Headington Shark

A large fibreglass shark breaks through the roof of a house in Headington, a suburb of Oxford. The sculpture appeared without permission in 1986 and was meant as protest art. Its creator, sculptor John Buckley, worked with local carpenter Anton Castiau to build and install the piece. The shark weighs about 200 kilograms and is seven and a half metres long. It was placed on the 41st anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. The shark became famous for its bold statement against nuclear power and war. Bill Heine, the homeowner and radio presenter, said it showed helpless anger about events like Chernobyl and Nagasaki. The sculpture sparked a six-year fight with Oxford City Council, which tried to remove it for safety and planning reasons. A government minister eventually ruled it could stay because it did not harm the view. Local supporters, including June Whitehouse, praised the shark as unique and brilliant. Visitors find the shark embedded head-first in a quiet suburban roof. The ordinary house contrasts sharply with the dramatic sculpture. The shark has been repainted several times, including with gold leaf on its fin. Neighbours hold street-wide birthday parties for it. A Czech schoolbook and a book called Eccentric Britain have featured the shark on their covers.