What might Oxford have looked like...?

THERE are often pictures of Christ Church in the Oxford Mail, but it was the one showing Debbie Dance, the Oxford Preservation Trust director, and Christopher Lewis, the Dean, inviting people to visit the college (Oxford Mail, August 9), which conjures up thoughts of what might have been.

What if Cardinal Wolsey had obtained the right for Henry VIII to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon? Would Britain still be a Roman Catholic country, or would Protestant pressure have brought about a change anyway?

In Oxford, would Beaumont Palace, along with Rewley and Osney Abbeys and the other monastic buildings, still be there? In particular, what would have happened to Christ Church?

When Wolsey obtained a papal bull to demolish St Frideswide’s Priory to build his new Cardinal College, was he trying to outshine his old college, Magdalen?

Whatever his thoughts, it is certain that, had he been allowed to finish, the college would have been a beautiful building and lost its present half-finished look.

Had the proposed turrets, at the corners of Tom Quad, been in place, it would have given the facade a more balanced appearance and, if the cloisters had been built, Tom Quad would have looked less like a desert and students wouldn't have had to dodge the raindrops to go between stairs.

What sort of tower was originally intended, one can only guess, but it’s difficult to imagine St Aldate’s without the Wren masterpiece.

On the north side of Tom Quad, there would have been the chapel, which would have acted as a balance to the hall on the south side. One can only imagine what it would have looked like – something more impressive than the chapel of King’s at Cambridge?

One thing is certain – that the truncated St Frideswide’s Chapel that we know as Oxford Cathedral would have been demolished and, with it, one of Oxford's dreaming spires.

But, on the plus side, we might have kept the Osney Abbey chapel and its tower as our cathedral.Osney Abbey would certainly have given West Oxford a more presentable appearance than what we have today, but then, where would they have built the railway station? Surely it couldn’t have been located further west on to more of the Thames river bed? And would they have put the line across Port Meadow?

What Oxford now needs is people who treasure what we have and ensure that any new building is in keeping with its heritage.

DERRICK HOLT Fortnam Close Headington Oxford

 

Memo from the USA

I COMPLETED my apprenticeship at Osberton Radiators in Oxford, in the same era as Les Tubb and Brian Ross. John Lee monitored the apprentice programme.

I left in 1953 to emigrate to Canada and eventually America.

During a recent visit to the UK, I was advised of your newspaper and had the opportunity to visit Lord Nuffield’s estate.

Great memories. Keep me advised of any reunions at douglasebooth@aol.com - I may be back!

DOUG BOOTH California

 

Darts player named

WITH reference to the picture of the darts team at the Cavalier pub in Marston, Oxford (Memory Lane, September 9), I can identify the third chap from the left (behind the hand throwing the dart).

He is Don Loader, who used to live in Marston and worked as a compositor at Oxford University Press. He is alive and well and now living in South Wales.

TONY BENNELL Manor Way Kidlington

 

Collecting local sayings

I WAS interested to read Mary Stiff's letter about old sayings (Memory Lane, September 9).

It made me think how nice it would be to collect local sayings as I have lots in my family.

If your readers have some, I would love to hear them.

It would be interesting to hear what area of the country they come from.

Please email them to billabong62@hotmail.co.uk or write to Memory Lane, Oxford Mail, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ.

SANDRA DAGLESS Kidlington

 

‘Greening’ of the M40

AS YOU say in your 'Debate Over the M40' (Memory Lane, August 26), there was much opposition to the project.

Many thought that it would result in an unsightly white scar through the Chiltern Hills.

However, the reason it became an attractive green swathe through the countryside is that the banks through the cutting were sprayed with chicken dung and then seeded.

It was also necessary to make sure the deer, whose usual track ran across the line of the M40, were catered for.

A special bridge over the road was built for them on the line of their former track. Once, when I was on an inspection of the road as it was being built, I could see the footprints of the deer in the wet cement.

I attended the official opening of the road and some of the first people to drive along it were those on vintage bicycles – a picturesque sight.

ANN SPOKES SYMONDS Davenant Road Oxford

 

Picture found of party in our street

I HAVE just found this picture (see inset) in an album and did not realise I had it.

This was a Coronation party in 1953, in the street where I lived – Bedford Street, East Oxford.

I remember going out and taking the picture with an old Brownie camera.

I was 19 at the time, too old to attend a children’s party.

I think the party was for children from Bedford Street and perhaps Argyle Street, Warwick Street and other streets around. Many of them dressed up.

I wonder if any of your readers recognise anyone in the picture.

BARBARA CLEARY (nee Phelps) Witney

Recalling the roaring days of Elliston & Cavell

I WORKED at Elliston & Cavell in Magdalen Street, Oxford, for six years from 1965 to 1971 (Memory Lane, August 19), and they were the best working years of my life.

I was employed as a cabinet maker, along with Ralph Leeson, Frank Tyrell, George Poole, Dennis Branch, Owen Baker, Gilbert Messor, Barry Taylor, George Pugh, Hubert Money, Ray North, Roy Carvell, Malcolm Bell, Ian Ashby, Michael ?, Wilf Faulkner and Royston Ayres. All were first-class workmen.

On a Thursday, when the shop was closed, we would move departments from one place to another. The work would all have to be done the same day.

A lot of other work was for the Westminster Bank. The work would start on Friday night, as soon as the bank closed, and had to be finished for Monday morning.

One day, I was in the workshop when the manager, Mr Leeson, came up to me and said: “Reg, we have got a lion cub coming from Longleat. I want you to make a stand for him on the ground floor and look after him.”

When he came, he was more like a lion than a cub – he was big.

I gave him a bowl of water which he soon knocked over. Mr Leeson said: “Get a cloth and mop it up.” While I was wiping the floor, the lion’s head was going from side to side watching me all the time. I thought any time now, he will take my hand off, but luckily he didn’t.

We were allowed 2s 6d in the pound discount when we bought items in the shop, a big saving.

We also had an annual dinner and dance at Oxford Town Hall.

REG SHEFFORD Meadow Lane Iffley Oxford