Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford

An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

for Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) Ltd

by Steve Preston

Thames Valley Archaeological

Services Ltd

Site Code EIO05/26

November 2006

Summary

Site name: Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho Oxford

Grid reference: SP 5045 0723

Site activity: Desk-based assessment

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Steve Preston

Site code: EIO05/26

Area of site: c. 1 ha

Summary of results: This desktop study is a revised version of a report prepared in April 2005. It has been prepared to address the unique planning condition required for a modification of the original planning consent for the site which requires an increased land take for a proposed bin store. The site is in a location which can be considered to have moderate to high archaeological potential. Although much of the site had been truncated to level it for the ironworks buildings, substantial parts of it have been levelled up rather than down, which may have preserved intact any archaeology below the modern surface level. Preservation of palaeoenvironmental evidence may be enhanced by the damp setting, although possible contamination of the groundwater may counteract this. Evaluation for the main part of the site failed to reveal any deposits of archaeological interest but with peaty and alluvial deposits present in the deepest trenches as anticipated. Two hand dug trenches in the location of the new bin store which lies beyond the original site boundary located modern disturbance and a deposit of 17th century or later date with residual medieval finds. A further phase of fieldwork is proposed for the latter area to mitigate the effects of development on these deposits.

This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 15.12.06

Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

by Steve Preston

Report 05/26c

Introduction

This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of an irregular plot of land of c. 1 ha located off Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned initially by Mr Jon

Neville, and this phase of work was commissioned by Mr Cliff Buddery, both of Berkeley Homes (Oxford and

Chiltern) Ltd, Berkeley House, Abingdon Science Park, Barton Lane, Abingdon, OX14 3NB and comprises the third stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area.

Planning permission has been granted by Oxford City Council (consent 05/02358/FUL) for the construction of a refuse store in the rear gardens of two properties on Walton Well Road, as an addition to a larger scheme

(04/00387/FUL) for residential development on the site known as the Eagle Ironworks. The development of the bin store will involve the stripping and levelling of 108 sq m of land, a part of which was not covered by a desk- based assessment (Preston 2005) prepared for the larger development area, although this area was included in an evaluation (trenching) exercise (Wallis 2006). The local planning authority required a revised assessment to include the additional area. References to the area of the previous application have been retained, even though that site has now been evaluated. The factory buildings were still standing at the time of the original report; they have since been demolished.

Site description, location and geology

The site covered by the two applications combined consists of a recently demolished factory complex covering c.

1 ha and parts of the rear gardens of two properties fronting Walton Well Road (covering 108 sq m). The development area is centred on NGR SP 5045 0723. The site is bordered on its north and east sides by residential properties, which front onto Walton Well Road and Walton Street, respectively, by St Sepulchre’s cemetery

(disused) to the south, while the Oxford and Birmingham canal forms the western boundary. The south-western corner of the former works site is now occupied by residential blocks. The site straddles geology of Second

Terrace (Summertown-Radley) river gravels and Oxford Clay (BGS 1982). The east end of the site is at a height of approximately 60.5m above Ordnance Datum and the west at c. 58m AOD.

The natural topography of the area slopes quite steeply down from Walton Street towards the canal. Walton

Well Road itself dips down immediately west of Walton Street and then rises again to the bridge, presumably on an artificial embankment. Properties fronting Walton Well Road and the eastern end of Juxon Street, further south, contain full-storey basements but those at the west end of Juxon Street do not appear to. Some of the buildings on the site are also basemented. The factory site occupies land that appears to be more or less flat throughout and would correspond approximately with the basement level of all these surrounding properties. The new accommodation block to the south of the site is at the same floor level as the site and this is c. 0.5m above the level of the adjacent late Victorian housing on Juxon Street. In places the drop from the level of the cemetery to the factory floor level is perhaps 2m. This all suggests that the eastern side of the site at least has been sculpted from the natural slope; it is likely that the western end, in contrast, may have been raised.

Planning background and development proposals

(04/00387/FUL) for residential development on the site known as the Eagle Ironworks. The development of the bin store will involve the stripping and levelling of 108 sq m of land, 47 sq m of which was not covered by the previous desk-based assessment. The City Council has attached a Unique Condition (5) to consent stating that

‘No development shall proceed on the new land-take (the application area outside the red line of 04/00387/FUL) until the applicant has re-issued in sustainable form the existing desk-based assessment that addresses both locations.’

Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16 1990) provides guidance relating to archaeology within the planning process. It points out that where a desk-based assessment has shown that there is a strong possibility of significant archaeological deposits in a development area it is reasonable to provide more detailed information from a field evaluation so that an appropriate strategy to mitigate the effects of development on archaeology can be devised:

Paragraph 21 states:

‘Where early discussions with local planning authorities or the developer’s own research indicate that important archaeological remains may exist, it is reasonable for the planning authority to request the prospective developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out...’

