Mural awarded city heritage status

The Henry and Joyce Collins mural at Templars Square has been awarded city heritage status!

One of nine locations awarded by Oxford City Council, local groups, and members of the public, the mural, painted in 1976, depicts Oxford’s industrial history.

Located near the Between Towns Road entrance, it has been a distinctive feature of the area for decades. The officers described it as ‘‘a rare example of brutalist concrete public art’’ which ‘‘gives insight into the less celebrated modern history of the city’’ and recommended it’s approval.

Local historian Maurice East said ‘‘The concrete mural at Cowley is one of the finest examples of public art in Oxford and much loved in the local community. The work celebrates Cowley as a distinct industrial suburb and displays the intertwined stories of town and gown. The awarding of heritage status is a recognition of the importance of the mural as object of beauty and historical significance.”

The Oxford Heritage Asset List, managed by Oxford City Council, recognises buildings, structures, and places that make a significant contribution to the city’s character and local communities.