Location:
Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire.
Known History:
Rumour has it that this was once a quarry, but no records could be found to prove this. However, there is documented evidence of the buildings that later inhabited the site. From 1955 to 1975 the site was occupied by Plater College, until they moved to Headington. From 1976 to 1996 the controversial Warnborough College occupied the former Plater College site, along with Yatscombe Hall and the Bishop's Palace of the Diocese of Oxford.
Current Situation:
The 11 acre site has been the centre of a seven-year planning debate, as currently the site is listed as Green Belt land after the fire and subsequent demolition of the remaining buildings. During this time, it has allegedly been sold at least twice, and is currently owned by Barchester Healthcare. Despite much protestation, the Vale of White Horse Planning Committee has granted them permission to build a £20m "village". As this is contrary to the Green Belt policy, there is a good chance that the Secretary of State will review the case.
For anyone interested in visiting the site, please be advised that it IS inhabited, and Barchester Healthcare also own the neighbouring site, the Oxford Beaumont Care Community.
Over the broken wall (evidence of car crash) and to the right is what appears to be old squash court, now decorated extensively by "local artists", as shown below.The right side court:
The left side court:
And at the back on the right hand side, we found this little fella. He'd also been decorated, presumably as some kind of psychedelic camoflage...
Further into the site, one of the few remaining buildings still standing (albeit tentatively) Probably used as some kind of storage shed originally.
However, through the doorway on the left hand side, an old mattress was visible. We were informed by one of the inhabitants that, after the fire and demolition, this was a popular place for drum 'n' bass parties, with bodies occupying every possible space.
We found this at the bottom of a slope heading into the woods that occupy a large portion of the lower part of the site. While we couldn't quite figure out what it was, the general consensus is that it was something to do with the heating/plumbing for the College.
Following the path back up towards the road, the gateway to what appeared to be a tennis court. Most of the fencing is hanging down or missing, but this corner and the far end remained.
On the other side of the path to the tennis courts is a derelict single storey building.
Ironically, a sign hanging on the dilapidated fence on the far right of this picture reads "Dangerous Building, Keep Out". Just in case you didn't notice...
Inhabited. Be respectful.
The front of the single storey building. Assumptions that it looked like a changing room for a swimming pool were confirmed by one of the current inhabitants - the previous pictures show where the swimming pool actually was.
The left side court:
And at the back on the right hand side, we found this little fella. He'd also been decorated, presumably as some kind of psychedelic camoflage...
Further into the site, one of the few remaining buildings still standing (albeit tentatively) Probably used as some kind of storage shed originally.
However, through the doorway on the left hand side, an old mattress was visible. We were informed by one of the inhabitants that, after the fire and demolition, this was a popular place for drum 'n' bass parties, with bodies occupying every possible space.
We found this at the bottom of a slope heading into the woods that occupy a large portion of the lower part of the site. While we couldn't quite figure out what it was, the general consensus is that it was something to do with the heating/plumbing for the College.
Following the path back up towards the road, the gateway to what appeared to be a tennis court. Most of the fencing is hanging down or missing, but this corner and the far end remained.
On the other side of the path to the tennis courts is a derelict single storey building.
Ironically, a sign hanging on the dilapidated fence on the far right of this picture reads "Dangerous Building, Keep Out". Just in case you didn't notice...
Inhabited. Be respectful.
The front of the single storey building. Assumptions that it looked like a changing room for a swimming pool were confirmed by one of the current inhabitants - the previous pictures show where the swimming pool actually was.One of the dedicated Froglett team admiring the architectural carvings around the doorway...
Through the doorway, however, wasn't quite so pretty, but aesthetically pleasing in its own way.
The far end of the same building. Literally just a shell now. The other end of the structure has held up considerably better, and is currently inhabited.
Through the doorway, however, wasn't quite so pretty, but aesthetically pleasing in its own way.
The far end of the same building. Literally just a shell now. The other end of the structure has held up considerably better, and is currently inhabited.
We must've walked along this path at least twice before noticing this. Just as well we didn't make it a night mission! Either an ornamental pond (not very ornamental) or possibly the base for a oil tank or something similar.
Given the way things are progressing with Barchester Healthcare's application to develop this site, time is limited. Despite the residents of Boars Hill (in general, not just this site) being strongly opposed to the development going ahead, the vote was won by Barchester 12-3.
More information is available on the history of Warnborough College, Plater College, and also Boars Hill in general on the internet and also through the local history clubs. We would thank them personally, but for some reason they didn't want to be publicly associated with such a "fringe" activity...
The Froglett Team
We have some photos of the 'golden days' of Warnborough on Boars Hill if you would like some. Also, Warnborough is now thriving in Canterbury.
ReplyDeletepr@warnborough.ac.uk
The “controversial Warnborough College” , (as Known History puts it), had the challenge “Warnborough – Dare to Be Great” woven into the door mat laid before the entrance to the “Old Main” building.
ReplyDeleteDuring Warnborough’s years on Boars Hill, what then may have been regarded by some of the educational establishment as “controversial” has now come to be recognized as and far-sighted, viz. the college’s pioneering of distance- education. By this alone, Warnborough, now a global education provider, has significantly enriched Oxford’s history in education.