North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Conservation Area Appraisal North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Contents

Statement of Special Interest 3 1. Introduction 5 2. Context 7 3. Historical Development 8 4. Spatial Analysis 12 5. Buildings 16 6. Character Areas 23 Norham Manor 23 Park Town 26 Bardwell 29 Kingston Road 33 St Margaret's 36 Banbury Road 39 North Parade 42 Lathbury and Staverton Roads 45 7. Vulnerabilities, Negative Features and Opportunities for Enhancement 47 8. SOURCES 51 9. APPENDICES 52 1: Listed Buildings 52 2: Positive Unlisted Buildings 58 3: Maps 59

1 1. Summary of Significance Statement of Special Interest

This conservation area’s primary signifi- cance derives from its character as a distinct area, imposed in part by topography as Summary well as by land ownership from the 16th century into the 21st century. At a time Key positive features when Oxford needed to expand out of its • Diversity historic core centred around the castle, the • Village-like enclaves medieval streets and the major colleges, these two factors enabled the area to be • Quality of the buildings laid out as a planned suburb as lands asso- • Residential houses a special feature ciated with medieval manors were made • Gothic, Italianate, Arts and Crafts, Vernacular styles available. This gives the area homogeneity • Purpose-built college teaching and as a residential suburb. In the eastern and residential accommodation central parts of the area as a whole, this • Contribution of 20th and 21st centuries to the area is reinforced by the broad streets and the feeling of spaciousness created by the • Three ecclesiastical buildings generously proportioned and well-planted • 73 listed buildings and a further 21 buildings gardens. To the west of Woodstock Road, that make a positive contribution the spaciousness gives way to denser • Park Town a registered park and garden housing in narrower plots as was consid- • Variety of materials adding texture to the built stock ered appropriate for the homes of artisans. • Low front walls In its Conservation Principles (2008), Historic • Retained and restored railings England suggests that significance may be • Feather-edged boarded fences understood in terms of the following values: • Trees • Evidential value (evidence • Front gardens where retained of past human activity) • Peaceful side streets • Historical value (the association of the • Views of St Philip and St James and place with past people or events) other landmark buildings • Aesthetic value (sensory appreciation • Absence of structured views that may be designed or fortuitous) • Communal value (meaning of a place Negative features for people who relate to it, this may well • Inappropriate modifications and enlargement extend beyond the current users/owners) • Modern developments that are neither sympathetic Evidential value to nor enhance the conservation area The area has considerable evidential poten- • Inappropriate boundary treatments tial for below ground archaeology being • Effects of corporate usage of buildings on the edge of an extensive landscape of designed for residential use late Neolithic-early Bronze Age funerary monuments and Iron Age, Roman and early • Light pollution Saxon rural settlement. The two main roads • Loss of front gardens into the city have a long history and are a • Poorly maintained road surfaces key factor both in defining the nature of the • Extensive use of asphalt for pavement surfaces suburb and as significant entrances into • Traffic the city. Evidential value is derived from the conservation area’s rich texture. On • Parking the one hand the development of the St • Storage problems for bins and bicycles John’s Estate into an early ‘garden suburb’ with large houses reflecting growth of a

2 3 Conservation Area Appraisal 1. Introduction North Oxford Victorian Suburb

and the church of St Philip and St James, Designation and boundaries whole areas and not just individual build- • Closing of views between buildings also Grade I. The list could be increased ings. As they were drawing up a scheme The designation of North Oxford as a as there are many significant non-listed to designate Park Town, Norham Gardens, conservation area was a significant mile- buildings which greatly enhance the area. Canterbury Road, North Parade (amongst Vulnerabilities stone in its acceptance as an area of But it is not just the bricks and mortar that others in the same vicinity) as an area of architectural and historic importance as • Loss of front boundary walls emphasise aesthetic value, as the posi- significance, Duncan Sandys’ 1967 Civic well as in terms of planning legislation. and boundary features tive contribution of trees, front gardens Amenities Act was passed enabling the • Character of new development where they survive, broad streets and the The architectural significance of the estate Council to formally designate the same • Increased density of retention of elegant street furniture all add had been questioned after the Second block of streets as a conservation area. new development to the conservation area’s significance. World War. Proposals were being put The first designation came into effect on • Loss of green landscape forward for relief roads running through 6 May 1968. It was extended in 1972 to Communal value the centre of the suburb; St John’s were • Loss of mature trees incorporate Fyfield Road and include the considering plans for wide-scale redevelop- • Increase in traffic Communal value is manifest in a range of previously omitted sections of Norham ment of their estate; changes in ownership important indicators. The conservation area Manor and to consolidate the boundary • Microgeneration and use, together with mounting pressure is greatly valued by residents, visitors and along Banbury Road. Rawlinson Road, • Corporate use of former from other colleges and the University for those who work there for the quality of its in the northern sector of the estate, was residential buildings additional accommodation, all of which buildings and shared spaces. Educational designated as a separate conservation were placing North Oxford in a vulnerable establishments, whether University level in area in 1973 reflecting its “complete and position. The residents and preserva- the colleges, ordinand training at Wycliffe unspoilt area of Victorian character”. At the tion bodies were becoming increasingly wealthy commercial class is balanced on Hall or in schools all have significance for time of this designation, Rawlinson Road concerned that North Oxford would be the other by the market gardens, orchards past and present users of those buildings. was mainly unchanged. It was one of the sacrificed in favour of development and and nurseries out of which the suburb The purpose-built working men’s institute last roads to be developed under Moore’s set about trying to save the suburb. was planned. Further contrast is evident in Polstead Road is a reminder of philan- supervision but was beginning to come in the surviving industrial heritage of the thropic support for the artisan classes living The event which was instrumental in under threat from developers. The bound- canal which forms the western boundary. in the western segment of the conservation aries were further consolidated in 1976 to area and provides essential communal securing the City’s first conservation area designation was the proposal by the merge the two North Oxford designations Historical value space today. Apart from a Greek Orthodox and expand the boundary to incorporate church in Canterbury Road, the churches University for the new Pitt Rivers Museum The historical value of the conservation area all of the ‘Wilkinson-Moore’ area, as well are all Anglican but strategically placed in on Banbury Road. The University had derives from the major contribution of a as the post-First World War developments relation to each other and the development acquired nos. 56–64 Banbury Road from St small number of respected architects to the in the eastern section of the suburb. The of the suburb. War Memorials attached to John’s in the early 1960s and despite the development of an almost rural ethos that boundaries now extend from Walton Well churches or in schools and in colleges have provisional listing of nos. 60 (considered contrasts significantly with the lanes and Road, the north side of Leckford Road, St significance as a focus for remembrance to be Wilkinson’s finest North Oxford work) alleys of the city centre. Blue Plaques are an Giles and the University Parks in the south, and a reminder of past residents or pupils. and 62 under the 1962 Town & Country indication of notable residents, many asso- up to Frenchay, Lathbury and Belbroughton Finally leisure or gentle recreational facil- Planning Act, the proposal included ciated with the University but also several Roads in the north; the River Cherwell in ities are available to all whether using the demolition of these properties. There affluent professionals whose status was the east and the Oxford Canal in the west. river and the canal or as joggers, walkers was considerable local objection to the reflected by the grandeur of the houses. The boundaries were drawn to include and cyclists. There are at least three hotels proposals in terms of potential demolition, Within the conservation area are three the Victorian development of the St John’s utilising large houses east of the Banbury the replacement building and proposed colleges which were seminal for providing College estate. The northern boundary was Road, a well-established restaurant in what use. The development would alter the university-level education for women and drawn along its present line as these roads was Gee’s Nursery and three pubs in North character and appearance of Banbury four newer colleges which focus on interna- marked the most northerly developments Parade and St Margaret’s character areas. Road and the use was at odds with the tional studies and postgraduate level study. City’s Development Plan as North Oxford of Wilkinson and Moore encompassing the had been zoned as residential. Despite the ‘essential North Oxford’. The Cherwell and Aesthetic value proposal being granted planning permis- Canal provided obvious and natural bound- The quality of the buildings reflects aesthetic sion, the scheme did not materialise; aries to the eastern and western fringes. value as is demonstrated by the listing on however the ferocity of the opposition the National Heritage Register of 73 build- from local residents and amenity groups, Reason for appraisal ings and structures, all at Grade II except including the emerging Victorian Group, the Grade I Radcliffe Observatory with the resulted in Oxford City Council consid- The City Council has a statutory duty linked house for the University Observer, ering how they could give protection to under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to

