Parts of Oxfordshire that people can’t usually explore is open to visitors this weekend
Oxford Preservation Trust opening 100 buildings for Oxford Open Doors
Last updated 15th Sep 2024
Oxford Open Doors has been giving people the chance to see parts of the city they can't usually explore. The event takes place annuals and is hosted by the of Oxford Preservation Trust.
It says that the Painted Room is the most popular attraction as the artwork has been preserved for centuries despite it only discovered in the 1920’s.
However, it’s not just the artwork that attracts hundreds, if not thousands of visitors each year, since the building also has ties to William Shakespeare.
It’s believed that the famous playwriter would stay at the building during its time as an Inn as he travelled between London and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Anna Eavis is the CEO of Oxford Preservation Trust, she says: “He certainly stayed here. Whether he stayed in this room we do not know, but he was an important guest so he may well have done.
“So, this room has a huge amount of interest, and you would never know that it was here from the outside.
"Remarkable"
“Most importantly, this scheme is very remarkable for having survived because it really shouldn’t have survived. A couple of decades after it was painted it would normally have been repainted, but the owner of the Inn put panelling over the paintings”.
The Painted Room has seen many names over the centuries, with it being called 'The Bull' when the painting was made, then the 'Salutation Arms' when Shakespeare stayed and most recently known as 'The Crown Tavern'.
However, the painted room isn’t the only one of its kind, as along Cornmarket Street where many of the buildings used to be Inn’s some still have similar paintings that are nearly as old.
Ms Eavis said: “This is not the only painted room in Oxford, but I think it is ‘the’ one”.
There is also potential for there to be more paintings within the building itself as it was only discovered after the wooden panelling was taken down to revealing the artwork and there is still panelling in the room next door.
"The most beautiful architecture"
A new tour starting this year is Slade Camp which is nestled in the foothills of Shotover Country Park, where local historians are conducting walking tours and former residents share their stories about what life was like in the military camp.
Oxford Preservation Trust are encouraging people to embrace the opportunity to get inside and learn about so many interesting places that are on our doorstep in Oxford.
Ms Eavis said: “I’ve lived in Oxford for the past 20 years and it’s full of the most beautiful architecture, but an awful lot of those buildings are sort of designed to keep you out.
“So, it’s a really special thing for anyone to go anywhere in those buildings as it’s really exciting”.