub was added to the estate in 1959.
Debbie Dance, director of Oxford Preservation Trust says We own land on either side of the Marston Ferry Link road leading upriver from the University Parks along the Cherwell to the Vicky Arms where the old Ferry used to cross before the Marston Ferry Link road was built. We are keen to protect the river corridors of the City and to give the public access to them which is just what this land purchase will achieve. We are still at an early stage in our negotiations but are delighted to have the support of the City Council in this. We are all excited at the chance this gives to make a riverside walk upstream from the pub and do hope that local people will support us in our fundraising in due course.
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Thursday 27th May 2010
Oxford Preservation Trust: Discovering Places
Oxford Preservation Trust's May weekend of walks and events 'Discovering Places' celebrating Oxford's green spaces and Trust land has proved to be a great success.
Highlights of the weekend included the walks across Shotover to learn more about its geology and geography, or between Old Headington and Barton, where local historian and author, Malcolm Graham, brought the history of the villages to life uncovering the hidden parts that survive today.
There was plenty for children to enjoy over the weekend with the Family Fun Afternoon on Trust land at Boars Hill where the bird calls, bird feeders and trails were enjoyed by many. On Bank Holiday Monday the Lakes at Wolvercote saw over 600 visitors for the first public Open Day with pond dipping revealing newts, frogs and other creatures as well as giving an opportunity for local people to give their ideas for the future of the area.
Debbie Dance, Director says 'It has been a pleasure for us to have a chance to tell people something of the 800 acres of land the Trust owns in and around the City. We have been delighted by the response - more than 750 people came to the walks and openings and hope that we can do the same thing again next year'
Tuesday 4th May 2010
Volunteers wanted for West End Historic Context Study
Volunteers are sought for a historic area study of Oxford's West End, a joint initiative of the City Council and Oxford Preservation Trust.
The aim of the study is to identify heritage assets within Oxford’s West End and to assess their value to the local community. We want to find out what you cherish, feel is significant, dislike, or just put up with, and what aspirations you have for the area. The information and evidence gathered from this process will be invaluable for future decision-making in this important and distinctive quarter of Oxford.
Under the guidance of the project co-ordinator, Dan Clarkson, participants will be allocated a series of streets within the West End and provided with a toolkit containing instructions on ‘surveying’ the area and providing feedback on their perceptions of it. On completion of the project, the findings will be consolidated into a working document that will inform how the heritage of the area is managed going forward. For more information, or to take part in this fascinating project, email dclarkson 'at' oxford.gov.uk or contact j.baldwin 'at' oxfordpreservation.org.uk
Thursday 29th April 2010
Wolvercote lakes are opened to the public
Monday 3 May 2-4pm
Oxford Preservation Trust is delighted to announce the latest addition to their land holdings around Oxford. Left to the Trust by local supporter Vivian Kirk it has taken some time to sort out the gift which is now in the Trust's possession.
The Lakes have never had public access and OPT is keen to give local people a chance to see them and to learn more about the Lakes. To do this OPT is hosting an Open Afternoon over the May Bank Holiday weekend on Monday May 3rd between 2 pm and 4 pm. OPT staff will be on hand and there will be a chance for people to give their views, and to learn more about the plans for nature conservation and early discoveries of the wildlife found.
History records that there was once a little house on stilts on the site which could only be reached by punt at times of flooding. Today there is no trace of the house and the two Lakes, described as 'Pleasure Lakes' in early descriptions had been the ownership of the Kirk family for two generations prior to coming to the Trust. They are surrounded by trees and are known to have been used for fishing in the past.
Debbie Dance, OPT Director says "We are delighted by our newest acquisition and do hope that lots of people will come and see the Lakes on our Open Day. There is clearly a lot of work for us to do there but we are keen to maximise the conservation potential of the site and do hope that the locals will want to engage in the work that we are doing"
Discovering PLaces 1-3 May
Read about OPT in the Press
Wednesday 21st April 2010
15th anniversary conference celebrates the importance of South East England’s heritage
Key players in the heritage sector from across the region gathered in Oxford on Monday 7th December to discuss and debate the importance of heritage to South East England.
Trust Director, Debbie Dance, was one of the speakers at the Conference to mark 15 years of HLF funding in the south east.
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Monday 7th December 2009
Debbie Dance appointed Chairman of Historic Towns Forum
The Historic Towns Forum (HTF) announced the appointment of Debbie Dance as their new Chairman at last week’s Annual General Meeting held at Chichester.
This appointment marks a major move forward for the HTF. Debbie, who is widely recognised for her part in the £40m Oxford Castle project in her role as Director of the Oxford Preservation Trust, brings to the organisation a wide range of skills and a broad perspective on the management of historic towns. A commercial property surveyor by profession, Debbie has been involved in conservation for many years and has led a number of successful projects most notably in Birmingham and Oxford. Debbie is a champion for heritage and education in Oxford and holds a range of national and local appointments relating to the built heritage.
Outgoing Chair, Sam Howes (Deputy Chief Executive at Chichester District Council) welcomed Debbie and said that she had impressed the appointment panel with her enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the role of Chair and the work of the Forum. “In short, Debbie will provide the HTF with strong leadership and new ideas which can only be of substantial benefit especially during these challenging economic times,” he stated.
Director, Chris Winter, said that she was very impressed by Debbie’s work and her holistic approach to historic towns and was looking forward to working with her. “The HTF”, she added, “was not alone in feeling the impact of the recession but she was confident that with continuing support and strong leadership the organisation would continue to develop and offer guidance and advocacy on all aspects of managing the historic built environment.”
Introducing herself to the HTF Members at the AGM Debbie said “I am delighted to be taking on this role at HTF. Bringing together the skills I have in working across the commercial and charity sectors and combining this with the strong local authority links at HTF will make a powerful force. HTF is unique in giving opportunity to those of us involved in historic towns to share our experiences and to give this group a voice. I look forward to making my contribution to this.”
The Historic Towns Forum (HTF) – formerly English Historic Towns Forum (EHTF) - has been supporting professionals working in the historic built environment since 1987. The Forum’s events and publications focus on perennial and topical issues, drawing together practitioners across the disciplines and sectors. This collective then offers a strong platform from which to lobby policy makers on behalf of historic towns and cities.
HTF, through its Membership and Partnership schemes, offers everyone with an interest in the historic towns and cities of UK and Ireland an opportunity to exchange and develop ideas, and facilitates exchange with European colleagues. Further information Historic Towns Forum
Thursday 29th October 2009