4 5 Conservation Area Appraisal 2. Context North Oxford Victorian Suburb

identify those parts of their area that are • The desirability of sustaining and Location considered to have ‘special historic or enhancing the significance of heritage The southern boundary of the conser- architectural interest the character and assets and putting them to viable uses vation area is approximately 0.5 appearance of which it is desirable to consistent with their conservation; miles from the city centre, just to the preserve or enhance’ and to designate • The positive contribution that north of the St Giles intersection. these as conservation areas. Within these conservation of heritage assets can areas the 1990 act requires the Council to make to sustainable communities have special regard to the desirability of including their economic vitality; and Setting preserving or enhancing the character and • The desirability of new development appearance of the area when exercising The southernmost tip of the conservation making a positive contribution to its function as a local planning authority. area begins a little north of the point where local character and distinctiveness. the two major arterial roads to Woodstock This character appraisal defines the This appraisal will be used by the Council to and to Banbury leave St Giles. These major special historic and architectural interest ensure that the qualities and local distinc- roads provide access to the north and of the conservation area, including those tiveness of the historic environment are west of the county via the A34 and A40. features of its character and appearance considered and contribute towards the FIG.1 that should be preserved. It also identi- spatial vision of local plan documents. It On the western edge, the boundary moves fies negative features that detract from should ensure that investment and enhance- along the middle of Woodstock Road to the Area’s character and appearance ment in the North Oxford Victorian Suburb sweep around the Radcliffe Camera, now The eastern edge of the conservation area fig 1. Canal boundary on and issues that may affect it in future. is informed by a detailed understanding part of Green Templeton College. It returns cuts across open space to meet the River western edge of to the middle of Woodstock Road in order Cherwell where it bends and is crossed by of the area’s special interest. It will be used conservation area The government’s policy for managing when determining planning applications to skirt the Walton Manor estate, which is the bridge leading out of Wolfson College conservation areas is set out in the National affecting the area and should inform the a separate conservation area. On reaching to New Marston Meadows. The boundary Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012) preparation of proposals for new devel- Leckford Road, the boundary dives to the follows the middle of the river to the edge (NPPF). According to the NPPF one of opment. Planning applications should be left along the middle of the road and at the of the Grade II registered University Parks, the Government’s core land-use planning informed by and refer to the appraisal junction with Kingston Road turns south where it turns southeastwards to run behind principles is that planning should, ‘conserve when explaining the design concept. briefly to encompass houses on the west Lady Margaret Hall and the back gardens heritage assets in a manner appropriate side of Kingston Road. The boundary takes of houses on the south side of Norham to their significance, so that they can be The appraisal cannot mention every in most of Walton Well Road, except for Gardens. As the boundary turns south at enjoyed for their contribution to the quality building or feature within the conserva- the Eagle Works, until it meets the Oxford the junction of Norham Gardens with Parks of life of this and future generations’. tion area. Any omission should not be Canal at which point it runs northwards in Road and the Banbury Road, it sweeps in taken to imply that it is not of any interest the centre of the waterway up to the point North Lodge in the Parks. In the Banbury In compliance with the planning policy or value to the character of the area. where Hayfield Road joins Frenchay Road. Road the boundary follows the middle of framework this appraisal provides the street so that the houses on the west The northern boundary is staggered around a public record of the conservation side are included in the conservation area. area as a designated heritage asset Local community involvement the back gardens of houses on the north including an assessment of the features This appraisal was prepared in two phases side of Frenchay Road and the west side of that contribute to its significance. The with the assistance of representatives from Woodstock Road for a short distance. These Geology and topography gardens back onto playing fields owned by appraisal conforms to Historic England recognised residents’ groups within the The North Oxford Conservation Area lies on St John’s College. At Woodstock Road the guidance as set out in Understanding conservation area and adjacent conser- a gravel terrace of the Thames river valley. Place: Conservation Area Designation, vation areas. Community workshops boundary then crosses it and runs behind Appraisal and Management (March 2011). were held during both phases. In the later the gardens in Lathbury Road. Where This area of gently sloping gravel, known phase, fieldwork was undertaken using Lathbury Road meets the Banbury Road, the as the Summertown-Radley terrace, was The NPPF states that local planning the City Council’s ‘Character Assessment back gardens of houses just south of created in the Pleistocene period as a authorities should recognise that heritage Toolkit’, a standardised questionnaire used Moreton and Marston Ferry Roads are result of melting glaciers depositing large assets are an irreplaceable resource and to collect information on the positive and included within the conservation area, amounts of sand and gravel. These layers to conserve them in a manner appro- negative contribution of different features before turning southwards to extend behind were then cut down by the Cherwell and priate to their significance. In determining of the environment to the character and the back gardens of houses and institutions Thames rivers either side creating the planning applications, it directs local appearance of the conservation area. in Belbroughton and Charlbury Roads. The terrace. Within the conservation area, the planning authorities to take account of: north east corner of the conservation area land falls to either side by about 8m. includes some playing fields.

6 7 3. Historical Development 3. Historical Development

Act 1854 freed the College’s hand so that William Wilkinson took over as supervising leases were not renewed upon expiry and architect. Wilkinson’s Gothic preferences the land could be used more economi- were more in keeping with the College’s cally. Henceforward new, more competitive overall vision, but his initial auctions to 99-year building leases could be offered. dispose of plots were not successful. Development was slow with only 37 houses The College aspired to create a suburb having been built in Norham Manor by the of housing suitable for the middle classes mid-1860s. St. John’s kept strict control that would provide it with a secure long- of the development, both in terms of the term income. However, a proposal for the scale of the houses, and their distribution. Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton All designs were vetted for quality, and to Railway to run across St Giles’ nearly ensure adequate provision of front walls and scuppered these plans and was only railings, and rear gardens. Norham Gardens aborted after a parliamentary debate. An was the first road to be laid out as part of FIG. 2 altogether different proposal also threat- the intended suburb, with the south side of FIG. 3 ened the College’s genteel ideas – the the road opening on to the University Parks, construction of a Workhouse on New and Bradmore Road, curving north from this, fig 3. Former Gee's fig 2. The North Oxford before the 19th century College land, which was abandoned in was laid out with a picturesque informality. Later 19th-century growth Shrubbery in nursery that served At the turn of the 19th century most of the favour of the development of Park Town The Oxford Building & Investment gardening needs Woodstock Road, Company, another building society, went one of several large land to the north of St Giles’ church was by Samuel Lipscomb Seckham in 1853. Owing to its proximity to the canal and houses built after open countryside. Along Woodstock Road Tagg’s Garden, a working-class suburb into liquidation in the 1880s. Walter Gray, the enclosure of there had been small pockets of devel- The first phase of the suburb developed from the late 1820s onwards, the administrator, took on the unfin- St Giles' Field ished projects and became the dominant opment including the Radcliffe Infirmary Although the small houses of North Parade the western portion of St John’s estate developer. In 1881 he entered into part- (1759), the Observatory (1772), and St. John’s had been built in the 1830s-1840s, Park was deemed unsuitable for the larger nership with HW Moore, who as College Terrace, nos. 47–53 Woodstock Road, built Town was perceived to be an area of urban houses planned elsewhere. Artisan and architect ensured that Gray’s building in the early 19th century for prosperous development surrounded by a rural land- working-class housing could be more plans were passed quickly, and went tradesmen. Banbury Road was a country scape with no sense of identity. To alleviate readily developed. Wilkinson prepared on to build over 200 houses, mainly in road with only a handful of houses built the problem of isolation and to encourage a plan for Kingston Road in 1865 and the north-western sector of the suburb along it. North Parade was constructed further development, FJ Morrell (church- by providing plots for smaller houses, (Kingston Road, St Margaret’s Road, during the 1830s as a road of small terraced warden and College steward) petitioned St St John’s could justify its decision to Polstead Road and Chalfont Road). houses. Further north, Summertown was John’s for the establishment of an ecclesi- reserve the vast proportion of the estate evolving into a self-sufficient village but for more substantial development in astical parish to serve the new community By the 1880s, over half the estate had the main bulk of St John’s College’s North the central and eastern sectors. of North Oxford. St John’s eventually been developed with a mixture of quality Oxford estate, which it had owned since agreed to provide the land for the church, In the 1870s the pace of development housing. St John’s released Southmoor the late 16th century, was a combina- and appointed Seckham to draw up plans increased rapidly with speculative builders Road in 1880, which was given over to tion of fields and allotment gardens. for the layout of new residential streets. stepping in. By the early 1880s over 660 smaller-scale housing. Wilkinson and Moore were responsible for the development but Seckham’s 1854 proposals were based building proposals had been received Change in the early 19th century the College, firmly committed to providing around the Walton Manor Estate with by the College, one third of which were The enclosure of St Giles’ Field in 1828 smaller cheaper housing, laid out Hayfield grand Italianate villas along Woodstock financed by the building societies. Through regulated field boundaries and ownership. Road in 1886 ensuring the houses were Road, a church and smaller terraced loans from the Oxford & Abingdon Several large houses were built for wealthy kept small in line with their instructions. houses to the west. Only two houses were Building Society, Frederick Codd became local businessmen e.g.: The Shrubbery constructed, 121 and 123 Woodstock Road. a major developer beginning with custom- at 72 Woodstock Road (now part of St It was not until the 1890s that Bardwell and Morrell preferred a more central loca- build projects along Banbury Road and Hugh’s College), The Mount and its lodge adjacent roads were laid out. Wilkinson tion for the church with the result that in in Norham Manor before moving onto on Banbury Road (demolished in 1913 to had retired, his nephew Moore was even- 1862 St Philip and St James was designed speculative building schemes including make way for St Hugh’s) and The Lawn, 89 tually dismissed and replaced by NW by G E Street to provide a ‘heart’ for the Canterbury Road and Winchester Road. Banbury Road, all of which were Italianate Harrison, whose work is mainly to be seen in new community and to be within easy Codd’s houses were bought quickly and in design. Development was restricted Chadlington Road and Charlbury Road. The reach of all sectors of the new suburb. their style contributed greatly to the char- by long leases already in existence so the acter and appearance of the estate. First World War interrupted development but it was resumed in the 1920s intro- College was unable to consider any large- By 1860 Seckham had lost interest in devel- ducing a new wave of architects including scale development. The Oxford University oping this part of the St John’s estate and

8 9 Conservation Area Appraisal 3. Historical Development North Oxford Victorian Suburb

