South Park, Oxford

South Park is a park on Headington Hill in east Oxford, England.[1] It is the largest park within Oxford city limits. A good view of the city centre with its historic spires and towers of Oxford University can be obtained at the park's highest point, a favourite location for photographers.

Not to be confused with South Parks Road.
View across South Park.
South Park in the snow.

Location

The park is located alongside Headington Road. St Clement's links the park with central Oxford. A 19th-century bridge links the park with Headington Hill Park.[2] On the southern boundary is the gently curving Morrell Avenue, named after a local brewery family.

History

The land was privately owned by the Morrell family of Headington Hill Hall until bought by the Oxford Preservation Trust in 1932 to preserve it as open space. In 1951 the Trust gave the land to the city of Oxford. A carved stone by the sculptor Eric Gill is located at the foot of the Park and records the Trust's gift thus: 'This park was acquired by the Oxford Preservation Trust through the liberality of the Pilgrim Trust and David and Joanna Randall-McIver 1932'.

Events
Annual Bonfire Night fireworks display at South Park, Oxford

Many events are held in the park including the annual parade of the Lord Mayor and the annual fund-raising fireworks display of the Oxford branch of Round Table.

On 7 July 2001, there was a music festival in the park, including Radiohead, Supergrass (who started in Oxford), Beck, Sigur Rós, Humphrey Lyttelton and two local bands, Hester Thrale and The Rock of Travolta.[3] Over 40,000 people attended, the largest event in the park to date.

Foodies Festivals organizes events at South Park,[4] including master classes from chefs such as Levi Roots and Ed Baines.

Spanish anti-fascist memorial

South Park is the home of the Oxford Spanish Civil War memorial which is dedicated to local residents who travelled to Spain to join the International Brigades to fight against fascist forces backed by Hitler and Mussolini during the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939. The memorial is located where Headington Road meets

During the Spanish Civil War, 29 British people with connections to Oxfordshire joined the International Brigades, with a further 2 who joined POUM.[5] Most of the volunteers were communist activists, and many had links to Britain's Jewish communities. Oxford was a hub for anti-fascist activism, homes within the county housed hundreds of Basque refugee children and various physical fights between anti-fascist activists and the Oxford University Fascist Association.[6]

The memorial was the focus of minor controversy when all plans to have an anti-fascist memorial in the city center were rejected by Oxford city council, until the current site was agreed upon.[7]

Located on Headington Road is the Oxford Spanish Civil War memorial, dedicated to Oxford residents who joined the International Brigades during the Oxford Spanish Civil War memorial and died fighting against fascist forces backed by Hitler and Mussolini.

See also

References
  1. South Park, Oxford City Council, UK.
  2. The Landscape of Headington Hill Hall: A Report for Oxford Brookes Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine, Land & Landscape Management Ltd, December 2006.
  3. Radiohead, Beck, Supergrass, Sigur Ros, Humphrey Lyttelton, Music OMH.
  4. "Oxford". Foodies Festivals]. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  5. Farman, Chris; Rose, Valery; Woolley, Liz (2015). No Other Way: Oxfordshire and the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. UK: Oxford International Brigade Memorial Committee. p. 1. ISBN 9781 910448 052.
  6. Farman, Chris; Rose, Valery; Woolley, Liz (2015). No Other Way: Oxfordshire and the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. UK: Oxford International Brigade Memorial Committee. pp. 41–42. ISBN 9781 910448 052.
  7. James, Luke (6 November 2016). "Nimbys block nod to heroes of Spain civil war in Oxford: Memorial to anti-fascist fighters 'too triumphalist' for some". The Morning Star. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

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