Doors Open Oxford Still

Another of the places we visited during Doors Open Oxford was Windmill Hill, a private residence where the results of a lifetime of collecting and creating are evident. As we walked in the driveway we were met by this 'garden' along side the house. Lights flashed, whistles blew as we walked by a certain point, and metal flowers bobbed in the wind.

On a table in front of old gasoline pumps pride of place went to this eight-horse hitch and wagon, a reminder for me of the pair my mother had specially made for my father one year for Christmas. They were recreated from pictures of the actual horses my dad had used for many years.

And of course, memories are what this collection is all about. The residents' garage looks more like an old time service station.

This metal sign, a giant cog of a thing, beautifully painted like those saws you sometimes see, announces the name of the place and people.

In the back yard is a lovely garden of kitsch and flowers. It is so full I hardly knew where to snap next.

Here are more angles of the same garden. I cannot put a theme on this except to say it is all kitsch. There is even a camel!

This metal palm tree called to have its photo taken as we have a car wash/laundromat with several of these. They are obtrusive enough in the day but at night, fully lit, they jump right out of the black at you.

From Windmill Hill we moved on to the old County Jail in Woodstock, now beautifully renovated and housing the Health Unit. As we stood in the back courtyard talking to the first host, a friend, I looked up and saw this amazing shot.

Inside we heard about the five hangings that took place on the property, saw the place where lawyers would interview their clients, and even were guided by one of those lawyers who had done this many years ago. The renovation has kept enough of the history but opened the space up to uses for this day, a difficult feat but one the architects have achieved.

Outside we saw this picture of the death mask of the first person to be hanged on the grounds. Apparently a novice was entrusted with the calculations so that the gallows was set up outside the north door and, true to the custom of the time, a crowd gathered to witness justice being done. When the trap door opened the prisoner's head snapped off and flew into the crowd, probably giving the onlookers much more than they expected. After that the hangings were held inside the grounds.

At that time in England and elsewhere heads were often staked for everyone to see as a deterrent to further crime. In keeping with that tradition a death mask was made of this first prisoner to be hung at the Oxford County Jail. The picture below is of that mask.

Doors Open provides a multitude of different events and places to see, and changes every year. We'll be going next year for sure. In the meantime, London has its Doors Open next weekend. We'll be taking in several of the attractions. Will you?