for the University as a whole, for its constit- evidence for this ‘Mesolithic’ period in the visible in the landscape into the early Saxon uent colleges or for private schools. Multiple locality. With the advent of semi-nomadic period and provided a focus for early Saxon occupancy is prevalent across the conserva- and more settled farming communities settlement and burial. Possibly the new tion area and is not confined to the largest in the Neolithic period, the River Thames communities were making a statement houses, while the integrity of both Banbury became the focus for large earthwork about their legitimacy in the landscape by and Woodstock Roads has been spoiled monuments which have left traces in the associating with long established structures. where blocks of flats or university residen- landscape. These large earthworks were At the old Radcliffe Infirmary site a sunken tial accommodation have replaced houses, time consuming and labour intensive to floored craft hut of likely 6th century date occasionally retaining boundary walls, albeit build and appear to express the concerns has been recorded close to the remains not consistently. Around the eastern fringes of less nomadic communities with marking of Bronze Age barrows. Isolated finds is an important group of small houses at out territory, celebrating people who from across North Oxford suggest the Benson Place designed by Lionel Brett, were considered significant, creating presence of Saxon burials, these include Lord Esher 1967. The houses’ back gardens communal meeting places and addressing a shield boss and spear recovered from face onto an open, grassed space, while the increasing importance of the seasons near Park Town in the 19th century. the frontages with set back entrances are to developing agricultural lifestyles. FIG. 4 modern equivalents of the terraced houses Most of the conservation area would have of the west side of the conservation area. A number of Neolithic and Bronze Age been open fields during the medieval monuments have been identified in and period, however there is some evidence fig 4. Dramatic Arthur Martin and Christopher Wright who As wealthy landowners, the Colleges have around Oxford, including a linear ceme- for small scale intermittent settlement in link building by developed the final portion of the estate. impacted most on North Oxford with the tery of barrows running from the University the 11th-13th centuries along the major Zaha Hadid for St Antony's College construction of new buildings normally Parks towards Jericho, and the ditch of roads, for example from the former Acland They introduced new styles creating a distinguished for the quality of their design. a large henge monument discovered in Hospital site on Banbury Road and at St totally different character area to the rest The scale of these newer buildings that 2008 under St John’s College in St Giles. Anne’s College on Woodstock Road. of the established suburb. Northmoor sometimes impinge on valued open space, The North Oxford Conservation Area lies Road and Charlbury Road were extended may not always have been a positive on the northern edge of this concentration The Banbury and Woodstock Roads were together with a new connecting road, enhancement of the conservation area. of monuments. A skeleton found between major route ways in the medieval period and Belbroughton Road (1924). Garford Road, Bradmore and Banbury Roads may well be it is likely that the roads are of far greater on the eastern extremity of the estate, was antiquity, perhaps representing the routes Archaeology an outlier of this ancient complex of ritual one of the last roads to be completed. and funerary structures. Several observa- of prehistoric trackways across the gravel Geo-archaeological excavations to the south terrace running down towards a ford or of the conservation area indicate that the tions made during the construction of the 20th- and 21st-century contributions Victorian suburb of North Oxford suggest fords to the south. In a Saxon Charter of local sand and gravel deposits result from 1004, the Banbury Road is described as a Although the estate’s development was a series of depositional ‘episodes’ roughly that further monuments belonging to this virtually complete by the 1930s, North complex remain to be found in this area. ‘portstrete’, i.e. a paved and therefore Roman 135,000 – 70,000 years ago. Most of the road leading to the town or ‘port’ of Oxford. Oxford has continued to grow and alter gravel in this part of the terrace is thought in ways that St John’s College could not Subsequent agricultural use of the gravel to date from colder periods when early The Royal Oak Inn was established on necessarily have envisaged in the 19th terrace in the Iron Age and Roman period humans were not present in the landscape. Woodstock Road by the 17th century and century. If the First World War changed is demonstrated by evidence for settlement However elsewhere along the Thames the Old Parsonage on Banbury Road was how people lived with the virtual disap- and field boundaries in the University Parks Valley the Summertown-Radley gravels built circa 1600. According to the Victoria pearance of the servant class, the Second and Science Area. Iron Age and Roman have preserved the remains of prehistoric County History a windmill was located by the World War heralded new patterns of pottery and burials have also been found animals including mammoths and woolly junction of Banbury Road and Parks Road in ownership, education for all and smaller in a number of locations across the North rhinoceros. The local Oxford gravels have the early 17th century but had gone by 1660. family units. In North Oxford, in the 1960s Oxford Conservation Area. Dispersed also produced a significant number of hand In the early modern periods the area was in particular, another change agent was rural settlements with associated enclo- axes of a type known as ‘middle Acheulean’. used for small scale gravel quarrying for use the cessation of the 99-year leases used sures, fields and drove-ways may have These are thought to be ‘rolled’ artefacts, on yards and driveways. A more gruesome to attract the first occupants of the houses extended across the terrace, with exca- meaning that they have been picked up by feature of North Oxford was the discovery constructed from the 1850s onwards. vated evidence including the remains of later glacial activity and re-deposited away Iron Age metalworking debris at Park Town in St Margaret’s Road of the remains of Large houses were no longer economic and from where they were originally in use. and domestic Roman occupation at Middle people who had been hung, a fact recorded in its one-time name, Gallows-Baulk Road. were either adapted for institutional use, After the last glaciation the terrace would Way (north of the conservation area). split for multiple occupancy or demolished. have been re-colonised by hunter gatherer There is evidence that prehistoric burial Conversion for institutional use is wide- groups, although there is currently little spread throughout North Oxford, whether mounds, mentioned above, remained

10 11 4. Spatial Analysis 4. Spatial Analysis

east-west, connecting the two thorough- Within the character areas the views fares, with few connecting links north-south. are along streets, which are mostly long In the western segment, streets of mostly and straight; some streets rise gently terraced housing run north-south. offering uphill or downhill views. The Woodstock and Banbury Roads provide Throughout the conservation area there the main access to Oxford from the are very few trees in the public domain, north. Indeed, the Woodstock Road emphasising the importance of front is one of the finest approaches to any gardens for trees and creating a sense of world-class city and the character of the public open space on the streets. The large conservation area plays a major part in areas of gardens behind houses, although maintaining this quality. A handful of not in the public domain, contribute to streets are winding, creating different a sense of space, areas for large trees perspectives particularly where building and glimpsed views. Plots, even for large lines are stepped around the curves. houses, tend to be narrow allowing the FIG. 5 college to maximise the number of houses The most notable eye-catchers are the FIG. 6 for a given length of street, consequently Radcliffe Observatory in the south, St where there is space, this is to be found Philip and St James on the Woodstock fig 5. Church of Street pattern and layout in front of and behind residences. Road towards the centre, the water foun- for instance, through the wilderness fig 6. Gated St Philip and St entrance into tain in Walton Well Road and the archway planting in Park Town, and the orchard area James viewed from The area covered by the conservation area the residents' There are few designed views within the at the back of gardens on the south side Leckford Road; only roughly coincides with the estate devel- terminating the view through Park Town. communal garden suburb: with the exception of Park Town, of Staverton Road. Given the profusion of the left side of the oped by St John’s College. The area is in Park Town, which road is within the residential streets do not terminate or frame Significant views are to be found within tree cover in the conservation area it would is a Registered bounded on the east by the Cherwell and conservation area feature buildings. The view of Lady Margaret the curtilage of St Hugh’s, Lady Margaret be impossible to identify all the trees that Park and Garden the west by the Oxford canal. The land Hall was only created in the later twentieth Hall and Wolfson College. The location make a positive contribution to its character in between rises above the two water- century. The spire and church of St Philip and of the last two adjacent to the river offers in this document. Some notable examples, courses but is otherwise flat. From St Giles’ St James does create a focal point for many views across the northern meadows however, would include the following: in the south the Banbury and Woodstock views and St Margaret’s might have done the emphasising the rural feel, while the roads diverge dividing the area into three same if its tower had ever been built. Other college buildings terminate views from • Tree-lined St Margaret’s and Polstead segments: west of the Woodstock Road; than churches there are no public build- the meadows into the conservation area. Roads, where the tree planting is east of the Banbury Road; and the area ings of note, even college entrances (see St a feature of the public domain between these two radiating routes. Hugh’s) are not prominently located to catch Views from the University Parks to the south- • Trees in the large gardens of Norham the eye. Commercial activity is concentrated east are not complemented by similar Manor character area that survive The estate was planned on the basis of social views into the Parks, although buildings in from earlier planting schemes class with large villas in the east contrasting at the southern end of the conservation the Norham Manor character area benefit • The relationship between trees with terraced housing in the west. Land was area with a small enclave of shops and workshops in the north-west corner. from the additional sense of openness that and buildings in Park Town released slowly so that the earliest houses the Parks provide. On the west the canal are closest to the city centre in the south. • Mixture of large trees and smaller towpath affords views into the conservation ornamental garden trees in most Plots could only be developed once the Views and vistas area which are similarly not complemented. college had built roads to service them, of the other character areas so progress along the main roads tended Views are special in the conservation • Tree canopies along the Oxford to run ahead of the residential enclaves. area less because of an abundance of Trees and green landscape Canal and the River Cherwell eye-catchers and more because of the • Trees marking the boundary of the The greenery of the conserva- Within the eastern residential enclaves sense of openness that views provide Dragon School playing fields whether along roads or between and tion area, whether trees in private (Norham Manor and the Bardwell char- • Enhanced rural character given to around buildings. The effect of the views gardens or the gardens themselves, acter area) the streets are arranged in Church Walk (North Parade) and Dragon is achieved through the broad streets in are an important element of its char- intersecting straight lines with few curves. Lane (linking Norham Manor with the most of the conservation area and the acter as a residential suburb. Links to the Banbury Road are limited. Park Bardwell ‘estate’ behind Park Town Town separates these two areas from one softening of the hard edges of the built Trees make an important contribution to • In a number of instances, trees another with the result that there are only domain with mature trees providing interest character throughout the area. Their pres- overhanging the high side walls of limited routes between the three areas and and shade in the summer months. Trees ence stimulates biodiversity and unique houses in the eastern part of the area consequently no through traffic. Between and gardens all contribute to an Arcadian ecosystems. Both are positively encouraged, between Banbury Road and the river the two main roads, streets generally run feel in most of the character areas.

12 13 Conservation Area Appraisal 4. Spatial Analysis North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Other positive elements of the conserva- additional element of quality and kerbs in fig 8. Low wall tion area’s green landscape include the several areas are of good quality granite and railings in Southmoor Road surviving front gardens of private houses. in short blocks. Paving stones are used Where these are thoughtfully planted, the in North Parade, a rare occurrence, while fig 9. Wooden gate gardens offer a visual buffer between street in Park Town vestiges of metal guttering in Linton Road and buildings, helping to soften hard edges. survives in front of some properties. On the eastern fringes of the conservation area, views across playing fields, particu- The traffic calming infrastructure that has larly those of the Dragon School, present a been introduced in Kingston Road, with change of scene from the built environment. setted build-outs, bollards and small- scale trees, are necessary to reduce speed and weight of traffic through the area Registered parks and gardens and soften an otherwise harsh and arid Within the conservation area, in addition built landscape. Due to parking restric- to designation for its buildings, Park Town tions there are large number of highway FIG. 8 FIG. 9 is Grade II listed on the National Register signs that clutter the pavements and of Parks and Gardens. Significantly the get in the way of views. Opportunities should be sought to reduce clutter by buildings. Apart from the ashlar wall at Road and the stretches of Charlbury listing comprises the planting schemes the Radcliffe Observatory, the stone walls FIG. 7 rationalising and enhancing signage. Road and Northmoor Road linking these at the semi-circular entrance from the are constructed from coursed rubble. two). This reflects a change in archi- Banbury Road, the central garden reserved For the most part, street lights within the tectural style to a more Arts and Crafts for residents and the semi-circular ‘wilder- fig 7. Base of Lucy conservation area are of the swan-neck Iron Railings aesthetic in the early twentieth century. and Co street lamp ness’ in front of the raised eastern terrace type. The early exemplars were made locally The Oxford Preservation Trust and City in Park Town as well as the street linking all three. These wooden fences stand on low brick by Lucy in the Eagle Works in Walton Well Council publication North Oxford Railings: walls, usually no more than two courses, Road. There are as many painted black as a guide to design, repair and reinstatement Although only adjacent to the conser- sometimes with a half round cap. Front a soft, pale green. They contribute to the outlines the importance and development vation area, the University Parks are also fences stood approximately four feet tall, high quality appearance of the area. The of iron railings in the conservation area. The Grade II listed on the National Register. side fences approximately six feet. In some Woodstock and Banbury Roads due to guide identifies four phases of development Views towards the conservation area instances fences have a scalloped upper their breadth require higher lamp stand- and styles of railings. Phase one is the oldest can be obtained from the Parks and the edge, though a horizontal rail along the ards which do not fit a conservation style. and is to be found in Park Town (1850s Grade II listed Lodge on Parks Road top is more common. Many gateposts Similar, tall modern street lamps, that are and 1860s). Phase two covers the Norham is situated both in the registered park remain, though surviving gates are rare. and within the conservation area. out of scale with the surrounding buildings, Manor estate, the corresponding part of are used in Kingston Road to its detriment. the Banbury Road, and the roads around North Parade (1860s and 1870s) Phase three Public realm Boundary treatments is to be found to the west of the Banbury With no provision for public open space Road corresponding to the St Margaret’s and very few trees in the public domain, Brick walls and Kingston Road character areas (1880s). Phase four (1890s) is to be found in the the importance of front gardens for Low brick walls topped by railings and/ northern part of the conservation area. trees and creating a sense of public or coping bricks define front boundaries open space on the streets is vital. of domestic properties throughout most All railings stood on a low brick walls, of the conservation area except where Despite the broad and welcoming streets, some with half round coping bricks. feather-edged fencing is used in the last there is very little street furniture. There are Most original railings were lost during land to be developed (Bardwell character occasional seats near bus stops or beneath World War II. Many are now being area). As directed by St John’s College, sheltering trees, e.g. at the Banbury Road reinstated with modern replicas. front walls of properties on its estate were entrance into Park Town. Modern bus shel- kept low. Corner sites have high brick walls ters with electronic timetables information screening service areas and back gardens. Feather edged board fences are located along the two arterial roads. Feather edged unpainted board fences were used for boundaries in the northern Paving of roads and footpaths is gener- Stone walls half of the Bardwell ‘Estate’ character ally in simple tarmacadam, although Stone walling is rare and primarily asso- area (i.e. Linton Road, Belbroughton stone setts lining the gutter provide an ciated with ecclesiastical or college

