The line-up of historic buildings set to take part in Oxford Open Doors has been revealed. Matt Oliver reports

Open Doors, a free annual event, organised by Oxford Preservation Trust and Oxford University, is in its eighth year and will take place on September 12 and13.

From colleges, to stadiums, to museums and hospitals, it sees buildings across the city open up so visitors can take a peek inside.

And it is set to be the biggest year yet, playing to the city’s historic publishing links with the theme of books, libraries and printing.

A host of new venues are set to open their doors, with additions including the archaeological dig site at the Westgate Shopping Centre, a Cold War bunker, Oxford University Press, the newly-opened Weston Library at the Bodleian and the stunning building in Woodstock Road designed by Zaha Hadid.

There will also be activities to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations of Oxford Brookes University’s foundation.

Preservation trust director Debbie Dance said: “This year’s theme has left us spoilt for choice and has once again shown what an amazing place Oxford is.

“Wherever you go in the world you will find an Oxford Dictionary, so we wanted to show local people the incredible publishing heritage this city has to offer.”

She said the Weston Library in Broad Street – formerly the New Bodleian – “encapsulated” the spirit of Open Doors, with the library set to host a series of lectures and workshops.

It reopened in March as a public space with a cafe and exhibition galleries, following an £80m transformation at the hands of architects Wilkinson Eyre.

The Grade II-listed 1930s building has been hailed by Prof Andrew Hamilton, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, as the “jewel in the crown” of this year’s event.

It will offer lectures on architecture by Wilkinson Eyre, as well as tours where visitors can learn how the library’s many treasures are cared for by experts in conservation.

Mrs Dance added: “We hope this year to take people even further behind the scenes.”

Among those to join the event this year is Walton Street-based Oxford University Press, which has been printing in the city since the 17th century.

The firm began its operations in the basement of the Sheldonian Theatre, but by the late 1800s had opened an office in New York, in the United States, with branches in Canada, Australia, India, Southern Africa soon following.

Today it has offices in 50 countries and is the largest university press in the world.

For Open Doors it will offer tours of the city’s oldest printing press and the world’s largest university press, with Prof William Whyte, the chairman of the Oxford Historical Society, also offering a talk about its history.

And to celebrate Oxford’s inseparable association with books; colleges will also be opening their libraries up to book-lovers.

That will include Merton College, which has the oldest library in the city dating back to the 14th century.

Newer libraries on show will also include the Investcorp Building in Woodstock Road, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid.

Mrs Dance said thousands are expected to attend this year’s activities, after almost 70,000 people turned out last year.

For more information, including a list of venues, visit oxfordopendoors.org.uk.

Oxford Mail:

HIGHLIGHTS

* Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus – Saturday, from noon to 4pm visit the new award-winning John Henry Brookes Building, tours starting at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, “treasures” on show in the university library and at 12pm Flintlock Theatre’s play, Educating Oxford, will explore Oxford Brookes’ 150 years’ history. Booking essential: events@brookes.ac.uk

* Oxfordshire County Council Emergency Planning Unit, Woodeaton Manor – Saturday, tour at 5pm. See the Cold War bunker, now home to the county council’s emergency planning unit, and find out about its past and future. Booking essential: 01865 323 765 or emergencyplanning@oxfordshire.gov.uk

* St Anthony’s College, 62 Woodstock Road – Saturday, visit the mind-bending new library and lecture theatre building designed by Zaha Hadid. Open 11am to 3pm.

* Weston Library, Broad Street – Sunday, Oxford University’s newly refurbished building will host a talk on the history of Oxford University Press at 2pm, by noted expert Prof William Whyte. The library will be open from 10am to 5pm. 

* Westgate Shopping Centre, Turn Again Lane – Saturday, Oxford Archaeology and the Westgate Oxford Alliance show visitors the city’s biggest ever archaeological dig, above. See the remains of the Greyfriars, take guided tours, handle finds and have a go at surveying. Starts at 4pm.

* Oxford University Press, Walton Street – Thursday 11am and 2pm, Friday 11am. Tour the press’ museum and archive, exploring Oxford’s oldest printing press and the world’s largest university press. Booking essential.