CHRIST Church’s new visitor centre is now open, and expects to welcome one million people a year.

Christ Church college received planning permission for the scheme in Christ Church Meadow in 2015 but there were delays with contractors for the new building off Broad Walk.

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Good progress was made after Oxfordshire-based Beard Construction took over the project and now the centre is now open.

Oxford Mail:

There are one million visitors each year to the meadow, with 400,000 of them paying to see inside the college where The Hall was used for Harry Potter films.

The visitor centre with thatched roof features a shop and ticket office.

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A neighbouring 19th century barn has been converted and will include an interpretation space in an old bull pen for material about Christ Church, focusing initially on the meadow, civil war defence, plus facilities for academic research and conference use.

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Until now, the shop has been situated in the 13th century chapter house, which can now be used for lectures and concerts.

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A compound for gardeners, providing storage and changing facilities, has also been built.

A new stone ramp has been built leading to the visitor centre, which will help those in wheelchairs, or parents with pushchairs.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford Preservation Trust welcomed the visitor centre project, while council planners insisted on thatched roofs.