14 15 5. Buildings 5. Buildings

over and for the basement to be half above increasing the wall height with additional ground offering light into the rooms. courses of brickwork or by ensuring a suffi- ciency of foliage to minimise the impact. The houses of the 1860s through into the 1880s are characterised by lofty rooms, Educational buildings thus adding to their imposing presence. The colleges whose primary address is The semi-detached houses offer a variety within the conservation area are dominated of façades. Some of the larger build- by large buildings, typically accommodating ings will be double-fronted allowing a lecture theatres, administrative rooms, feature balcony to be set above a porch. libraries, dining halls and other facilities to Many share a chimney stack with rooms support academic life. The main college along the party wall and entrances either buildings, whether designed for academic at the extreme of the facade or on the purposes or for providing student rooms side. As the houses become smaller, the tend to be at least three storeys high, and in side entrance is common offering a little general are rectangular in plan. The Kenyon FIG. 10 vestibule with a canopy or porch like Building at St Hugh’s is a notable exception, FIG. 11 structure attached to the main block. while St Antony’s has been created out of fig 10. Semi- Building types a former convent building. The wings of detached houses Houses tend to be set back from the road Wolfson are also rectangular but they are 1957; and parts of the Dragon School. Most fig 11. Terraced in Chalfont Road In this section building types are defined allowing space for front gardens. Most set at different angles to each other in part of the schools utilise former private houses, housing at the junction of by the purpose for which they were origi- like those converted by the University houses on corners are set face-on to the to take advantage of the gently sloping Farndon Road with nally built. While current usage may have street from which access is gained; designs site. Chapels are either integral to any main colleges, e.g. Wychwood School in Banbury Kingston Road led to internal and external alterations, it to take advantage of corner sites are infre- block (St Hugh’s) or appear to be separate Road, St Clare’s College which is spread would be misleading to cast the buildings quent and notable when they do occur. even if attached by a linking corridor (Lady across a number of sites, and D’Overbroek’s fig 12. Wolfson & according to their changed use. By the Margaret Hall). The former chapel at St likewise. These houses have been modi- Rayne Buildings at St Anne's College very nature of the conservation area, the Terraced housing Antony’s now serves as the Library and in fied internally as well as externally. predominant building type takes the form The extreme western edge of the conser- the other newer colleges there is a notable of different types of housing. Discussion vation area, backing on to the canal, absence of chapels. All these colleges Ecclesiastical buildings below takes detached and semi-detached is characterised by terraced housing, have taken over private houses, which have The three churches are all large in scale and properties together, and addresses terraced typically in groups of four, six, eight or been modified for institutional purposes. strategically located to service the growing housing separately. The next major building even ten adjoining buildings. These may Victorian Suburb. Street’s St Philip and St type is institutional, typically associated Other colleges have acquired private be interspersed with semi-detached James (1862) was the first built, designed in with education. There are three churches houses for a variety of academic purposes, villas. Most of these are two storeys in the centre of the newly developing areas. within the conservation area with ancil- whether teaching, e.g. graduate centres, height, in many cases with basement lary buildings, a handful of commercial or accommodation. There are also some accommodation below ground. Cruciform in plan, its spire dominates the premises and a few interesting structures new buildings, typically for accommoda- that lie outside these broad divisions. Some of the housing offers attic storeys tion, e.g. University College residential too. Even the smaller terraces have a front annexe in Woodstock Road, and apartment Detached and semi-detached houses area; the terraced houses in Hayfield Road blocks in the same road for Jesus College. The majority of the conservation area is are the notable exception in that the front Associated with the University is the Maison characterised by housing ranging from door gives direct access to the pavement. Française d’Oxford in purpose-built accom- large detached villas, through large and modation of 1966-67 in Norham Road. medium-sized semi-detached houses, to Apartment blocks Within the conservation area there are smaller artisan semi-detached houses. Both the Banbury and Woodstock Roads several schools and other educational The larger houses can be as many as four have lost Victorian villas for the develop- establishments. The number of purpose- storeys high, including attics and base- ment in the later 20th century of apartment built schools is small: St Aloysius RC primary ments; a few houses stand out for having blocks of varying quality. These can be as school on a site replacing a private house; five storeys. Where basements occur, the many as three, four or five storeys in height. Oxford High School, which started in St grander the address the more likely that Boundary walls from previous buildings have Giles, moved into purpose built 21 Banbury a flight of steps leads to the front door sometimes been used to partially screen Road and relocated to Belbroughton Road in usually within a porch or with a canopy the replacement buildings, occasionally by FIG. 12

16 17 Conservation Area Appraisal 5. Buildings North Oxford Victorian Suburb

streetscape and can be seen from several Jesus College in Woodstock Road and the Pipe Partridge Quad and a new quad college by name, and in 1959 a full college. vantage points. St Margaret’s which was University College likewise). Some houses closing the view from Norham Gardens, constructed in 1883 as a chapel of ease to St have been taken over by the University for framed by two new lodge buildings. The College has taken over and adapted a Philip and St James to meet the expanding discipline-specific or central operations number of large houses in the Woodstock population of the suburb, is located to (e.g. Department of Educational Studies in The college benefits from its location Road for a variety of purposes. To the west the north-west. If funding had permitted Norham Gardens or the IT Department in 13 adjacent to the River Cherwell as it flows of the main building and its 1928 wing completion of Bodley’s tower over the Banbury Road as well as individual houses southwards to join the Thames (Isis) south the College has built a block of accom- south-west porch, it too would have domi- being used as University or college nurs- of Christ Church Meadow and makes a modation which nods at the style of the nated the local streetscape. To the north-east eries). Outside the scope of this section are positive impact on the broad streets of four houses of 1883 that previously stood of St Philip and St James lies St Andrew’s buildings for other educational purposes, the Norham Manor character zone. It does on the site. Houses on Canterbury Road, (1907), a Neo-Romanesque building with whether purpose-built or converted spill into a number of houses on the east some by Codd, have also become part of an evangelical tradition also designed to from houses (e.g. The Dragon School side of Fyfield Road, some of which suffer the College and, while modified, appear meet the needs of the growing suburb. and St Clare’s an international school). from degradation of front garden space. to have retained more of their character. The College occupies a 14-acre site and the Where colleges have taken over houses, spacious core offers relief from the devel- Other building types St Anne’s College the addition of fire-escapes, while neces- St Anne’s College began life as part of the oped fringes, although the Maplethorpe The conservation area contains a small sary for compliance reasons, can have and Dickson Poon Buildings both impact number of other building types. There are Association for the Education of Women, a negative impact on the conservation the first institution in Oxford to allow for the substantially on this precious open space. few commercial buildings extant, mostly area. Frequently the removal of boundary in North Parade, although some buildings education of women, then from 1879 the walls and hedges has detached the build- Society of Oxford Home-Students. In 1942, it St Antony’s College in the more densely developed western ings from any semblance of their original side of the suburb display evidence of became the St Anne’s Society, and received St Antony’s College was founded as a context. Context is further degraded by a University charter to be founded as a men’s college in 1948 by French ship- being used as shops. There are three public the erection of covered bicycle sheds, the houses, two in North Parade and one a women-only college in 1952. It is one of the ping magnate, M Antonin Besse and was loss of gardens to accommodate annexes, larger colleges in Oxford and known for its primarily intended for research and teaching 1936 rebuild of an older 18th-century inn at parking and bin areas. Light pollution is a the southern end of Hayfield Road. Gee’s progressive outlook, its academic strength in international studies. The hall is named particular concern in purpose-built college in both the humanities and the sciences, after his wife, Hilda Besse. The College (now a restaurant) is a useful reminder structures as well as the converted houses, of the nursery that once supported the its mix of architecture, and its library — the moved into buildings which had been particularly when the buildings are fully largest college library facility in Oxford. designed in 1866-8 by Charles Buckeridge gardening aspirations of the suburb, while functional. On the plus side the grounds of the Cherwell Boat House (1904) off Bardwell for the Society of the Holy Trinity. JL Pearson the seven main colleges in the conservation The College occupies a tight five-acre site Road is an example of the leisure pursuits supervised the building of the chapel, area are generally well-maintained, where wedged in the base of the Y shape formed available to the professional classes for which now houses the library, in 1891-4. feasible retaining more natural habitats to by the Woodstock and Banbury roads as whom the suburb was initially developed. encourage biodiversity. Trees, as elsewhere they leave St Giles. It manages to retain The College is located between Woodstock in the conservation area, are important and some open spaces around its large and Road and Winchester Road. Behind University buildings can soften the landscape and streetscape. distinguished buildings: Hartland House its high walls, the original convent was The University colleges, whose primary by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1937), and the surrounded to the north and east by addresses are in the conservation area, Lady Margaret Hall accommodation blocks by Howell, Killick, generous open space, which has gradu- make a positive contribution in a number of Lady Margaret Hall was the first institu- Partridge and Amis (1960-69). Mature trees ally been swallowed up with expansion. different ways to the setting of the conser- tion in Oxford to provide university-level belonging to earlier buildings surround the The newest addition to the College’s vation area. Seven colleges are included education for women. It was founded in campus, which is bounded by high walls on Estate is the metal-covered tunnel by within this category and are considered 1878 to prepare them for university exami- the Banbury Road, some original and some the late Zaha Hadid at the Middle East in more detail below: Lady Margaret Hall, nations, but did not become a full college newer to be in keeping with the suburb. Centre, which contrasts dramatically with St Anne’s, St Antony’s, St Hugh’s, Wolfson, until 1960. Originally it occupied one of Buckeridge’s buildings in coursed-rubble Kellogg and Green Templeton. A number the Norham Manor villas which the College St Hugh’s College and Drinkwater’s listed Tudor-style vicarage of other colleges operate study centres extended in 1881-83. There were further St Hugh’s was founded as St Hugh’s Hall for the Church of St Philip and St James. and/or accommodation blocks within the large extensions in 1896 and 1909-10 by Sir in 1886 for female students and was the conservation area, and their contribution Reginald Blomfield, again in 1915 and 1926 third such foundation at Oxford. This influ- Wolfson College is more mixed, whether the buildings have and in 1931 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and enced its plan, which breaks away from Wolfson College was one of two colleges been converted from houses for academic in 1957-61 the Wolfson Quad by Raymond the more traditional quad with staircases founded by the University in 1965 in purposes (e.g. St Edmund Hall in Norham Erith. The newest additions in the classical that are a feature of the older colleges in response to a 40% increase in graduate Gardens) or student accommodation style by John Simpson Architects include central Oxford. In 1911 St Hugh’s became a student numbers over five years. Generous blocks that have been purpose-built (e.g.