Should the presence of archaeological deposits be confirmed further guidance is provided. Archaeology and

Planning stresses preservation in situ of archaeological deposits as a first consideration as in paragraphs 8 and

18.

Paragraph 8 states:

‘...Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation...’

Paragraph 18 states:

‘The desirability of preserving an ancient monument and its setting is a material consideration in determining planning applications whether that monument is scheduled or unscheduled...’

However, for archaeological deposits that are not of such significance it is appropriate for them to be ‘preserved by record’ (i.e., fully excavated and recorded by a competent archaeological contractor) prior to their destruction or damage.

Paragraph 25 states:

‘Where planning authorities decide that the physical preservation in situ of archaeological remains is not justified in the circumstances of the development and that development resulting in the destruction of the archaeological remains should proceed, it would be entirely reasonable for the planning authority to satisfy itself ... that the developer has made appropriate and satisfactory provision for the excavation and recording of remains.’

The Oxfordshire Structure Plan (OCC 1998) follows a similar line: Policy EN10:

‘There will be a presumption in favour of physically preserving nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings. Where development affecting other archaeological remains is allowed it should include appropriate measures to secure their preservation in situ or where this is not feasible, recording of archaeological features before development.’

Similarly, the Oxford Local Plan (OCyC 2005), Policy HE.1

‘Planning permission will not be granted for any development that would have an unacceptable effect on a nationally important monument (whether or not it is scheduled) or its setting. ‘The scheduled monuments are shown on the Proposals Map.’

The site is not a Scheduled monument.

Policy HE.2

‘Where archaeological deposits that are potentially significant to the historic environment of Oxford are known or suspected to exist anywhere in Oxford but in particular the City centre Archaeological Area, planning applications should incorporate sufficient information to define the character and extent of such deposits as far as reasonably practicable, including, where appropriate: ‘a. the results of an evaluation by fieldwork; and ‘b. an assessment of the effect of the proposals on the deposits or their setting’

‘If the existence and significance of deposits is confirmed, planning permission will only be granted where the proposal includes: ‘c. provision to preserve the archaeological remains in situ, so far as reasonably practicable, by sensitive layout and design (particularly foundations, drainage and hard landscaping); and ‘d. provision for the investigation and recording of any archaeological remains that cannot be preserved, including the publication of results, in accordance with a detailed scheme approved before the start of the development.’ ‘The City Centre Archaeological Area is defined on the Proposals Map.’

The site is not within the City Centre Archaeological Area. Indeed, the site appears to have been specifically excluded from a number of designated zones, but the amenity area of the St Sepulchre cemetery is specifically protected by policy RE23. Further policies cover Listed Buildings and buildings of local interest. The buildings on the site are not listed nor does either planning consent ascribe any local interest.

Methodology

The assessment of the site was carried out by the examination of pre-existing information from a number of sources recommended by the Institute of Field Archaeologists paper ‘Standards in British Archaeology’ covering desk-based studies. These sources include historic and modern maps, the Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments

Record, the Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports.

Archaeological background

General background

Oxford City as a whole has a rich and varied archaeological heritage. From the general area, a small number of findspots of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic tools are the earliest evidence. Later prehistoric sites and finds are more numerous and include evidence from cropmarks visible from the air, chance finds (for example, numerous Iron

Age coins), and formal archaeological investigations.

Port Meadow (directly west of the site) from the air shows evidence of small enclosures of a type comparable to those at Farmoor and typically Iron Age (Henig and Booth 2000, 11). Roman activity in the

Oxford area is reasonably well recognized, with a settlement in the Barton area located along the route of the

Alchester to Dorchester road, and a major pottery industry concentrated around the south and east margins of the city. However, it seems that the city itself had no, or little, Roman settlement, certainly no town and no villa of note, despite (perhaps) two major river crossings in the area (Henig and Booth 2000, 50). Rather settlement seems to have spread along the gravel terrace with quite a density of sites, perhaps one every kilometre or so.

The Roman roads and their river crossings seem to have been a major influence on Saxon settlement however (Blair 1994, 87–91). A burh was formally founded around AD 900, but earlier settlement certainly existed in the area, even if no early Saxon traces have yet been found within the modern city. The concentration of Saxon churches (St Aldate, St Ebbe, St Frideswide and up to a dozen more) alone indicates as much.

Headington may have been the focus of Saxon activity prior to the establishment of the burh by Alfred (or earlier: Blair 1994, 99–100).

