“Anno Domini MCMLX” the inscription proclaims. This is the Waynflete Annexe. Right here on St Clement’s Street this building stands. A testament to the generosity of Magdalen College’s Old Members. It was erected in 1960. This was 500 years after the founding of the college itself. The Waynflete Annexe was built to honour William Waynflete the college’s founder.
The Waynflete Annexe isn’t just a building. It’s a story etched in stone and brick. A story of celebration and controversy. The building was intended as student accommodation. It was also meant to be an addition to the college’s existing properties. But its design sparked heated debates. The renowned architect Geoffrey Tyack called it “disastrously inappropriate”. The poet John Betjeman deemed it a “monster”. He famously lamented that it would “ruin Oxford forever”.
Imagine the construction. The hustle and bustle of workers. The sound of concrete mixers and the rhythmic clang of bricks being laid. This red brick and concrete structure was far from the traditional Oxford architecture. It was a departure from the usual stone. The architects Booth Ledeboer and Pinckheard faced criticism. Their design seemed at odds with the historic beauty of its surroundings.
The Waynflete Annexe has seen change. Robert Maxwell’s bookshop once thrived here. It was replaced by a camping equipment store. Then finally a Sainsbury’s Local occupied the space. This commercial space always occupied one large shop. That was a constant through the changes.
Today the Waynflete Annexe is slated for demolition. Magdalen College plans to replace it. This is part of a wider plan to enhance the college’s sustainability and its interaction with the community. But a part of the original lettering is being saved. It will be incorporated into the new design. This will serve as a respectful nod to the past. The Waynflete Annexe may disappear. Its story however will remain. It is a tale of progress and preservation. It’s a chapter in Oxford’s rich and ever-evolving history. A story that continues to unfold. This unique structure’s legacy will live on in the memories of those who experienced it. This spot will forever be linked to the name of William Waynflete.