18 19 Conservation Area Appraisal 5. Buildings North Oxford Victorian Suburb

benefactions secured by the first President, 20th-century foundations, Green College area. The Queen Anne style can be seen fig 13. Tile hanging Professor, later Sir Isaiah Berlin, from the (1979) and Templeton College (1959). most notably at 21-29 (odd) Banbury Road and roughcast in Charlbury Road Wolfson Foundation and Ford Foundation but also in the fringes of Norham Manor Templeton College, which specialised in in 1966 enabled the construction of a new and in the Bardwell ‘Estate’. The latter has fig 14. Example college to accommodate members of the postgraduate business studies, moved from many Arts & Crafts influenced houses, of English bond academic staff who had no college fellow- Kennington south of Oxford, while Green and these too can be seen in the streets brickwork ship and graduate students, the majority College, a specialist postgraduate medical linking the Banbury Road to Woodstock of its membership originally coming from college, has always been based within Road north of St Hugh’s College. the sciences; the college admitted its first the buildings surrounding the Radcliffe students in October 1968. It is now the largest Observatory. This outstanding building The various styles of the interwar period postgraduate college with generous family with its ancillary buildings is something can be seen particularly in the Bardwell accommodation within its 11-acre site. of an anomaly in the conservation area. character area, where the houses are char- They are now a major focal point within acterised by a range of details. While FIG. 14 The college makes a discreet impact on the the University’s developing Observatory Modernism is notable for its absence among Bardwell character area. It benefits from its Quarter. The Observatory impacts more on domestic buildings, at the same time houses by expressing a vernacular idiom. Where location adjacent to the River Cherwell, the the Walton Manor and Jericho Conservation in the Arts & Crafts tradition clearly use new they survive, pathways in a pattern of landscape broadening and giving the college Areas, and may better be considered within materials, chiefly in metal window frames coloured tiles are most noticeable – in a rural feel despite the proximity of the the Central Oxford Conservation Area. and panelled doors. Some college buildings the terraces with small front gardens Northern Bypass (noise) and the busyness of display Neo-Georgian characteristics, but as well as some medium-sized late Marston Ferry Road which leads to a key junc- the later 20th-century is marked by Brutalist Victorian and Edwardian housing. tion on the bypass. Facing Wolfson are New Building styles, materials academic or purpose-built accommodation and colours Marston Meadows designated as a Site of buildings, some refined and others less so. The early 19th-century buildings tend to Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), but are also Styles be rendered in painted stucco, whereas maintained as a working farm. By the river roughcast render is used on the Arts & The dilemma of stylistic choice in the 19th is the College’s Nature Reserve, featuring Crafts styled buildings. Roughcast is also century between the Classical and the wildflower displays during May and June, as used, presumably a later addition, on one Gothic can be fully appreciated in North well as actively maintained hay meadows. of the oldest buildings in the conserva- Oxford, with the latter appearing to be the tion area, the Royal Oak Public House in more dominant of the two. Street worked Kellogg College Woodstock Road. Some pargetting is used in the Early English style on St Philip & St Founded as a college in 1990 to formalise as a decorative treatment on some of the James, and the houses of the 1860s, 1870s the University’s long history of part-time late Victorian and Edwardian houses. and into the 1880s reflect a domestic varia- and outreach provision, Kellogg College tion on this with elaborate Gothic doorways, operates from a number of listed Victorian Stone as the primary building material is Gothic windows and steeply pitched gables. houses primarily on the Banbury Road rare in the conservation area, and is seen Some houses betray the influence of Ruskin, (Nos. 60, 62 and 64). These houses were in prestige ecclesiastical buildings, listed particularly in the Venetian details of large bought by the University when bold plans walls, the Radcliffe Observatory buildings staircase windows that dominate the main for a new building to house the Pitt Rivers and a handful of private houses. For the façade in some instances. The Romanesque Museum were under consideration. These FIG. 13 most part coursed rubble is used. Ashlar is style appears in a handful of buildings plans, as discussed in the Introduction used on the late 18th-century buildings in from St Andrew’s church through to 30 above, led to the successful designation of the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, notably Norham Gardens and 54 Banbury Road. the conservation area. The failure to obtain Materials on 89 Banbury Road and as dressings on many college buildings. Stone steps lead to funding for the museum project, released The Italianate style is most evident in The primary building material is brick – red raised ground floors on many houses. Many the houses for use by Kellogg, where a the work of Samuel Lipscomb Seckham. or yellow, with occasional use of burnt houses carry sculptural decoration in stone number of modest extensions to improve Park Town is an outstanding example as (blue) bricks for decoration. Typically, on window surrounds and/or carved capi- student facilities have been built in the are 7-19 (odd) Banbury Road and 121-123 English bond is used. Tumbling brick- tals. Even the lintels above the ground floor back gardens. No. 60 is considered to be Woodstock Road, which are unlisted. work is seen on some chimney stacks. openings of the modest terraces in Hayfield one of William Wilkinson’s finest houses. Roofs overhang on large brackets, while Some of the Queen Anne style buildings Road carry sculptural ornamentation. façades are stuccoed or cement-rendered. have prominent terracotta decoration. Green Templeton College Pre-cast concrete is much used in late The evolution of the Arts and Crafts style is Tile-hanging is a feature of some of the This, the University’s newest college, was 20th-century college buildings. created in 2007 by merging two earlier visible in various parts of the conservation late Victorian and Edwardian houses, used to strengthen the ‘garden suburb’

20 21 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Belbroughton Road is a rare example of Character Area 1: Norham Manor weather-boarding. A few houses have timber canopies to carry external window blinds. Significance

Gee’s Restaurant is notable for its iron and glazed construction. Some houses still display what appears to Feature Contribution to significance be fine leaded and coloured glass.

The iron railings and original lamp posts Spaces • Formal layout as a residential suburb that survive, made either at Lucy’s Eagle • Wide streets Works foundry in Walton Well Road or by • Front gardens where houses are in private ownership Dean & Son, give the conservation area much of its character. Elaborate ironwork is Buildings used to great effect on many of the doors Victorian Villas • Define the character of the area in Norham Manor character area as well as in some houses in Banbury Road. Many • Scale and type of houses varies in each road, large houses particularly in Norham Manor with a rare terrace in Fyfield Road sprout attractive and astonishing finials. • Work of the main architects of the area visible: Wilkinson and Codd as well as Buckeridge

FIG. 15 Colours • Gothic revival details – pitched roofs, plank The predominant colours in the conserva- doors, arched windows, finials, etc. tion area are red (brick) and yellow (brick • Red brick and yellow brick masonry Stone-built fig 15. The predominant roofing material is clay and stone). Most stucco is painted in an alternate in Norham Gardens Osler House within tiles, with slate used in many buildings the grounds of off-white colour with one or two exam- Norham Gardens from the early 19th-century onwards. One Green Templeton ples of primrose yellow appearing in the College or two terraces on the western side of vicinity of North Parade. Windows are • Recognised by seven houses listed on the suburb are roofed with pantiles. generally white-painted. Original doors the National Heritage List Gently fig 16. are normally painted red, black or white, curving south wing Where it occurs, timber decoration is but some newer doors use early 21st-cen- at Wolfson College applied rather than structural although St Bradmore Road tury gun-metal grey. Also ubiquitous is the • Several houses make a positive contribution Giles Terrace and the Royal Oak all show use of black for conservation area lamps to the street scene in addition to the one listed internal use of timber framing. Some of and railings – where lamps still carry a soft building (e.g. Nos. 14-16 consec.) the Queen Anne Revival buildings carry grey-green colour, they harmonise better Lady Margaret timber lanterns and balustrades. Many with the intended ambiance of a suburb. Hall (LMH) houses have timber porches. Number 3 • First institution to offer university-level education for women, with nationally listed buildings ranging in date from c.1879 (Old Hall) to 1959-61 (Wolfson Quad) Boundary treatments • Retained and restored railings • Low front garden wall

Views Entrance • Picturesque approach from the Banbury Road • Attractive fork where Bardmore Road bears left from Norham Gardens

