fences

No. 31, Banbury Road, North Oxford, seen from east. Built in 1866, architect: William Wilkinson Named 'The Firs', this building is illustrated in Mr. Wilkinson's book "English Country Houses" (Plates XIII and XIV). Decades later (before 1953, exact date unknown), The Firs was aquired by St. Anne's Society (formerly Society of Oxford Home-Students) in order to extend accommodation capabilities of Springfield St. Mary which was originally established by Anglican nuns at No. 33 Banbury Road (partially visible on the right, also imaged here and here in this album). After receiving college status in 1952, and stimulated by generous fundings from Wolfson and Rayne Foundations, St. Anne's developed ambitious plans for new accommodation buildings, a total of 6 blocks of which only 2 were finally realized. No. 31 Banbury Road had to make way for the second one, Rayne Building and was demolished in 1966. Sources: - T. Hinchcliffe: North Oxford (Yale Univ. Press) - Internet Archive (archive.org) for "English Country Houses" - Historic England Archive, Red Box Collection, Photographs by Peter Spencer Spokes - History of the Nettleship Library (VI): A String of Pearls, found at St. Anne's College's web site.

Beloved bottle trees are risky BOTTLE trees can be found far and wide across the Western Downs, but experts are reminding people to ensure the Queensland icons are in good health. Two bottle trees have had to be removed from Dalby properties in recent weeks after they fell over due to rotting. Toowoomba-based arborist Russell Clark said while the trees are Queensland natives they are not endemic to Dalby and often rot because their trunks are soft and fleshy or their roots don't take to the soil. You'll see them in Chinchilla and other places around the Western Downs but the soil type is different here - they're not native to the area, you won't see them growing in a paddock,” he said. "Normally trees that fall over have some sort of problem with the roots. "If the wind is strong and there is plenty of rain, that's when there is most likely movement in a tree. "They are an amazing tree and an Australian icon and I hate people cutting them down. "If you have a bottle tree in the wrong spot, try and find someone like me to remove it to take it to a tree orphanage.” "They live to a fair age so sometimes they can be rotten on the inside but still standing up,” he said. Interesting story about bottle trees from Courrier Mail. www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/dalby/beloved-bott...

American & Australasian Photographic Co. pic, ca. 1870-75 www.flickr.com/photos/193158484@N02/52570976735/