Early Norman Oxford seems to have suffered from initial neglect or decline. It has been suggested that this was due to over-taxation (attested by Domesday Book) and the unsubtle imposition of Robert d’Oilly’s castle

(Blair 2004, 177) but if so, the decline was short-lived and Oxford was again one of the country’s major towns by the early 12th century. Abbeys, friaries and monastic colleges were drawn to the city in droves and the

University cemented its importance. It was not long before medieval Oxford overspilt its walls (Hassall 1986).

Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record and Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database

A search was made of the Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments (SMR) on 15th March 2005 and on the Oxford City

Urban Archaeological Database (UAD) on 16th March 2005 for a radius of c. 500m around the proposal site. A supplementary search was made for recently added records on 28th November 2006. The combined searches showed 34 entries (not counting duplicates present in both databases) located within the study area, and several more that are not closely located but could fall within this radius. These are summarized in Appendix 1 and their locations shown on Figure 1.

Many of the entries relate to patchy records of 19th-century observations, or to findspots of material which are not closely provenanced (for example Roman coins ‘from north Oxford’, ‘possibly from Oxford, or ‘near

Jericho’). This class of information is not discussed in detail below but contributes to the general archaeological background. When these vague references are excluded, the number of positive archaeological observations can be seen to be rather small, but this probably reflects the lack of opportunity for systematic modern investigation.

Prehistoric

Three records [Fig. 1: 1–3] in close proximity, of undated human burials, with the skeleton in a contracted position in at least two cases, have been thought to represent Neolithic graves. It is not clear how many burials are represented in total but this could point to a ritual monument just north of the site. Unspecified ‘earthworks and stone implements’, presumably prehistoric, were observed on Walton Street in 1920; details are lacking for

this observation [4]. Further afield, both Port Meadow and The Parks show cropmarks indicating prehistoric settlement and burials. Various finds dating from the Bronze Age onwards have been made on Port Meadow [5].

Roman

Roman finds are more prolific in the archaeological record for the area, but again this is mainly from antiquarian observation and details are scarce at best. Findspots can be plotted for (mainly) pottery and other finds at a number of locations [6–10; 16] but it is not clear how many of these represent in situ Roman activity.

Nonetheless, they do paint a picture of some form of Roman settlement nearby. One modern investigation recovered unstratified Roman finds but no features [23]. Another record refers to undated finds (pottery vessels and a spoon) in the Ashmolean that sound as if they may be from a Roman grave, but no details are provided

[16]. Indeed, work very close to the site within the last year has revealed human remains suggested to be part of a Roman cemetery [26].

Saxon and Medieval

The SMR and UAD record almost no Saxon or medieval evidence from the search area, which is somewhat surprising. There are documentary references to what is presumed to be Port Meadow (e.g., in Domesday Book) but these are not generally geographically specific. Medieval pottery was found on King Street in the 1870s [18] and during recent evaluation and excavation at the Horse and Jockey on Woodstock Road [17], although this site has been suggested still to have been open farmland at this period. Excavations on Walton Street [11] revealed evidence of Saxon, medieval and post-medieval occupation (Inskeep 1998). It is significant that this is one of the very few modern investigations in the immediate area to produce positive results. A bone heddle stick (an item of weaving equipment) found in the grounds of the Radcliffe infirmary [19] in 1938 is thought to be Saxon.

Another modern investigation [21], on Woodstock Road, found that the site had been largely truncated, although medieval pottery was recovered. Several phases of fieldwork on the site of Rewley Abbey further south [22] have added considerably to our knowledge of this Cistercian site, which has been claimed as the earliest formally planned college layout (Youngs et al. 1987, 156; Nenk et al. 1994, 245). Of potential importance for the proposal site under consideration here is some evidence that the Abbey was expanding onto reclaimed wetland in the 15th century.

Post-medieval

Records from the post-medieval period mainly relate to standing structures, including the canal bridge [12] and drinking fountain [13] on Walton Well Road and a swing bridge (see Scheduled Ancient Monuments, below)

[14]. The Eagle Ironworks itself is noted on the SMR [15]. Finally, modern investigations have revealed limited post-medieval finds or deposits in a couple of locations, including on the site itself (see below) [15, 17, 19].

Negative and undated

Evaluation trenching during previous development on the Lucy’s site on the west bank of the canal [20] revealed no features of archaeological interest (Ford 1996) but did demonstrate the difficulty of trenching in this location, with rapid ingress of contaminated water a problem. The stratigraphy observed here included a peaty horizon above around 1m of alluvium above more peaty clay, over gravel. Organic remains from these lower layers were well-preserved but only indicating the presence of reed swamp; the species present tentatively suggesting an Iron

Age or Roman date for these deposits. A watching brief in 1996 slightly to the south of this evaluation again showed no archaeology but demonstrated similar stratigraphy of peat and alluvium [20]. Similar conditions may be expected on the current proposal site (see Geotechnical test pits, below). Further modern investigations in the vicinity of the site have revealed nothing of archaeological interest [24, 25].