FIG. 16

22 23 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Norham Manor North Oxford Victorian Suburb

a mixture of clay tiles and slate. There is an Feature Contribution to significance extensive use of stone for features and of sculpted stone ornament. Sash windows Views continued predominate with Gothic arches for windows Absence of • Until the building of the new entrance lodges at and doors on some of the larger buildings. eye-catchers LMH, there were no buildings designed to close Doors are typically Gothic in style, planked views increasing the sense of planned openness and bearing elaborate ironwork fittings. Chimneys are very large, elaborate and prominent, usually on external walls. Tall, • Glimpsed views between buildings where acutely pitched gables with finials add to Between buildings no later extensions block them the Gothic character of the buildings. Many of the large houses, often originally built for Landscape • Mature trees in private gardens front and back those who made their wealth in commerce are a positive feature of the character area. as well as some notable academics, are now frequently in the ownership of insti- • Park Town to the north and the river to the east mean that Ambience tutions and/or multiple occupation. Many FIG. 15 there is little through motorised traffic, creating a feeling continue to serve as private residences. of calmness enhanced by pedestrians and cyclists The condition of houses is generally good though over cleaning of brickwork and the of front gardens has been lost where fig 15. Detached replacement of window glass removes the given over to hard standing for cars. villa on a corner site in Norham Manor patina of age to the extent that old buildings Although the river is close by, there is Commentary relatively small in proportion to the size of can sometimes be mistaken for new, thus no sense of this from within the estate. The first and most spacious of the St the houses with large gardens at the rear. eroding the special character of the area. John’s College estates to be developed, A feeling of space is created in the public Activity in the public domain is domi- the Norham Manor character area lies domain by the wide roads and pavements The entrance to the estate is picturesquely nated by cycling, walking and running. behind the University Parks east of the and the contribution made by private front designed to create visual interest. Once The streets are quiet. There is no through Banbury Road. It consists of five broad gardens. The low boundary walls mean that within the suburb the straight roads create traffic so vehicle movements are, to some streets, with planned soft curves in two of it is the buildings that define the space. few set-piece views. Perhaps surpris- extent, driven by the timetable of insti- them. The first road to be laid out, Norham This is originally an entirely residential ingly, the ends of longitudinal views are tutions. Trees and other planting gives Gardens, is dominated by large two-storey space. Many of the largest houses have not terminated with ‘feature buildings’ shade in front gardens, though the road detached villas with a raised ground floor, been converted to institutional use whilst and houses on corners usually face onto is so wide this sometimes has a limited well-lit basements and attic rooms. Semi- others have been converted into flats. the main street rather than exploiting the effect on the public space. The sound of detached houses feature prominently in picturesque possibilities of their corner site. distant traffic and aircraft can be heard, but Black asphalt is the ubiquitous paving the other streets, while Fyfield Road boasts Consequently there are few focal points. it is generally so quiet that the sound of material for roads and pavements with a rare terrace for this side of the suburb. In the side streets high brick walls protect private conversations is easily discernible. stone setts at the road edge. Street the privacy of the back gardens on the The space is formally laid out as a resi- furniture is at a minimum. Lighting is by end of a run of plots. Nevertheless there Negative features means of swan-necked lamp standards dential suburb. The entrance to the estate are opportunities here for glimpsed views • Inappropriate modifications, e.g. in a design characteristic of the area. from the Banbury Road is expressed with of the space behind the large houses. large side extensions, replacement There is no through traffic, though there picturesquely curved roads, but the street conservatories, link buildings pattern becomes more regular inside the is significant on-street parking. Usability The roofs of individual buildings are often • Over cleaning of brickwork body of the suburb. The gaps between of the space is good, though pedestrian interesting and attractive, but there is little gardens are small and sometimes reduced surfaces are somewhat rough and ready. feeling of a roofscape for the area as a • High levels of light pollution caused or eliminated by later extensions. This is whole. This reflects the sense of individual by extended use of buildings The buildings define the character of the particularly true on Norham Gardens where villas on separate plots. Trees in private for institutional purposes area. Large Victorian villas are the char- institutional owners have closed the gaps gardens play a very important role in • Loss of front gardens to hard standing or acteristic building type. There is a mix of with the result that from the public domain defining the character of views both along gravel for parking, cycle and bin storage detached and semi-detached residences, there is no sense of the University Parks the streets and into the spaces behind. • Automatic gates and low front walls with some more modestly scaled houses for beyond the buildings to the south. Houses replaced with higher boundaries example on Crick Road. Building materials are enclosed by low brick walls. The building The topography of the character area are a mix of red and yellow stock bricks, plots are large, but the houses almost fill is generally flat. The area has lots of sometimes alternating for effect. Roofs are the width of the plots. Front gardens are trees, though the positive contribution

24 25 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Park Town North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Character Area 2: Park Town site is taken up with large detached villas The area is exclusively residential. Road and in substantial gardens on either side of the pavement surfaces are asphalt in a poor Significance road. At the heart of the development an state of repair. Street furniture consists of elliptical railed-off garden for residents is black Victorian-style street lamps, black rail- flanked on the north and south sides by ings and a Grade II listed Penfold Pillar box. a crescent of terraced housing. The road Feature Contribution to significance continues east, now flanked by semi-de- There is very little motor traffic as there is tached villas. The site is closed at the east no through road, however, street-parked Spaces • Grade II registered park and garden end with a crescent of houses facing onto cars have a significant impact on the space. • Clearly defined space, formally laid out another small unenclosed, semi-circular The buildings are the dominant element garden. A gateway through the middle • Contrast between three terraces and the detached and semi- in defining the character of the area. They of this crescent leads into Dragon Lane. detached houses on the streets connecting the terraces are almost all of the same period. The • Exclusively residential The area is very clearly defined. Buildings wealth, aspirations and social status of • Good street furniture and roads are laid out formally and the original occupants of each zone of geometrically. There are few gaps between houses is on display in the architecture. Buildings • Define the character of the area buildings or blocks of buildings. Plots are Design, style and materials are deployed • Design, style and materials emphasise the zones of enclosed by iron railings, some original, to emphasise the status of the zones within the area and the status of the first occupiers others replicas to a similar design. The the character area. A uniformity of scale is space in front of the crescent terraces is achieved by grouping the smallest houses defined by railings with the space behind into monumental blocks, the medium Terraced housing • Uniformity of scale allowing light to reach basement windows. sized houses into semi-detached pairs and • Two crescents have railed basement light-wells Detached and semi-detached houses, in the larger houses standing in individual FIG. 16 plots. Materials too are used to communi- • Rear terrace on raised ‘podium’ and doors contrast, have substantial gardens front cate messages about status. The terraces fig 16. Penfold opening straight onto the street and back. The space in front of the rear at the back of the site have yellow stock letterbox at the terrace is confined by the ‘wilderness’ western end of the planting of the garden. The raised pave- bricks above a ground floor with rendered, residents' garden ment reduces the feeling of space by banded rustication. Their front doors open in Park Town Detached/ • Set back from the street-line with wide front gardens effectively dividing the area so emphatically directly onto the raised pavement. In the semi-detached • Materials range from render through to brick Arch between the roadway and the pavement. two crescents around the elliptical garden fig 17. houses the upper storeys are faced in dressed in centre of eastern terrace Where the crescent terraces at the heart of stone, the wells, allowing light into the Boundary giving access to • Retained and restored railings the development face onto a communal basements, are enclosed by railings. treatments Dragon Lane garden the feeling of open space is limited on account of the large number Views • Views of the picturesque layout constrained by mature trees of mature trees and the dark hedge and at entry points into the zones within the area and the lush other planting behind the railings. vegetation in the ‘open’ spaces framed by the buildings

Landscape • Verdant and luxurious flat landscape enhanced by the variety of the trees and shrubs within communal and private gardens

Ambience • Being a cul-de-sac is a positive feature as there is little motorised traffic and limited pedestrian and cycle usage

Commentary scheme in 1853. Houses are rigorously laid out in a very formal development. The Park Town is very different from all other entrance to the estate off the Banbury Road parts of the conservation area. Its narrow is in the form of a crescent around a small plot lay outside of the St John’s College unenclosed garden. The first third of the estate. It was developed to a planned FIG. 17

26 27 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Bardwell North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Character Area 3: Bardwell

Significance

Feature Contribution to significance

Spaces • Last part of the St John’s estate to be developed, for the most part in the 20th century • Broad streets and houses set well back from the road reflect received ideas of the suburban style

FIG. 18 Buildings Houses • Define the character of the area fig 18. Detached Views within the character area are • Demonstrate a range of materials and idealised villa on the entrance constrained. This is partly as a consequence road into Park Town vernacular styles from different regions. of the design and layout of the site, but • Arts & Crafts styles predominate fig 19. The northern also as a result of hedges, the manage- terrace overlooking ment of planting in communal areas and • Some houses have early examples of Crittall windows the residents' the growth of ageing trees. Views are short; garden in Park Town when first built Park Town would have benefited from views along the length of • Recognised by one Wright house on the National Heritage List Belbroughton (No. 1) and the positive contribution of others (Nos. 3, 5 and 9) the site and panoramic views of the cres- FIG. 19 Road cents. Focal points are now obscured. Negative features The streetscape, particularly in front of • No. 11 by F Mountain makes a positive the crescents is dominated by parked • Parking is a major negative feature Chadlington Road contribution to the streetscape cars. There is little in the way of a roofs- of the area, impacting on views cape. Roofs of the terraces are largely into, out of and across the area invisible. Individual houses and semi-de- • Hedges in the communal garden, • In addition to national listed Nos. 2-4, Nos. 22 and 29 tached houses have shallow pitched roofs introduced to mitigate for the loss Charlbury Road make a positive contribution to the streetscape with projecting eaves. The mature trees of railings in the Second World War, and hedges give an arboreal character encroach on the replacement railings softening the formally designed urban • Poorly maintained road surfaces and Linton Road • Distinguished by nationally listed No. 7 space. The development is entirely inward extensive use of asphalt for pavement looking with few views out of the space. surfaces detract from the elegance of the buildings in the area • Recognised in national listing of No. 2 by Allfrey The land is entirely flat. The private gardens Northmoor Road and No. 20 by Openshaw, which is also historically • Obstruction of views across of the larger houses and the communal significant as the home of JRR Tolkein. communal spaces greenery in front of the terraces contribute • No. 18 by Rayson is a distinctive variant

to a verdant atmosphere in a formal from the surrounding styles architectural setting. Hard landscaping is • St Andrew’s Church makes a positive contribution generally poorly maintained asphalt. to the cross-roads with Linton Road This is a quiet enclave with only light local traffic. The space is used comfort- ably by pedestrians and cyclists who Cherwell Boat • One of the most significant unlisted buildings within the are able to filter through to Dragon House character area and the CA as a whole, reflecting the importance Lane which cars cannot access. of leisure pursuits for the original occupants of North Oxford

28 29 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Bardwell North Oxford Victorian Suburb

board fencing, often standing on a low brick wall of only three courses. Some of Feature Contribution to significance the original boundary treatments survive Buildings in various states of repair. Some have a continued straight top edge, in others each board • Front boundary walls are lower here than elsewhere in North has a rounded top giving a scalloped Boundary Oxford, and in some instances, retain feather-edged boarded effect. There are a number of instances treatments fences. Retention adds positively to the character of the area where iron railings and brick piers have been inappropriately introduced. Views • There are almost no fixed viewpoints in the area, St Andrew’s Church being the notable exception. From the street, building plots seem small for the size of the houses, there are however, Landscape • On the eastern edges the ground slopes gently large spaces behind houses. There are no towards the river, the slope being most visible in the public open spaces. A general feeling of approaches to Wolfson College and in Garford Road space in the public realm is created by the

