Water Eaton grain silo disappears from Oxford skyline

The Water Eaton grain silo, which once claimed a spot on the skyline of the A34 and Oxford-Kidlington Road, is no more.

Built in the 1940s, the war time grain silo has been closed since the '80s with the concrete structure widely viewed as a bit of a blot on the landscape. In the past decade it has become an area for dumping, and any metal the building housed has been taken to the point where it was no longer safe to keep it standing. Demolition was the answer.

Built in its place will be the Oxford Parkway railway station with a link to Bicester and into London. Work will start in February, and is being funded by Chiltern Railways, and will include a car park with space for 800 vehicles. It is expected to open in the summer of 2015.

Below is a video of the silo captured several months ago. It gives a good idea of the state of the site and the silo itself:


Source: Oxford Mail

Oxford Briefing 2013 presentation

On Friday 11 October John presented a talk to the Oxford Briefing 2013 on Demolition and we have reproduced the presentation here for those who attended and wish to view it again, as well as for those who could not attend the sell out event but are interested in the content. The presentation contained two videos, which we have included as part of this psot rather than embedding them in the actual presentation linked ot below.

To view the presentation in your web browser please follow this link.

Fantastic deal at one of our favourite places

Jill and I have stayed at The Bell at Hampton Poyle, Oxford on many occasions because of its proximity to Bicester Village Outlet Centre, the Oxford Park & Ride and, probably more importantly, the fact that it has a wood fired pizza oven which produces the best pizza this side of Italy. That oven coupled with wet room showers, fab bedrooms, real ale, roaring fires, and newspapers makes the Bell THE place to spend a couple of nights and now you can do that at a great price.

Their new promotion includes:-

• Upgrade to the largest room available at time of booking.
• Evening meal free for one of you when 2 people eat.
• Full English breakfast included.
• Discount voucher for Bicester Village.
• If you stay for 2 nights then free bottle of champagne with your meal on the second night.

To take advantage of this deal, and I suggest that you do, click across to http://thebellathamptonpoyle.co.uk to check out the place and then call 01865 376242 and quote the reference NATALIA2013 and get your room booked.