What was that?
A guide to some of Jericho's distinctive buildings. For other articles, see the menu to the right.
No. 27 Cranham Street
Text and illustration by Jenny Barsley
This building, currently used by the tutorial establishment Green College, has a varied history. As you might guess from its shape, it was originally constructed in the 1880s as a Wesleyan chapel. Though only the width of a terraced house, it is much deeper — extending across what would be the back garden.
In 1922 the chapel was deconsecrated and turned into an architectural workshop. Then after the Second World War it was bought by a small ice cream business — called ‘Walls’, though whether this was linked with the national company is unknown. The building’s purpose changed yet again when it was acquired for use as a garage by a removals company, Philip Brown of Eynsham, for one of its vans — and was fitted with the large doors you see today.
Green College took over the building in the early 1980s to use it as a teaching laboratory — first renting and then buying the property. The walls inside are lined with pictures of Oxford scientists.
