The last, for the moment, of my selection of Oxford's less well known buildings is the Elm Tree pub in East Oxford's Cowley Road. For me, this is an example of the way, when walking around a city, a previously unnoticed building can suddenly catch the eye. I don't know anything about this building. Most of its features – the low-sweeping roof, fancy dormer window, curved canopy above the door, the long band of stone-framed windows, the tall chimneys, and so on – testify to the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late-19th century. The lettering above the door is pretty self-consciously crafty too – reminiscent in fact of the kind of letter forms often seen on the covers of Victorian children's books, the ancestors of The Dangerous Book for Boys. Perhaps someone out there knows the history of this pub, the penultimate stop before the Ultimate Picture Palace next door.
12 comments:
Never mind about all that, what's the beer and how much did you put down of it?
My favourite pub on the Cowley road was in a basement down a dingy flight of steps - the pub sign proudly conveyed both the name and the atmosphere of the establishment - The Rat Hole.
Philip - very good to have a catch-up with your latest postings. Love the A&C no-nonsense aproach here. Have you checked out the window casements, catches and stays at Drogoe ?
ooh - also, can't make out from your pic what's going on - but - next time you're passing could you remove those shocking bits of "sunday-trip-to-the-g'centre" trellis panels. Thanks
Diplomat - thanks for your appreciative comments. The trellis panels look a bit like headboards for twin beds. Perhaps we should get the local cheap 'n' cheerful bed centre to take them away.
Hi do you have any larger photographs? Some philistine has chipped off 'The Elm Tree' typography carved in store above the door, and it would be good if someone had a record of it.
I only took the one shot of this place as I walked by – but I do have it in a higher resolution than the version shown here.
My Grandfather owned and ran it in the sixties I think. His name was Gordon Sanders. The local Irish community frequented the pub and would always go outside for a punch up even when he wasn’t there. Only the very brave would cross him apparently as he died before I was born. He previously owned the Whitehouse on the Abingdon rd.
Lezlee: Thanks very much for your comment. I'm always pleased to read comments from people connected to the buildings I write about.
In the late 60's I attended Cowley Road Technical college and spent many a happy lunchtime in the Rathole (I believe it was actually "The Crown"), pie, peas and chips washed down with 5 pints.
My parents ran The Rat hole in the mid 60s for 18months to 2 years (Alan & Pearl Jones) we kids were very young but remember living on the street level and 1st floor and the bar was in the basement only. Good memories.
I’d love to learn more about The Rat Hole's history, what it was like during its time, and if you happen to have any memories or stories about it. Any insights into the atmosphere, the kind of patrons it attracted, or notable events would be incredibly helpful!
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