The Friends of Quarry

Join us to celebrate the community purchase a historic painting of a Quarry house in 1800 by Dr William Crotch with a programme of talks and entertainment:

• How the painting was acquired
• Quarry in 1800
• The artist and the art scene at that time
• Folk tunes by local musicians
• Pay bar

Free entry to members and supporters. Non-members £5.
You may join Friends of Quarry on the door for £2.50pa
Come and meet your neighbours and chat.

Update: A new date for the Inquiry has been published.

The Public Inquiry will take place in the Town Hall, St Aldates on 24 September 2024. We’ll share more details as they are published.

Members of the public can attend and, with the agreement of the Inspector, can speak.

The appeal documents are available on the Council planning website (or by searching on the reference 18/00097/ENF under the Enforcement option).

The Planning Inspectorate have produced a guide to enforcement inquiry procedures that you may find useful.

If you would like further information contact Friends of Quarry by email or via our website or phone Lawrence Kelly 0n 07767 884642

Oxford University are seeking your help for a project which may be of benefit to Headington.

Oxford University School of Geography and the Environment are conducting a research project on public attitudes to local green spaces in Oxford. They are examining how community values associated with green spaces are translated into planning and policy making. The results of the study will hopefully lead to improvements in the provision and management of our green spaces. They would like to look particularly at Headington and are seeking to interview a number of local people as a key part of the project.

We have been asked by the University to put forward a small number of local people for interview. This would entail a 40 minute personal interview  with a member of the research team during the next month or so at a venue (to be agreed) in Headington. Do you have an interest in our local green spaces?  If you are willing to take part in a research interview please let us know and we will put you in touch with the research team.

We will be organising another litter pick in the Quarry in support of OxClean. This year’s clean will take place on Saturday 2 March from 1400-1600.

Please join us at the sandpit in Quarry Hollow Park at 1400 for up to two hours.

All equipment and instructions will be provided – please bring along your children to help.

We hope to see you there.

Sandy Rich of Tregeagle Fine Art hands over the painting to Friends of Quarry members Richard Bradley (right) and Maurice East (centre)

A striking water colour by musician and artist William Crotch of an isolated old cottage in Headington Quarry has been bought by residents. The painting is inscribed and signed on the back in the artist’s hand stating it was painted at 7pm on 4 August 1800.

In a successful venture, Friends of Quarry organised a crowdfunding campaign to raise £850 to buy it. Local resident and committee member of the Friends, Richard Bradley, said “We thank all 23 residents who generously donated money to buy this historic painting. It is something to be treasured.” Art dealer Sandy Rich commented “I’m delighted the painting has been acquired by Friends of Quarry. It’s a picture so associated with Headington – not only because it’s a dramatic depiction of the area as it appeared in 1800 but because the artist has such strong connections with Oxford.”

The Friends of Quarry is arranging for copies of the painting to be displayed in public places for all to enjoy (locations to be decided). An unveiling and talk to the public by Sandy Rich and local historian Maurice East will give details of its historic and cultural significance.

The name ‘Crotch’ will be familiar to many residents of Oxford as Crotch Crescent in Marston is named after him. Although an amateur and much collected painter, Dr William Crotch is more famously known as a musician.  He the first Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, organist of Christ Church Oxford in 1790 and became Professor of Music at Oxford in 1797.

About William Crotch

Dr William Crotch was famous as a musician and as the first Principal of the Royal Academy of Music. He was appointed organist of Christ Church Oxford in 1790 and became Professor of Music at Oxford in 1797. Crotch Crescent in Marston is named after him.

At Oxford, William Crotch became acquainted with the artist, musician and folksong collector John Malchair (1730-1812) who was one of 18th century Britain’s most influential drawing-masters. Crotch followed Malchair’s practice of recording the exact time and date when pictures were painted. Shortly after moving to London in 1805, Crotch became friends with John Constable (1776-1837). It is highly likely that Constable began his custom of inscribing sketches with the times and dates of their creation through following Crotch’s example.

Maurice East is running another of his popular walking tours of the Quarry on Boxing Day.

Details and tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Update: Thanks to the generosity of local residents and other supporters, we have achieved our funding objective. The appeal remains open until 14 December – any additional funds raised will be used to create high-quality copies to allow it to be displayed in more locations. We are now agreeing a location to display the painting – we will update you in due course

We need your help to bring this unique piece of history home
Can you contribute £10, £25, or more? Target £850

Size 17cm x 41cm

This striking water colour by William Crotch of a house in Headington Quarry has recently come on the market. It is inscribed and signed on the back in the artist’s hand stating it was painted at 7pm on 4 August 1800.

Because this painting has historical significance for the residents of Quarry, Friends of Quarry is organising a ‘crowd fund’ to raise the money to buy it. It will then be displayed in a public place for all to enjoy (location to be decided).

The art dealer has priced the painting at £1100 but is prepared to sell it for about £850 if bought by a community group. To donate, go to the crowdfunding website or telephone 07802 215517 by 14th December.

Note about the artist:
Dr William Crotch was famous as a musician and as the first Principal of the Royal Academy of Music. He was appointed organist of Christ Church Oxford in 1790 and became Professor of Music at Oxford in 1797. Crotch Crescent in Marston is named after him.
At Oxford, William Crotch became acquainted with the artist, musician and folksong collector John Malchair (1730-1812) who was one of 18th century Britain’s most influential drawing masters. Crotch followed Malchair’s practice of recording the exact time and date when pictures were painted. Shortly after moving to London in 1805, Crotch became friends with John Constable (1776-1837). It is highly likely that Constable began his custom of inscribing sketches with the times and dates of their creation through following Crotch’s example.

We’d like to update you on several planning applications that Friends of Quarry have commented on in the past, as residents may wish to comment on them.

Crown and Thistle: A new application for permission in principle to proceed with demolition of the existing, historic, pub and replacement with between 1 and 9 dwelling houses has been submitted. This is similar in substance as the rejected application made in 2022. Comments are due by 20 December 2023. Friends of Quarry will comment again on this application, with particular emphasis on the historical importance of the building.

1 Quarry High Street: A date has now been set for the Public Enquiry. This will take place starting on 27 Feb 2024 and will be held in Oxford. As we find out more information, we will update you.

Parents of children at local schools are organising a protest at the traffic on Quarry Hollow on Wednesday 6 December from 0800 to 0900. Friends of Quarry has raised concerns about traffic on this stretch on a number of occasions in the past.

More information is available online. Concerned residents are welcome to attend.

Headington Quarry Morris Dancers will perform the traditional Boxing Day Mummers Play and Rapper Sword Dance on Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December 2023, taking place outside the following pubs in Headington Quarry:

11:30 The Crown & Thistle (pub now closed), 132 Old Road

12:20 The Six Bells, 3 Beaumont Road

13:00 The Chequers, 17A Beaumont Road

13:40 The Masons Arms, Quarry School Place

Free. All are welcome!

More details are on Headington Quarry Morris Facebook page