Turrill Sculpture Garden, Oxford

About Turrill Sculpture Garden

Behind the public library in South Parade in Oxford’s Summertown is a large, sunny garden measuring approximately 100ft by 60ft.

In 2000, it was transformed from an empty and uninviting space into an attractive garden for the public to enjoy.

Here you can see a series of changing sculpture exhibitions, buy the sculpture, sit and enjoy the peace or even have a picnic.

It is owned by Oxfordshire County Council, who were delighted when shown suggestions for a scheme designed by Katherine Shock that could be used by the public to enhance the local facilities.

They also enthusiastically supported the idea of showing sculptures by living artists in this setting if funds could be raised for this purpose.

A local family, who have traded in the area for many years as Shepherd and Woodward, came forward with sponsorship to build the garden, and it was constructed by Ian Lattimore of Nor-Lye landscapes.

Their generosity was motivated by the love of gardening of their aunt, Miss Marjorie Turrill, who lived all her life at 245 Banbury Road, and her sister Betty Venables.

Betty was a plantswoman who had to build two gardens from fields on Cumnor Hill and then again at Cunliffe Close, where she lived for 14 years after being widowed and had a lovely small front and back garden.

It is called the Turrill Sculpture Garden in their memory.

Other people in the area have also been generous in their support, which has allowed the garden to become established.

The ‘Forest of Oxford’ scheme run by the Oxford City Council has paid for all the planting, which includes plants (with labelling) suitable for growing in North Oxford front gardens so that they can also be used by local residents as a reference garden.

The Friends of the Turrill Sculpture Garden has been established to help support and maintain the garden, and they have some generous local Corporate members who may support financially or materially.

The garden is located behind the Summertown Library.