Evaluation

Field evaluation on the site between 21st February and 1st March 2006, in advance of determination of the second application, confirmed the presence of peaty deposits and alluvium in the western portion of the site, but no features were encountered in this area (Wallis 2006). The archaeologically relevant layers were, as expected, deeply buried beneath made ground in the western portion of the site, and had been truncated across the much of the rest of the site.

In the marginal area of the site where the bin store is to be located, two trenches were excavated, both within the area of new landtake excluded from the earlier assessment (Fig. 12). These amounted to approximately a 6.7% sample of the new landtake by area. Trench 5 could not be excavated deeper than the made ground, which contained 19th-century pottery and two residual medieval pottery sherds. In Trench 6, the natural geology was reached and here deposits of some possible archaeological interest were revealed: what appeared to be a 19th-century well and a 17th-century or later pit (1). No peat or alluvium was encountered in either trench in this part of the site. On the basis of these results, it was suggested that the site had very little

archaeological potential. The City Archaeologist concluded that evidence for use of the site pre-dating the ironworks might be significant.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

A swing bridge over the canal, well to the south of the site, is a listed building and a Scheduled Monument

(SAM 175). This is known to have been in use at least as early as 1851. Also to the south of the site is SAM 80, the precinct of Rewley Abbey. This Cistercian Abbey was founded in 1280 and suppressed in 1536. A series of archaeological investigations from 1987 to 1995 have demonstrated rather uneven survival of medieval remains on this site (Youngs et al. 1987, 156; Nenk et al. 1994, 245). Part of Port Meadow, to the west of the site, is also

Scheduled (SAM 12003). It is unlikely that the development proposals will involve any new adverse impact on these sites or their settings.

Cartographic and documentary sources

Already by the time of Domesday Book (AD1086) Oxford was a major centre, a walled town of over 700 houses

(although a large number of these were lying waste at the time of the survey) and was worth £60 to the King.

The Oxford Domesday entry is complex and self-contradictory, and the total number of households may be as high as 1018 (VCH 1939, 390). For comparison, York is listed at some 1400 messuages (house-plots), of which only around 400 were inhabited, yielding £100 to the King. Jericho of course was outside the walls at this stage.

The proposal area is not within the historic core of Oxford, but rather falls on the boundary between Jericho and Walton. Both of these manors had medieval predecessors, but both seem to have been deserted or nearly so by the 16th century. Walton was a village of just 4 hides in Domesday Book (Williams and Martin 2002, 236), and had 46 dwellings in 1279, as well as the Abbot of Oseney’s grange. There were still 49 taxpayers in 1381 but only 8 by 1541 and it was deserted by 1660 (VCH 1979, 274–5). Jericho traced a similar trajectory, with 39 houses in 1279 in Twentyacre Close and a similar number on Stockwell Street, but it had disappeared by 1510.

Jericho developed in the early decades of the 19th century. The VCH (1979, 190) attributes this to the establishment of the Oxford University Press at its new premises on Walton Street in 1830, but other wider factors will surely have contributed. Oxford as a whole grew extraordinarily rapidly in the decade 1821–31, when the city’s housing stock rose by some 42% and Jericho was just a part of this growth. Housing in this area was exclusively working class and much of it lacked even rudimentary sanitation (VCH 1979, 237–8), which

contributed to the virulence of a cholera epidemic of 1832, prompting the city to adopt better drainage measures.

Much of this housing stock was not replaced until the 1970s.

The adjacent St Sepulchre’s cemetery was established as part of a general move to improve health and general conditions in the city, in 1848; by the end of the 1870s it was already overcrowded and was not expected to remain in use much longer. Four new cemeteries were dedicated in 1889 but graves seem to have continued to be dug in St Sepulchre’s until around the time of the First World War, and older family plots were still being reused (or at least, memorials were being erected) in the 1930s. Among the (few) notables laid to rest there was the formidable scholar Benjamin Jowett, Regius Professor of Greek, Master of Bailliol and Vice-Chancellor of the University (d. 1893).

A detailed and extensively illustrated study of the site itself has already been made, from an industrial, commercial and social history perspective (Warburton 2003). The following summarizes the main development implications arising from this study. The Eagle Ironworks stands on the site first occupied by William Carter’s foundry, established there in 1825 as the Jericho Iron and Brass Foundry and adopting the Eagle name in 1838

(Warburton 2003, 10–11). The company’s claimed foundation date of 1760 (as depicted on the works’ gates) has not been confirmed and seems unreliable. Ownership of the foundry passed through several companies (although mostly the same individuals were involved), finally resting with W Lucy and Co., c. 1871. Specialist electrical manufacturing replaced casting as its chief output by the early years of the 20th century, and the company was already exporting widely (e.g. to India), but even then, agricultural machinery and street lighting were important elements of the repertoire. After the First World War, electrical engineering became the company’s main business.

