Oxford Preservation Trust and Shotover Preservation Society awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to share the history of Slade Camp, Oxford.

Today, we are excited to announce that along with Shotover Preservation Society we have been awarded a £49,204 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to involve communities in researching and sharing the history of Slade Camp in Oxford. 

Slade Camp, a former army training camp surrounded by woodland at the foot of Shotover Hill, was used to house displaced families after World War 2. Before its closure in 1970, it was home to a thriving community whose experiences provide an important and enthralling account of life in a fast-changing city. 

After the last residents moved out, Slade Camp was dismantled and the remains of its buildings became overgrown. Local people uncovered them during the Covid pandemic and have been discovering more about their history ever since.

Without the Heritage Fund’s support, the human stories of Slade Camp would be lost for ever. These are accounts of resilience, of community, of family, and of childhoods spent exploring a mostly rural neighbourhood.

The project will record the experiences of former residents and make them available to everyone. The evocative physical remains of the Camp will be interpreted with new signage and a guided trail for visitors. 

Throughout the project there will be lots of opportunities for people to find out more about this fascinating place. The first public event will take place on 14 September 2025, when local historians will be giving tours of the site as part of Oxford Open Doors. A month-long exhibition about the project will open at Oxford’s Westgate Library on 1st September.