• Front gardens where retained contributed broad roads, pavements and front gardens. FIG. 21 significantly towards the area’s character The contribution of gardens is greatest • Mature trees in private gardens contribute where the original modest height of front boundary treatments is retained. Sometimes the twentieth century, and it is the style of fig 21. View along to the feeling of openness Charlbury Road excessively tall fences or hedges create a this period that creates the character of Ambience • Little motorised traffic outside peak times and more enclosed feeling. Where the streets the area. Materials are generally red brick fig 22. Feather- usability for pedestrians and cyclists are straight, the building lines, boundaries with stone dressings and details. Roughcast edged timber and road edges all reflect this characteristic. render is common, sometimes this has been fencing in Charlbury painted. Clay tiles are ubiquitous for roofs Road © Phillip Allen Road surfaces and paving materials are and some wall-hung tiling. Ridge tiles are invariably asphalt, not always in good often decorative. There is extensive use of gently towards the river. Bardwell Road Commentary condition. Pavements are edged with painted barge-boards and other decorative itself was developed in the 1890s. North of The Bardwell character area consists of the stone kerbs with stone setts in the gullies. details. Fenestration is very varied, there Bardwell Road as far as Linton Road dates fig 20. area of development east of the Banbury Street furniture is confined to swan- are examples of sash windows, sometimes from before the First World War while north Road and north of Park Town. The char- necked street lamps (green or black) and with multiple glazing bars. In other styles 1 Belbroughton of Linton Road as far as Belbroughton Road acter area therefore encompasses the last the occasional pillar box. Motor traffic of house, casements with leaded lights Road by was developed in the 1920s. More than parts of the St John’s estate to be formally is relatively light outside of ‘school-run’ contribute an arts and crafts character; in the Christopher any of the other character areas, the feel of Wright, which is laid out as residential development, using hours. There is some on-street parking 1920s houses windows and their frames are the Bardwell character area equates with Grade II listed allotment gardens on land sloping down (not necessarily residents) and consider- metal for the most part, possibly by Crittall. received ideas about suburban style, in able amounts of walking and cycling. Doors tend to be squared, part glazed and part due to the more modest height and panelled. Chimneys are large but simply massing of its buildings and the appropriate The space is largely defined by its houses constructed in red brick. The area was origi- scale of the trees and shrubs. An idealised which are generally large and detached. nally entirely residential. Some houses have vernacular prevails, not always rooted in The vast majority date from the first half of been adapted for school or university use. Oxfordshire styles, and reminiscent of the The Neo-Romanesque church of St Andrew Lake District and other prestigious areas sits on a prominent corner, though its char- with a strong Arts & Crafts tradition. acter and massing has been somewhat The roads are set out in straight lines undermined by unsympathetic extensions. with only a slight curvature introduced in The street pattern means that there are no Northmoor Road and to a lesser extent, particularly picturesque set-pieces. Views Charlbury Road. Houses are large with are generally channelled along the usually only small gaps between on the main street straight streets. There are occasional diag- frontages, though larger gaps are some- onal views between buildings into the times found on side roads at the end of a space behind. Views out of the area to run of houses. Most houses were originally the Banbury Road do occasionally frame enclosed on the front by feather edged a large house there. In the streetscape, FIG. 20 FIG. 22

30 31 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Kingston Road North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Negative features Character Area 4: Kingston Road • High front garden boundaries, sometimes introducing inappropriate railings, are Significance contrary to the aesthetic of the area • Inappropriate modifications and enlargement, e.g. large side extensions Feature Contribution to significance • High levels of light pollution caused Spaces • Predominantly defined by north-south roads with by extended use of buildings some key intersections with west-east routes for institutional purposes • Narrower plots allowing greater building density • Loss of front gardens to hard standing or • Reflects the means of the different clientele gravel for parking, cycle and bin storage the developers aimed to attract • School term-time traffic issues • Almost entirely residential, with some evidence of shop premises causing congestion and adding to parking problems Buildings FIG. 23 • Parking, particularly school transport • Range of terraced developments interspersed with groups vehicles, impacts on views within the area Terraced housing of semi-detached villas or groups of three-four houses fig 23. House • Poorly maintained road surfaces and parked cars and trees are the dominant • Range of styles and decorative finishes deployed in the terraces by Fisher and elements. The roofscape is characterised extensive use of asphalt for pavements Trubshaw in • Degrees of affluence visible in window sizes by clay tiled roofs with steep gables and Belbroughton occasional hips with tall brick chimneys. • The only terraces in Kingston Road that are nationally listed, Road that retains are all by Clapton Rolfe in 1870–73 (nos. 114–138, 149156, original features Mature trees and planting in front gardens dominate views, often obscuring diagonal 159–164). Terraces by other developers make a positive fig 24. 2 Northmoor views of houses. Views out of the space are contribution to the streetscape (Nos. 22–27, 35–40 and 106–111) Road by Allfrey, onto college campuses, playing fields and • Nos. 47–53 in Leckford Road make a positive contribution which is Grade • Nos 11–25 in Walton Well Road form the II listed on the west side the busy Banbury Road. most distinctive terrace in the area The topography of the area is flat or gently sloping. The landscape character is of a leafy and green garden suburb. However, Other structures • One of two Penfold letterboxes in the whole all trees and planting are confined to CA is located at the junction of Farndon and private gardens, the public domain makes Warnborough Roads (the other is in Park Town) no contribution to this. Consequently • The Walton Well Road bridge, erroneously ascribed to these gardens are particularly signifi- James Brindley in the National Heritage List, dates to cant for the character of the area. Where 1881 and follows the usual pattern of canal bridges gardens have been converted for parking of cars and cycles this can have a nega- tive impact on the quality of the area. • High level of preserved historic railings especially Boundary in Southmoor Road, possibly due to the proximity Activity within the area varies with time of treatments of Lucy’s foundry in the former Eagle Works day and year. The dominant activities are associated with the suburbs residential char- Views • One of the most significant views within the CA as a whole is acter. The low density results in low levels that along Leckford Road towards St Philip and St James of activity in the public domain. Schools • A more modest view into the character area focuses on and university buildings run to a different the public water fountain at the junction of Southmoor rhythm with peaks of activity in term-time and Longwith Roads with Walton Well Road and related to the delivery and collection • In Southmoor Road, the view towards its northern end of children by private car or coaches. There is terminated by a pair of semi-detached houses are strong contrasts of light and shade • Views into the back gardens along the canal are and periodic noise from cars and aircraft. obtained from the towpath on the opposite bank

FIG. 24

32 33 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Kingston Road North Oxford Victorian Suburb

particularly sensitive, where rear extensions have a major impact on the public domain. Feature Contribution to significance There is an important view of the spire of St • Verdant and luxurious flat landscape enhanced by the variety Landscape Philip and St James along Leckford Road. of the trees and shrubs within communal and private gardens The junction of Southmoor Road and Walton Ambience • Although more densely populated, the Well Road is the focus of several views. character area is light and open. Proceeding up Southmoor Road the long view is terminated by the two houses facing down the length of the street. Otherwise views tend not to have a particular focal with the road and pavement create a Commentary point. Small gaps between buildings can be feeling of space in the public domain. important for creating a feeling of openness Kingston Road abuts the Walton Manor even though the area is densely developed. Conservation Area and is characterised The area is entirely residential. The north- There are views into the conservation area by a variety of terraced housing inter- south roads provide good access into the from the canal tow-path and views along spersed with semi-detached villas. These FIG. 26 city centre for cyclists and pedestrians. the canal, primarily from the bridges. were deliberately designed as speculative Cars are limited by effective traffic calming and attractive residences for a growing measures. Road surfaces and pavements The land rises quite abruptly from the canal to the arid character of some of the fig 26. Grander artisan and clerical clientele. The plots are are similar to elsewhere in the conserva- and quickly plateaus. The impact of the streets – where there are few trees, the row of terraced housing in Walton narrower, but where glimpses between tion area: asphalt with stone kerbs. Street canal is limited by being largely hidden combination of masonry and asphalt terraces and houses permit, the familiar lighting on Kingston Road is tall, urban Well Road adjacent behind the westernmost row of houses. Road finishes of pavements are compounded to the Oxford Canal feeling of openness is maintained. and utilitarian, less sympathetic than else- and pavement surfaces are all asphalt with by rows of parked vehicles where in the conservation area. On-street stone sett kerbing. There are some trees rela- fig 27. Multiple Space in the character area is predom- • Commendable use of bicycles parked cars have a much greater impact tively newly planted in the Kingston Road as occupancy of inantly along long north-south roads. contrasts with inadequate storage here than elsewhere on account of the lack part of the traffic calming. Most of the trees smaller houses Building plots are narrow with houses because they can only be secured manifested by of off-road parking. Bicycle parking too has and greenery is to be found in back gardens. typically grouped in terraces of four, six to railings and street furniture bicycles and an impact on the area. There is no public rubbish bins or eight, interspersed with semi-detached provision, so bikes are tied to railings both There are few commercial premises in the • Poorly maintained road surfaces and residences. The space behind the dense within front gardens and on the pavement. character area. Most of the activity is transit extensive use of asphalt for pavements street frontages can be appreciated through of one form or another. Kingston Road • Street lighting in this character a number of gaps between buildings and Victorian terraces are the dominant building provides a convenient and safe route into the area is the least sympathetic of from positions on the short side roads. type in the character area, though these vary city for walkers and cyclists. Motor traffic is all in the CA as a whole Property boundaries on the street front- greatly in size and are often interspersed with moderated by there being no direct through ages are usually low brick walls, often with pairs of semi-detached houses. The form and fig 25. Terrace in roads and traffic calming limits speeds. Kingston Road a rounded coping brick. Some original iron style of these houses is very varied, yellow Although invisible the sound of nearby by Clapton Rolfe, railings survive. Even the smallest houses stock brick predominates, often enlivened passing trains is apparent. The lack of large Grade II listed have front gardens which taken together with red brick for decorative effect. Roofs trees and the limited size of the buildings too vary; slate, clay tiles and occasional means that the streets are particularly light. pantiles are found here. Many original windows and doors survive, but there is Negative features ample evidence of replacement windows • In part due to housing density, this is an degrading the character of the area. area where Article 4 directions would be These houses were originally built as homes beneficial, e.g. in arresting the introduction for artisans and lower middle class families. of more mismatched skylights in terraces Today they provide a mix of family residences • Council provision of wheelie bins impacts and houses in multiple occupation. A large on small front gardens considerably number have been extended at the back, • School term-time traffic issues often unsympathetically. Side extensions at causing congestion and adding the ends of terraces often close important to parking problems gaps between buildings. Corner sites are • On-street parking is dense and adds FIG. 27 FIG. 25

34 35 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: St Margaret’s North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Character Area 5: St Margaret’s Feature Contribution to significance Significance Landscape • Front gardens where retained contributed significantly towards the area’s character Feature Contribution to significance • Mature trees in private gardens contribute to a feeling of openness on the eastern side of the character area Spaces • Village-like atmosphere created by communal buildings Ambience • Although one of the busier character areas, the broad • The only character area to have mature pavements on the streets between Kingston Road and the trees in the public domain Banbury Road are attractive to pedestrians and cyclists • Wide roads

