The Friends of Quarry

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

Headington Action are running their Light in the Darkness campaign again this year, with free Christmas Lights being available.

More information is available on their poster, which includes dates of other key events in the run up to Christmas in Headington.

Oxford Fiddle Group are celebrating their 25th anniversary on 8 December in the Village Hall. More information is available on their poster.

Update: The grass has been mown and the weather is looking good for Saturday, so we are going ahead with the bulb planting to 7 October.

As mentioned in our recent newsletter, we will be meeting to plant an additional 500 tulip bulbs at the entrance to the Quarry to augment those planted in recent years.

Please join us at 1000 on Saturday 7 October at the entrance to Beaumont Road near the 6 Bells. (NB: The date in the newsletter was wrong), with a spade, to plant the bulbs. Children are welcome.

Building work is due to start at Holy Trinity on 9 October. More information, including timings for the closure of the Church Path during the works and contact details for updates are available online.