Oxford’s iconic shark in roof celebrates 40th anniversary

It has been exactly four decades today (Monday, August 10) since the 25ft fibreglass sea creature appeared overnight at a terraced house in New High Street.

It was commissioned by Bill Heine, an American-born journalist and broadcaster, who came to Oxford in the 1960s to study at Oxford University.

He worked at BBC Oxford as well as here at the Oxford Mail.

READ MORE: Major Oxfordshire blaze sees black smoke rise and eight fire engines called

Bill Heine at the house in Headington. (Image: Newsquest)

The Guardian reported that he came up with the idea while sitting on a doorstep opposite his newly purchased house.

Chatting with his sculptor friend John Buckley over a glass of wine, he asked Mr Buckley: “Can you do something to liven it up?”

He has also said he intended it to be a protest against the American bombing of Libya while also describing it as a statement about nuclear weapons.

Mr Buckley worked with a group of volunteers for three months, building the shark on an artificial roof created outside his studio. No one knew where it was going to be sited.

At 5am on Saturday, August 9, 1986, he drove the shark to New High Street on a tractor-trailer where a large crane was waiting.

READ MORE: UK supermarket giant issues customer notice on Jeremy Clarkson beer

The Headington Shark. (Image: Anna Hunter)

The shark was slotted into the roof “just as the postman was passing”, said Mr Buckley.

A six-year planning row immediately erupted.

Oxford City Council opposed the installation, stating that it was dangerous to the public, but engineers and inspectors pronounced it structurally safe.

Mr Heine then submitted a planning application, which was rejected, so he appealed to Michael Heseltine, who was the Environment Secretary at the time.

READ MORE: TV icon daughter’s £3.95m swimming pool mansion in Oxfordshire unsold

The Headington Shark. (Image: Magnus Hanson Heine)

The council held public forums where people could speak for or against the sculpture, and people came from far afield to defend what they saw as art.

Mr Heseltine’s planning inspector ultimately came out in favour of the sculpture in a landmark ruling for town planners.

He said the council’s fears about “proliferation with sharks (and heaven knows what else) crashing through roofs all over the city” were “exaggerated”.

To preserve the shark, Bill’s son Magnus bought the house in 2016, and it is now a star attraction on Airbnb.

READ MORE: 80s singing legend asked about ‘difficult return’ to iconic band after split

The Headington Shark. (Image: Angela Jones)

The property sleeps 12 guests and currently boasts a 4.65 rating on the rental site.

One guest, reviewing his stay, wrote: “A great location, and a fun house. Something to talk about and remember for years later.”

Another said: “Great location, great shark. Had a great time.”

Mr Heine died of cancer, aged 74, in 2019, and tributes flooded in from many locals, including many city councillors.