Architects working for the new American owners of Oxford's beloved Eagle and Child pub have submitted plans to stop it deteriorating.

The Eagle and Child in St Giles has now been closed for about four years.

But repairs to the pub in St Giles - one of the most famous in the city - now look set to go ahead.

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In October last year it was announced that the hostelry, famous for its links with fantasy authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, had been bought by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT).

The institute, established in Los Angeles by billionaire Larry Ellison, announced plans for a new laboratory campus at Oxford Science Park, and bought the pub from St John's College.

(Image: Oxford Mail) Last month Matt Abney, senior director of real estate and special projects for EIT, said scaffolding would go up at the building before the end of the year to "better protect it from further decline."

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Foster & Partners Architects, appointed by EIT, has now submitted a planning application to the city council for external conservation repairs, including repairs to the timber roof structure.

The pub was Grade II listed in the 1950s, so the work will require listed building consent.

Foster & Partners says in a statement on the planning application: "EIT believe that in restoring and preserving one of Oxford’s most characterful assets along with the enhancement and reimagining of its underused spaces that will once again create an amazing venue for Oxford residents, tourists, and scholars alike.

(Image: Dave Richardson) "It will therefore give a piece of public space back to the community.

"Combined with plans for the creation of separate spaces in the upper floors for faculty and students to gather it will also be a place for both scholars from the new EIT Oxford campus and the wider university to come together to help inspire conversations, enable collaborations and host some of the greatest minds Oxford has to offer."

EIT told the city council the current state of the buildings was "vulnerable to water ingress causing substantial internal damage".

It added: "As custodians, EIT feel a responsibility to preserve the building’s heritage by prioritising immediate external repairs that seek to preserve the character of the heritage asset and enhance their long-term future.

"EIT is committed to carrying out sensitive repairs that allows the heritage values of these important Oxford buildings to be celebrated, and once again reopened for residents, tourists and the wider community to enjoy."

The pub was a popular meeting place for fantasy writers JRR Tolkien, who wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and CS Lewis, best known for his Narnia stories.

They would meet with other authors in a group known as the Inklings to discuss their work.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.