The land on which the foundry was built belonged to St John’s College until 1954 when the company purchased the freehold, permitting greater freedom for expansion. A site across the canal was also purchased at around this time and the works rapidly expanded. From the 1970s onwards, Lucy’s also developed an extensive property portfolio, owning many of the properties in the streets surrounding the works.

The main development of the buildings on the site has been traced in detail by Warburton (2003, 61–125) and can be followed in the cartographic description below.

A range of Ordnance Survey and other historical maps of the area were consulted at the Centre for

Oxfordshire Studies in order to ascertain what activity had been taking place throughout the site’s later history and whether this may have affected any possible archaeological deposits within the proposal area (Appendix 2).

The earliest map available of the area is Saxton’s (1574) county map. This shows no detail beyond the impressive pictogram of Oxford itself (Fig. 2). Most early mapping of Oxford tended to concentrate on the central area and the colleges, rarely venturing further north than St Aldates. Jericho tends to be peripheral, and the area around Walton Bridge even more so. No 16th- or 17th-century maps were found to cover the area. Thus several estate maps of St John’s College dating throughout the 18th century and up to 1843, fail to cover the area of the site even though the college owned the site throughout this period. Curiously, neither tithe nor enclosure maps covering the area were to be found in the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies collection, although possibly college lands were not mapped for these purposes. Hoggar’s map of Oxford (1850) is the first to show the site in detail (Fig. 3). The Iron Foundry is already in place, consisting of one large building and several ancillary structures, all towards the centre of the site. St Sepulchre’s is also already in place, with a chapel. The properties along Walton Well Road are not yet in place nor are their gardens.

The First Edition Ordnance Survey published in 1876 (Fig. 4) shows the main foundry building considerably enlarged, but the same smaller structures occupy the site. The name is now shown as ‘Eagle

Foundry (Iron and Brass)’. To the north appear to be gardens but as yet no structures. The open area next to the canal is noted ‘liable to flooding’ and there is a natural spring just north of the foundry building. Later Ordnance

Survey maps show continuous development of both the site itself and the surrounding areas. By 1899 (Fig. 5)

Walton Well Road has assumed more or less its present form and the foundry’s main building has again grown, and the works has acquired a range of additional buildings to the north. An annotation (‘W.M’) in the centre of the site is probably for a well and might correspond to the spring shown previously. The gardens to the rear of the Walton Well Road are in almost identical configuration to the present layout and do not register any change in subsequent maps until the most westerly garden (number 29) is slightly shortened some time after 1972, presumably to ease access to the factory.

By the Ordnance Survey revision of 1937 (Fig. 6) the site is almost totally occupied by the works buildings apart from a slim band along the canal front, and has expanded southwards between the canal and St

Sepulchre’s. Another significant addition is a substantial building to the front (east) of the site towards Walton

Well Road. The 1957 map (Fig. 7) shows the entire site now built over, apart from access routes, a layout which survives through the 1972 map (Fig. 8) to the present, the only difference being that the current south end of the site is a new accommodation block (Fig. 9).

Geotechnical test pits

A site investigation (Bassett 2004) reported on the results of boreholes which reveal a similar sequence of deposits across the entire site (Fig. 10). These comprise made ground (0.17m to 3.0m) above alluvium (in places) above river terrace gravels above Oxford Clay. The greatest depth of made ground is to the west of the site. In places more than one made ground layer was distinguished, suggesting successive raisings of the surface as the site acquired more buildings. The made ground includes clearly post-medieval or modern material throughout.

The main results of the geotechnical study are presented in Appendix 3 and the locations of boreholes and other observations shown on Figure 10.

The alluvium was present only in WS 11, 12 and 19; it was never present at less than 1.29m below modern surface level. All of these locations are towards the west of the site. It is possible that no alluvium was ever present further east given the slope upwards; it is more likely that it was present but has been truncated by the levelling of the site for the original works or at some point in its development thereafter. The river terrace gravels appear to be present throughout the site, so that truncation to this depth does not seem to have occurred.

Groundwater ingress was noted at various depths within the boreholes.

Listed buildings

There are no listed buildings on the site, but in particularly close proximity are the Walton Well Road bridge over the canal and a public drinking fountain on Walton Well Road, both listed Grade II.

