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24 September 2014
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November, 2003
Ugliness is in the eyes of the angry...
Denys Wilkinson building
The Denys Wilkinson building: how does it sit with medieval and Victorian Oxford?

Country Life readers condemn Didcot Power Station (see story here) but it's not the only building in the county that provokes strong feelings.

Which are your best and least loved edifices? And which one looks like a kitchen appliance?


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Didcot's uncool towers cause country strife (picture: Karen Stay)

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Click here to tell us about Oxfordshire eyesores and your favourite buildings. Pictures are welcome!

BBCi Oxford and BBC South Today asked you to nominate the county's blighted buildings after Didcot Power Station came third in a poll of the UK's worst eyesores. Here are some of the replies:

The Civic Halls in Abingdon would earn my nomination for the worst local eyesore. They they are totally out of keeping with the surrounding historical architecture and spoil the whole area in which they are situated. As for Didcot Power Station - it's a superb sight! Bob Pritchard

News image
Richard Aylward's favourite view of Didcot Power Station

Didcot power station may be considered an eyesore, but it all depends on the view. This one (right) is from the Aston Rowant bird reserve, next to the M40 Chiltern cut. I hope that you like the picture. It is one of hundreds which I use as my screen-saver
- Richard Aylward

The Westgate Shopping Centre in Oxford is hideous. The external design looks like the inside of a toaster - Adam Potterton

Eyesore number one: Westgate Centre and car park in Oxford - Roger Stitson, Kidlington

I would like to see the tower house mosque-looking thing in Carterton destroyed, as it is a huge eyesore - John, Carterton

The ugliest building in Oxford is the Sterling building, near Magdalen College. It's hideous - Mrs Gresswell

I would like Gloucester Green and the bus station in Oxford demolished - anonymous text

Said Business School
Said Business School in Oxford: "Awful"

Didcot Power Towers should be protected. The Said Business School in Oxford is awful - Oliver Tickell, Oxford

Text nominations: Oxfordshire County Council's offices, St Pancras Hotel, the Said Business School and the Inner Ring Road - L I Elias, OX11

Right next to the A34 on the eastern side of it, about six miles south of the M40 near the Kidlington turn, is my most hated building. It appears to be derelict (has been for years) and therefore is neither use nor ornament. I have no idea what it was, but I pity anyone who had to work there. I would willingly pay money for Children in Need to blow it up. I'm sure no-one would miss it. It has no windows to speak of, loads of pipes come out of it and someone has tried to paint a St George's cross on it, but it doesn't improve it. What was it? People may complain about Didcot Power Station, but at least it achieves something - Rose Scott, Winslow (note: it's the old grain store, also nominated by Mr R Herring)

That building built by Oxford Instruments on the Frilford Road towards the A420 (from Wantage) should never have been allowed. To destroy that beautiful woodland and put up that building is close to criminal in its audacity. It makes me feel cross every time I see it - Debbie Samuel

News image
No one has nominated Headington's Shark House (but there's still time...)

The Blackwells building in Park End Street, Oxford, is a large black building with no features. It does not fit in with the rest of the architecture in the same street - Robert McLoughlin, Bicester

The new chemistry department in Mansfield Road in Oxford - anonymous text message

The two buildings that I think are the worst in Oxford are: the Zoology building in South Parks Road - it's made of concrete and looks really dirty; also very close by is the new chemistry building that's not even finished. It's all glassy looking with funnels on top, making it look like a ship. It spoils Rhodes House, which is a lovely building, and virtually next to it - Heather King

Demolish the hideous eyesore that is Didcot Power Station. It truly blights a most beautiful part of the country - Kate, Benson

Bartholomew School in Eynsham - anonymous text nomination (from a pupil, perhaps?)

Gratifying news for Oxfordshire is that two buildings in neighbouring counties received by far the most nominations: County Hall in Aylesbury (nicknamed "Pooley's Folly", after its architect) and the County Ground football stadium in Swindon. Both were nominated by too many people to mention.

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