Step off the beaten path and join us for a unique adventure at Slade Camp, in the foothills of Shotover Country Park. You'll find yourself in a bygone era, where the remnants of a once-thriving community lie hidden beneath overgrown trees and bushes. It’s a celebration of a resilient community, and proof that when a habitation is handed back to nature it’s not long before it looks like ancient woodland.

The story starts with William Morris, Lord Nuffield, who conveyed the land to the Council before the war for a training camp for the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Immediately after the war, it served as No. 2 Military Disembarkation Camp Unit, for processing Southern Command soldiers. Following decommissioning in 1948, the council started to move “displaced” people into the wooden huts on a temporary basis, where many would stay for years.

By the time it closed in 1970, hundreds of people had rebuilt their lives there. Their story remained largely secret until this year, when the Shotover Preservation Society convened local historians and former residents to bring the camp back to life.

Open for Oxford Open Doors on Sunday 15th September, local historians will conduct walking tours and former residents will share their stories and talk about what life was like in the camp.  Full details including parking info below.