Registered Parks and Gardens; Registered Battlefields

There are no registered parks and gardens or registered battlefields on the site. St Sepulchre’s, immediately to the south, is a registered park and is designated recreational space in the local plan, moreover being specifically protected by policy HE.8.

Aerial Photographs

The site areas lies within an urban area which has been developed since before the advent of aerial photography.

No air-photographic collections have therefore been consulted.

Discussion

In considering the archaeological potential of the study area, various factors must be taken into account, including previously recorded archaeological sites, previous land-use and disturbance and future land-use including the proposed development (Figs 9, 11).

The archaeological potential of the site must be addressed from two perspectives: is there potential for archaeological remains to be present? and; is there evidence that these have already been truncated or destroyed by developments on the site? For the first question, the answer is undoubtedly that there is strong potential for prehistoric, Roman, medieval and perhaps Saxon remains in the area, in spite of the comparative lack of previously recorded finds. The location would have been an attractive one in all periods of prehistory. Two records (apparently separate observations, albeit details are lacking) of contracted human burials from nearby could indicate a Neolithic ritual site. The light scatter of Roman finds from the search area, while inconclusive, suggests settlement or perhaps a cemetery, of this period might be expected nearby. The locations of the medieval manors of Walton and Jericho are certainly somewhere in the vicinity; these were both moderate-sized medieval hamlets/villages, which later disappeared.

Warburton’s study makes clear the considerable local importance of the site, for social and economic history, and for the sense of community engendered by the long-standing excellent relations between the company and its workforce. The buildings currently on the site are of no architectural merit in their own right, and seem unlikely to include more than the slightest traces of the original (1825) works. Nonetheless, a photographic record of the extant buildings could provide valuable socio-historical information, as suggested by

Warburton (2003, 144–6) and a record survey should be made prior to demolition to attempt to discern if any of the original structures have survived and to flesh out the interior ground plans.

Of equal concern is the question of whether any such remains that ever existed might still be present. As has been made clear above, the entire site has been developed for industrial use over the course of almost two centuries. It seems clear that the eastern side of the site has been terraced back into the natural slope, removing alluvium and gravel from almost all of the area. However, this may paradoxically have exposed the relevant levels for early hominid studies; Palaeolithic finds can often come from within river terrace gravel deposits. On the other hand, the western end of the site, towards the canal, has been built up in order to level the site. Any buried levels towards the canal front could be expected to preserve archaeological remains in situ if any were present and to have protected these from subsequent developments. The presence of peaty layers and alluvium in

both the boreholes and the observations from a previous watching brief signal the potential of the area for some palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

The overall development proposals include basement car parking throughout. This will be taken to 57.24m

AOD throughout (finished floor level of 57.54m less 0.3m of formation level), which would be below the current floor levels (Fig. 11). This would undoubtedly destroy archaeological remains where these have not already been removed. However, it is not clear whether this will penetrate deeper than the made ground layers towards the canal front side of the site. If not, then damage to the archaeological heritage from the proposal may be negligible if it is assumed that the most deep foundations will only comprise piling with groundbeams and floor slabs set within the levels of the made ground.

Evaluation on the site confirmed that no archaeological features were present across the main site. Stripping for the section of the bin store beyond the original proposal area would occur within areas not previously affected by the factory buildings and here an intact sequence might be expected, and so the evaluation trenching confirmed. However, no peat or alluvium was encountered here.

The City Council’s Archaeologist has confirmed his opinion that the 17th-century or later pit in Trench 6 is significant archaeological evidence for otherwise unsuspected use of the site pre-dating the foundry. It may therefore be appropriate to mitigate the effects of development on this important site by means of full excavation

(preservation by record) in the area of the bin store outside the original application area. An appropriate scheme for the work has already been drawn up and conditionally approved by the City Council’s Archaeologist and would need to be implemented by a competent archaeological contractor, such as an organization registered with the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

References

Bassett, J, 2004, ‘Site investigation for Eagleworks, Walton Well Road, Oxford’, STATS Ground Engineering, St Albans BGS, 1982, British Geological Survey, Solid and Drift Sheet 236, 1:50,000, Keyworth Blair, J, 1994, Anglo-Saxon Oxfordshire, Stroud Ford, S, 1996, ‘Former Lucy’s Foundry, Walton Well Road, Oxford; an archaeological evaluation’, Thames Valley Archaeological Services report 96/15, Reading Hassall, T, 1986, ‘Archaeology of Oxford City’, in G Briggs, J Cook, and T Rowley, (eds), The Archaeology of the Oxford Region, 115–34, Oxford Univ Dept of External Studies, Oxford Henig, M and Booth, P, 2000, Roman Oxfordshire, Stroud Inskeep, R R, 1998, ‘Medieval finds on Walton Street, Oxford, and the settlement and farmhouse of Walton’, Oxoniensia, lxiii, 43–50 Nenk, B S, Margeson, S and Hurley, M, 1994, ‘Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1993’, Medieval Archaeol 38, 184–293 OCC, 1998, ‘Oxfordshire Structure Plan to 2011 deposit draft (adopted 1998)’, Oxfordshire County Council OCyC, 2005, ‘Oxford Local Plan 2001–2016 (adopted November 2005)’, Oxford City Council PPG16, 1990, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, Archaeology and Planning, HMSO

