Celebrating Oxford’s Heritage and Imagination

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards at St John’s College – one of those evenings when you are reminded just how special this city is, both in its deep heritage and in its restless creativity.

It is very easy in blogs like this to open with the familiar line about “what an honour it was to be there.” But on this occasion, it genuinely was. The room was filled with the people who shape Oxford day by day – architects, conservators, craftspeople, planners, community volunteers, academics and developers – all playing their part in preserving and reimagining the place we call home. To stand among them, listening to the stories behind this year’s shortlisted work, felt like a privilege in the truest sense.

This year’s shortlist spanned 21 projects across six categories, demonstrating the remarkable range of effort, ingenuity and care being poured into our city. From delicate conservation tasks in the colleges, to community-led green spaces, to bold new buildings, the breadth of creativity was striking.

The highlight of the evening, of course, was the announcement of the plaque winners – each warmly applauded by a room full of people who understand just how much work sits behind excellence.

This year’s plaque winners included:

• Renovation of Harris Manchester College Chapel – an exquisite example of adaptive re-use, breathing fresh life into a cherished space.

• Conservation of the Stained Glass of the Old Library at Merton College – a quiet triumph of patience, skill and deep respect for Oxford’s artistic heritage.

• Magdalen College – Repair and re-gilding of the weathervanes on the Great Tower – recipient of the coveted Judges’ Choice Award, and rightly so; these familiar silhouettes now gleam once more over the city.

• Market Street – an impressive public realm intervention that shows how thoughtful design can transform the everyday experience of the city centre.

• Hinksey Park Common Tern Rafts – a small but joyous addition to Oxford’s natural landscape, giving space back to wildlife and delight back to residents.

• Hinksey Little Wheels and Wet Play Park – a celebration of community imagination, playful design and child-friendly public space.

• Workshop, Oxford Brookes University – a bold, confident new building demonstrating how contemporary architecture can both challenge and complement its surroundings.

• Court Place Gardens – a scheme that reflects real understanding of landscape, community and long-term stewardship.

Hearing the teams behind these projects talk about their work – the craft, the obstacles, the vision – was a wonderful reminder that Oxford is shaped as much by quiet dedication as by grand designs.

My thanks and congratulations go to the Oxford Preservation Trust team for curating such a thoughtful celebration, to the judges for their care and insight, and to this year’s sponsors – Gravita, Mathews Comfort Insurance Brokers and Carter Jonas – for helping us celebrate the people who make such a positive difference to Oxford’s streets, spaces and communities.

I left St John’s truly chuffed to have been there.