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No. 56, September 2004 Published by the Jericho Community Association – www.jerichocentre.org.uk St Barnabas floored Photo: Richard Whitlock Photo: Richard exhaust the Church’s restoration fund. The Church out of action for six inspection system will add another £4,000. months for major repairs Father Michael Wright, the Vicar, says he – and a strange discovery has found a donor for half of this but con- tributions are welcome for the rest. ou may have been surprised at Since the Church was built in 1869 and the building works at St Barnabas the ‘campanile’ tower added in 1872, there YChurch – and a sign outside that have been several modifications. The most says ‘Church closed until Xmas’. The rea- notable were the organ loft in 1887, which son is that the floor was cracking up and filled in the space between the basilica and in June builders moved in to replace it and the campanile, and subsequently two addi- install a new heating system. tional chapels. In addition, because some Part of the problem is that St Barnabas, tiles were falling off the steep campanile whose main building was completed in roof, the pitch was subsequently reduced. 1869, was some way ahead of its time in its The original heating system consisted of Originally the Church only had the three long flues and a series of diamond- use of concrete. The Church’s benefactor, single ‘Barney’s Bell’. In 1890, when the shaped hearths – some of which were Thomas Combe, an early Superintendent discovered still filled with coals. clock was installed, it was decided to add of the Clarendon Press (OUP), insisted that a set of tubular bells to ring the chimes nothing was to be wasted on ‘externals’ – started to give way and needs replacing. and the hour strike, as well as a tune or which kept the price down to £6,492. The The refurbishment includes installing ‘carillon’. The new bells were driven by building he got was novel in that, although central heating, so it was ironic that when an elaborate mechanical contraption that stoutly constructed, it used cheap materials the builders drilled into the floor they dis- is now in need of repair. It still strikes the – including concrete which was most evi- covered the long-forgotten, original cen- hours – though rather erratically. dent in the cladding on the outer walls. tral heating system. This consisted of three St Barnabas has a Grade II* listing What was not so evident was that the ducts or flues running under the floor the from English Heritage, which means it is original floor also used concrete which was length of the building, along which at in- a ‘particularly important building of more mixed with rubble and covered with a lay- tervals were diamond-shaped coal hearths than special interest’, so encroachment by er of hard Portland cement. By the 1890s, that could be accessed via ‘manhole cov- the proposed Bellway development has however, the floor was cracking and, as the ers’ in the floor. The hot and smoky air aroused serious concern. then Vicar explained, to “take away the exited through chimneys in both the east St Barnabas Church as it was chilly feeling”, it was covered with pine and west end walls. However, according in 1872. The campanile, which blocks. Now, however, the whole floor has to one report, when the wind was in the was separate, had no clock and wrong direction the air seeped through the a steeper roof. The Church could covers and filled the Church with ‘noxious be viewed from the canal – a fumes’. At any rate, in 1905 this system perspective threatened by the Ali’s was replaced with one based on a boiler new development. and radiators. The old underfloor system is similar to Jericho that in Roman villas, appropriately enough since the main part of the Church is a Ro- Store manesque basilica after the style of the ca- Groceries – Off-licence thedral of Torcello near Venice. Newspaper deliveries A small section of the earlier sys- tem will now be preserved and available Open 6.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. for viewing through an inspection cover. Monday to Saturday While providing an extra feature to the 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. on Sunday Church, this has also added to the cost. The original estimate was £165,000 which will September 2004 – Jericho Echo –1 Snapshots of the 2004 Jericho Street Fair Thanks to all who made this year’s Street Fair such a success – especially our tireless organizers, Charlotte Christie, Teresa Stuart, Jenny Mann and Sue Pead Tom Richardson is served a burger by David Wong, while Jenny Mann guards the bouncy castle and the Morris men dance on. Photos: Peter Stalker Paul Hartley separates sumo wrestlers while faces get painted. Emma Chapman’s ‘Jericho Buskers’ included a hurdy gurdy man. Best to bring a seat for lunch. Sue Pead and Desi Choi do a brisk trade in raffle tickets. Which spoilsport let down the bouncy castle? There was a fairly heated debate at the Lucy’s plan gets the green light meeting about the environmental stand- ucy’s have been granted planning per- factory site. On the other side of the canal, ards of the new building. Berkeley Homes, Lmission for the redevelopment of the on land currently used for a car park, there the developer, said they had some pilot Eagle Iron Works site. They already had will be 33 more flats and 30 houses. Now schemes for solar heating but that they permission for a previous proposal in 2000, 40% of the units will be for social hous- could not guarantee that these would be then in 2003 put in a new application for ing, including joint-ownership flats for completed in time for this development. substantially more housing, but withdrew key workers. There will also be more than Walton Street Cycles’ workshop is this in the light of doubts from the planning 300 parking spaces most of which will be currently on the factory site and it looked officers about the low provision for social underground. as though this might have to close down. housing and the scale of the buildings. As their social contribution, Lucy’s Fortunately, Lucy’s have now offered as These concerns have been met and will give £100,000 towards the building of an alternative the building in Cranham on 25 August the Strategic Development the new Jericho Community Centre, plus Terrace formerly occupied by Cranham Control Committee approved the plans. £55,000 for recreation facilities for older Press. This gives only half the space, but at The development will consist of 186 flats, children to be built elsewhere, perhaps in least means that the business survives. The plus some offices and a gym on the main Aristotle Lane or at St Barnabas School. move will take place in January. 2 – Jericho Echo – September 2004 Bellway go to appeal Briefl y ... ellway Homes have lodged an appeal the appeal to be heard but it will probably New health centre Bwith the Planning Inspectorate following be in Spring 2005. When the Radcliffe Infirmary closes, the City Council’s resounding refusal of The potential loss of Jericho’s boatyard Jericho should get a new health centre planning permission for development of hit the national press with a major article opposite Jude the Obscure in Walton the land behind St Barnabas Church. in the Guardian, on 14 August: ‘Author Street. This building will also house some This appears to be part of Bellway’s joins fi ght to save historic boatyard’. Philip of the practices in Beaumont Street and contractual agreement with British Pullman who, as featured in the should be large enough to incorporate Waterways since the sale of the June issue of the Jericho Echo, a pharmacy and many other services, land will only be completed if sets part of his best selling Dark such as physiotherapy and X-rays that cannot be offered in the current building. planning permission is granted. Materials trilogy in Jericho, wrote This proposal will be aired at the Area In the appeal, Bellway claims, in an accompanying article: “I Committee meeting, on 14 September at strangely, that they have not re- love the curious, and indeed St Barnabas School. The meeting starts at ceived adequate information on somewhat gamey, character of 5.00 p.m., but this item will probably be the proposed Community Centre, Jericho and the Oxford canal; discussed around 6.30 p.m. when they have had this informa- it’s always seemed to me like tion from the outset and simply ignored it. a window opening on quite a different Jericho gets its own WI The company also complains about having world from the academic propriety of Jericho is about to get its own branch of the WI. It will meet on the second Tuesday to offer 40% social housing, which is what its near neighbour, north Oxford. It’s a of each month at 7.30 p.m. Because the Council is currently asking for new watery, raffi sh, amiable trickster-like world the Community Centre is fully booked at developments. of boat dwellers and horse dealers and present, the WI will meet initially at St As for the fate of the boatyard, they alchemists. The character of this part of Margaret’s Institute, Polstead Road (next pass responsibility back to British Water- Oxford is very ancient, quite unique and to the Anchor Pub). The fi rst meeting will ways. At present there is no date set for now, alas, in some peril”.