Preston, S, 2005, ‘Eagle Iron Works, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford; an archaeological desk-based assessment’, Thames Valley Archaeological Services rep 05/26, Reading VCH, 1939, Victoria History of the Counties of England: Oxfordshire, vol i, Oxford VCH, 1939, Victoria History of the Counties of England: Oxfordshire, vol iv, London Wallis, S, 2006, ‘Eagle Iron Works, Walton Well Road, Jericho, Oxford; an archaeological evaluation’, Thames Valley Archaeological Services rep 05/26b, Reading Warburton, K, 2003, ‘A history and interpretation of W Lucy and Co Ltd, Eagle Ironworks, Oxford’ unpub MA dissertation, Birmingham University Williams, A and Martin, G, H, 2002, Domesday Book: A complete Translation, London Youngs, S M, Glark, J and Barry, T, 1987, ‘Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1986’, Medieval Archaeol 31, 110– 91

APPENDIX 1: Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Records and Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database records within a 500m search radius of the development site.

No SMR Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment 1 3423 5050 0736 Observation ?Neolithic Contracted skeletons thought to be Neolithic, no details 2 3419 5052 0754 Observation ?Neolithic Contracted skeletons thought to be Neolithic, no details 3 3418 5072 0741 Observation ?Prehistoric Observation in 1890s of a skeleton (possibly more than one); no details. 4 3673 50 06 Observation ?Prehistoric ‘earthworks and stone implements’ observed in 1920 on Walton Street; no details 5 15459 501 079 Monument Mixed Port Meadow SAM 12003; Bronze Age flints and later finds of most periods 6 3411 5062 0753 Findspot Roman Pottery found, 1930s; no details 7 3410 5072 0752 Findspot Roman Pottery found; no details 8 3412 5083 0734 Findspot Roman Pottery found 1871; no details 9 3410 50 07 Findspot Roman Roman pottery not closely located 10 3408 5019 0704 Findspot Roman Unspecified coin found in the 1920s - 6387 40 and 50 Documentary Saxon and later References to Port Meadow 11 16284 5062 0718 Excavation Mixed Saxon, medieval and post-medieval occupation, possible site of Walton Farmhouse (Inskeep 1998) 12 L/6370 5048 0731 Building Post-medieval Walton Well Road drinking fountain in Portland Stone, 1885, Listed Grade II 13 12837 5042 0731 Building Post-medieval Red brick bridge over the canal at Walton Well Road, c. 1790, Listed Grade II 14 11862 5045 0657 Monument Post-medieval SAM 175; swing bridge over canal, in use by 1851 15 1847 5045 0723 Building Post-medieval Eagle ironworks, foundry - 3675 50NW Findspot Palaeolithic ‘Implements’ found in 1880 on Banbury Road, not closely located - 16816 50NW Findspot Palaeolithic Mousterian handaxe from the floodplain gravels - 6176 50NW Findspot Mesolithic? Quartzite perforated pebble, possibly weight or hammer? Not closely located - 6181 50NW Findspot Neolithic Polished flint axe, not closely located - 5313 50NW Findspot Neolithic Handaxe found in 1880 not closely located - 6185 50NW Findspot Iron Age Pottery no details - 15910 50NW Findspot Prehistoric Stone scraper, not closely located - 15912 50NW Findspot Prehistoric Flint flakes - 15913 50NW Findspot Prehistoric Flints and a spindle whorl - 15916 50NW Findspot Roman? Leather sole of child’s shoe found in 1875 - 15917 50NW Findspot Roman Pottery vessel found in 1886 - 6230 50NW Observations Saxon Composite reference to various locations indicating presence of Saxon town defences - 10560 50NW Documentary Medieval Reference to St Clement’s Hospital 1345; no details - 10561 50NW Documentary Medieval Reference to Hospital of St Giles of Rotherweye 14th century; no details - 6054 50NW Findspot Medieval Pottery found in The Parks - 3203 50NW observation Medieval Composite reference for the City wall and ditch - 5769 50NW Documentary Modern Site of early 19th century Bell foundry

