University of Oxford Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Community newsletter – June 2013
Blavatnik School of Government
The Blavatnik School of Government has planning permission to be built on Walton Street opposite Oxford University Press. Currently located in temporary premises on Merton Street, the School’s mission is to train future world leaders via a full-time one-year Master’s degree.
Much of the area identified for the building is on the site of the former Radcliffe Infirmary burial ground. A team from Oxford Archaeology is working on the site to carry out the process of exhumation, analysis and reburial of any remains found in the area. This is the first stage of preparing the land for its official groundbreaking and start of construction, in September this year.
Dan Poore, Head of Fieldwork and Contracts at Oxford Archaeology, explained the process: “These kinds of excavation projects are closely regulated and in this case we are working in accordance with the requirements of the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Oxford, the Ministry of Justice and the Oxford City Planning Department.”
“This isn’t the first time the site has been disturbed by building activity. For example, in 1834-5 part of the burial ground was given over for the building of St Paul's Chapel (Freud's cafe today), and in the early 20th century (when the site was under the control of the Infirmary) an extension to the Eye Hospital was built, which almost certainly disturbed a number of burials. Any remains we find will be carefully catalogued, analysed and stored until they can be reburied in consecrated ground. At all times the human remains are treated with due care and decency, and the site will be respectfully protected from public view.”
This is expected to take six to eight weeks. Once all the scientific examinations have been completed the remains will be re-buried in consecrated ground in Botley cemetery. Memorial plaques will be erected to commemorate the individuals. During July and August there will be temporary hoarding walls on Walton Street while the old stone wall is removed and more permanent safety hoardings are put in place. Parts of the stone wall of archaeological interest will be retained, so that they can be incorporated into the landscape of the new development.
The building’s foundation works are expected to begin in late summer, and main structural work for the building will begin in spring 2014. The School expects to be operational and welcoming its fourth cohort of Masters of Public Policy students in the late summer of 2015. Please see http://www.ox.ac.uk/roq/blavatnik_school_of.html for further details.
Mathematical Institute
The Mathematical Institute will be occupied from August and officially opened on Thursday 3 October. For the first time in Oxford’s history those engaged in the study and research of mathematics will come together in one building.
This environmentally friendly and state of the art building will house a diverse community of more than 500 mathematical researchers and support staff, including faculty, research fellows and postgraduate students. It will also be a centre for the academic life of approximately 900 undergraduates.
Please see http://www.ox.ac.uk/roq/maths.html for further information.
If you have any concerns about day to day work on the ROQ site please contact [email protected] on 07825 970722. Elliott Thomas Logistics has a presence on the site 24 hours per day.
For more information please visit www.ox.ac.uk/roq
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