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment (1) 1180 50556 07438 Excavation Prehistoric? Excavations in Kingston Road 1883 (2) 924 50552 07481 Findspot Prehistoric? Finds from Kingston Road 1963 (8) 1172 50803 07306 Excavation Roman Excavations in St Bernard's Road c1880 1441 50814 07306 Excavation Roman Excavations in St Bernard's Road 1900 16 1276 50502 07311 Excavation Undated Excavations near Walton Well spring 1865 319 50554 07354 Findspot Roman, Finds from 82 Walton Street and Longworth Road 1996 Medieval 17 1147 50935 07336 Excavation Post-medieval Excavations near Horse and Jockey, Woodstock Road, 1873 1653 n/a Excavation Medieval/ Recent excavation recovered medieval pottery from pits Post-medieval thought to indicate a farm. Later Horse and Jockey public house. 18 1155 50720 07038 Excavation Medieval Excavations in King Street 1874 19 104 50833 07024 Excavation ?Post-medieval Excavations at the Radcliffe Infirmary graveyard 1930's 118 50834 07151 Findspot ?Saxon Building work in the Radcliffe Infirmary grounds 1938 764 50815 07152 Excavation Undated Excavations at the Radcliffe Infirmary 1957 20 492 50397 07492 Evaluation Negative Evaluation at Lucy's Foundry 1996 672 50382 07418 Watching Brief Negative Watching Brief at Lucy's Foundry, 1996 21 593 50894 07389 Watching Brief Medieval Watching Brief at Woodstock Road 1991 22 368 50440 06698 Evaluation Medieval Evaluation at Rewley Abbey 1993-4

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment 23 375 50932 07419 Evaluation Roman Evaluation at St Antony's College 1994 24 454 50484 07061 Watching Brief Negative Watching Brief on the West Oxford Sewer 1998 25 1614 50892 07034 Evaluation Negative Radcliffe Infirmary Eye Hospital 2002 (15) 1680 5050 0723 Evaluation Post-medieval 17th century pit, 19th century well 1681 5047 0722 Documentary Post-medieval/ Dissertation on the ironworks. modern 26 1682 5056 0737 Watching brief Roman Pit and coffined burial both with Roman pottery; also disarticulated bone of second burial.

APPENDIX 2: Historic and modern maps consulted

1574 Saxton’s map of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire (Fig. 2) 1744 St John’s College Estate Map 1772 St John’s College Estate Map 1790 St John’s College Estate Map 1843 St John’s College Estate Map 1850 Hoggar’s map of Oxford (Fig. 3) 1876 First Edition Ordnance Survey Sheet xxxiii.14 (Fig. 4) 1899 Second Edition Ordnance Survey Sheet xxxiii.14b (Fig. 5) 1921 Ordnance Survey revision 1921 Sheet xxxiii.14 1937 Ordnance Survey revision Sheet xxxiii.14 (Fig. 6) 1957 Ordnance Survey (Fig. 7) 1972 Ordnance Survey (Fig. 8)

APPENDIX 3: Geotechnical data

SITE

08000

SITE 2 6 7 20 23 3 21 1 26 8 13 17 12, 16

15 11 19

10 07000 9 24 18 25

Key: Prehistoric Roman Medieval Post-medieval 06000 Mixed or undated

SP50000 51000 EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005

Figure 1. Location of site within Oxford.

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey Pathfinder 1117 SP60/70 at 1:12500 Ordnance Survey Licence 100025880 Approximate location of SITE

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 2. Saxton’s county map 1574 (detail). SITE

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 3. Hoggar, 1850 SITE

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 4. First Edition Ordnance Survey 1876 SITE

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 5. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 1899 SITE

EOI05/26

Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment Figure 6. Ordnance Survey 1937 SITE

EIO05/26

Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment Figure 7. Ordnance Survey 1957 SITE

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment Figure 8. Ordnance Survey 1972 Additional area for bin store

Main SITE

Areas not included

EIO05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 9. Plan of proposal areas. EOI05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment Figure 10. Geotechnical observations EOI05/26 Eagle Ironworks, Walton Well Road Oxford, 2005 Archaeological desk-based assessment

Figure 11. Selected elevations Eagle Iron Works, Walton Well Road, Oxford 2006

5 2

1 2

7 1 2 60

W .5m

AL 1 1 TON WE 1 LL R OAD

proposed 6 5 bin store area truncated

x 3

2 r 1 truncated d concrete pile

Approximate line of sewer pipe 4 concrete pile

2 07200

The Lodge St Sepulchre's Cemetery

dy St Sepulchre's Cemetery B ard W

SP50500

0 100m

EIO05/26 Figure 12. Location of evaluation trenches (Wallis 2006, fig. 3).