Buildings Commentary to be slow moving with the result that the • The character area is distinguished by the greatest variety space can be comfortably used by walkers The St Margaret’s character area is defined of houses and plot sizes, with large detached and semi- and cyclists. There is much on-street parking, Houses by that part of the St John’s estate west of detached buildings on the east side and smaller scale particularly in streets of terraced houses. the Banbury Road and north of St Margaret’s houses between Woodstock Road and the canal. Road. To the west lies the canal and to the There is a very wide range of house sizes north the St John’s College Sports Grounds. within the character area ranging from The houses are the most diverse in terms of • Hayfield oadR is lined by terraced housing consisting of terraced cottages near the canal to large Terraced housing size but the most consistent in their archi- eight houses per block, in four pairs with adjacent staircases detached houses near St Hugh’s College. tectural style, materials and detailing. The and chimneys shared with the next pair. Taken together Despite this diversity of size there is a smallest cottages designed for artisans in they make a positive contribution to this part of the area uniformity of design, materials and detailing. Hayfield Road, the modest semi-detached All these houses were built from the end houses in Chalfont Road and the large villas of the nineteenth to the early twentieth on the Woodstock Road all share a similar Communal • St Margaret’s Church, with the War Memorial, and the century. Red brick is ubiquitous with stone architectural vocabulary. This is because buildings adjacent vicarage are nationally listed. Both church and used for detailing. Clay tiles are used every- the vast majority were built to the designs vicarage were designed by HGW Drinkwater, who was also where except for the terraced cottages in of Wilkinson and Moore either together responsible for St Margaret’s Institute in Polstead Road. The Hayfield Road which have slate roofs. The (in St Margaret’s Road) or Moore alone in Institute is significant for historical and communal reasons style is Neo-Tudor with an eclectic mix of the other streets in the character area. as well as its aesthetic contribution to the street scene. classical and Gothic. The smallest terrace cottages have diminutive sculpted scroll The character area is set out with a regular pediments over the front door with swags pattern of streets. There are no public open of fruit and foliage. As the houses become Structures • The Aristotle Lane bridge over the canal dates to spaces. Where there are front gardens these larger the sculpture and architectural c.1790 and is an example of the work emanating are enclosed by low brick walls, some with vocabulary becomes more elaborate. Ball from the office of James Brindley replacement railings on top. Building plots finials crown tall gables. In the detached are narrow with even the detached houses • Tree-lined St Margaret’s and Polstead Roads houses east of the Woodstock Road details Views occupying most of the width of the plot. invite views into the area and frame passing traffic and buildings on the Woodstock Road Where there are gaps between buildings fig 28. Stone detail • St Margaret’s Church closes the view from Kingston Road, and these are narrow offering glimpses into the on terraced housing would have made quite a feature had its tower been completed spaces behind. Any feeling of space in the in Hayfield Road • Gaps between buildings are generally narrow public domain is created by the width of but offer glimpses into gardens behind the roads and front gardens. Longitudinal • Views into the back gardens along the canal are space is created by the long straight roads. obtained from the towpath on the opposite bank Paving and road surfaces are all asphalt. Vehicle movements are controlled by various traffic calming measures. For the most part, what motor traffic there is tends FIG. 28

36 37 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Banbury Road North Oxford Victorian Suburb

residential there are other buildings which • Character Area 6: Banbury Road make a positive contribution to the area. The church of St Margaret, the St Margaret’s Significance Institute, the Anchor Public House and shops and commercial premises at the bottom of Hayfield Road give the character Feature Contribution to significance area a sense of a community often lacking in other parts of the conservation area. Spaces • Possibly a Roman road originally • Br eadth is achieved with a wide road, wide pavements Most of the views are along the streets and large houses set back from the street though views between buildings are also important. The church of St Margaret might Buildings • North Oxford developed quickly along this major arterial have provided more of a focal point if its route as no new roads had to be constructed tower had been completed. There are impor- • High quality buildings are to be found in the character tant views along the canal from vantage area, with large houses in spacious plots. This quality is FIG. 29 points on bridges and from the towing path. distinguished by 25 designated buildings on the National Heritage List, the highest concentration in the CA as a whole The canal defines the western edge of fig 29. Polstead include heraldic devices set in elaborate the character area. The slope of the land • Diversity is to be found in the cluster of buildings around the Road is one of two strap work and windows with stone mullions entrance into North Parade, where two groups of buildings tree-lined roads towards it is evident on the east-west and transoms. Sash windows dominate in the conser- roads, St Margaret’s Road, Polstead Road make a positive contribution to the streetscape, and into Park vation area many with glazing bars in the upper and Frenchay Road. The character area Town. Both are different in scales and have attractive rooflines. sash. There has been some replacement is leafy, with the exception of Hayfield • Victorian Gothic characterises the houses from Norham fig 30. Example which is degrading the character of the Road where the terraced houses have Gardens to Park Town, with some Queen Anne style around of the loss of a area. Similarly, many original doors have garden for hard no front gardens. St Margaret’s and the junction with Norham Gardens and Parks Road been lost, along with their original door standing to accom- Polstead Roads are unusual in having • Progressing north towards Summertown, the buildings furniture. This is particularly obvious in the modate parking, trees in the public domain lining them. take on Arts and Crafts features and the variety of the bicycle storage terraced houses facing directly onto the materials used varies; there are still a few significant and bin area street. Unusually for the conservation area The character area is quiet with occasional buildings in the Gothic idiom intersperse there are some semi-detached houses slow moving motor traffic. The presence which respond to their corner site by having of a mix of housing, if strictly graded Views • Views are confined to up and down the street, with houses address different streets (e.g. the from east to west, and the presence of few buildings taking advantage of corner sites corner of Polstead and Chalfont Road). the church, pub, shops and workshops, • While the view towards the city centre is terminated gives the area a vibrant village feel. Although the character area is predominantly by the Engineering faculty building, it also tapers towards the historic space of St Giles Negative features • There are occasional views into the side streets, and therefore • Inappropriate modifications and into the character areas to east and west of the arterial route enlargement, e.g. large extensions • Loss of front gardens to hard standing or Landscape • An abundance of mature trees, mostly in the gravel for parking, cycle and bin storage private domain, softens the flat landscape • High levels of light pollution caused Ambience • The road is still a major thoroughfare, and by extended use of buildings its busyness means it is well used for institutional purposes • School term-time traffic issues causing congestion and adding to parking problems Commentary offer leases easily. Large houses are set back • Parking impacts on views within the area Possibly a Roman road originally, the from the broad street, except at the junc- Banbury Road is a major and busy thor- tion with North Parade and with Park Town. • The degradation of front garden oughfare. Here can be found some of the There has been some loss and degradation boundaries is particularly noticeable earliest developments within the North of the character of the street through demo- • Poorly maintained roads and pavements Oxford Victorian Suburb as St John’s could lition of houses to make way for blocks of FIG. 30

38 39 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Banbury Road North Oxford Victorian Suburb

levels of motor traffic, many cyclists and closer to the city centre tend to be in various pedestrians. There are also, at some times forms of university use, whilst those to of day, large numbers of people waiting the north house language schools, sixth for buses. Motor traffic has a dominant form colleges and small hotels. This insti- and negative impact on the space and its tutional use has had a negative impact usability for anything other than passing on the buildings themselves and their through. Pavements are relatively narrow contribution to the conservation area. in comparison to the road space and in Negative impacts include: office-style the context of traffic speeds. This is not an lighting, corporate branding (signs, blinds environment where anyone would linger with logos, advertising for open days etc.), for pleasure. Surfaces are all tarmacad- unsympathetic extensions (sometimes amed. As this is a main road there are linking two houses), bins, fire escapes etc. high levels of painted lines on the road and different colour treatments to pick Structurally houses seem sound, but former houses now used for institu- out a bus lane on the northbound side FIG. 33 FIG. 31 and a cycle lane on the southbound side. tional purposes often demonstrate a neglect of the history and character of Street furniture is utilitarian: high level • Inappropriate modifications, e.g. large fig 33. Wycliffe Hall modern street lighting, utilitarian glass the historic buildings and their setting. on the east side fig 31. Detached side extensions, link buildings 20th-century flats which neither harmonise bus shelters and occasional litter bins. of Banbury Road house at the with the surroundings nor enhance them. The dominant views are up and down the • High levels of light pollution caused northern end of road. The view into the city is terminated by extended use of buildings fig 34. Banbury Banbury Road Space in the private domain is almost The character area is a longitudinal space entirely given over to the parking of rather abruptly by the Faculty of Engineering for institutional purposes Road frontage of Wychwood School fig 32. Detached along a single road. Historically, devel- building. Occasional side views open up • Loss of almost all front gardens to hard private cars. Gardens have been asphalted with inserted link houses on the west opment followed the road north out of over to provide parking for staff. along side roads, particularly into Park Town. standing or gravel for parking, cycle and between adjacent side of Banbury Oxford. The original houses sit in generous bin storage with varying results in terms detached houses Road, south of grounds set back from the road, but the Because the Banbury Road is one of the main Viewed at a distance the impression is of quality and maintenance standards North Parade space between buildings has often been of an arboreal environment, an effect roads into and out of Oxford its buildings • Inappropriate and unsympathetic filled with unsympathetic extensions. Most almost entirely achieved by the presence are amongst the most visible in the conser- boundary treatments through loss of walls, plots have low brick walls facing onto the of large trees. There are no trees in the vation area. Development progressed rather high replacement walls, automatic gates street, sometimes with hedges behind. more quickly along the Banbury Road than public domain and little soft landscaping • Unsympathetic modern residential There are some long stretches of character- in other parts of the suburb because it was at ground level where surfaces are all development that inadequately less modern fencing around institutions. not necessary to build new roads before hard and urban, adapted for the storage replaces demolished houses development could commence. Sites on and rapid passage of private cars. • Poorly maintained road surfaces and Space in the public domain is largely used the Banbury Road also seem to have been Banbury Road is a place to travel through not extensive use of asphalt for pavements by various forms of traffic. There are high particularly prestigious as houses tend to to linger in. Its history and the high status of be considerably larger than those else- its former residents can be read in the grand where in the suburb. Houses date from the architecture of the Victorian houses now mid-nineteenth century to the early twen- mostly given over to institutional use. Activity tieth century with the earliest buildings levels are high but predominantly associated generally at the south end of the road and with transit. There is a mixture of light and later ones in the north. The individualised shade, trees on private land soften the harsh nature of the buildings is reflected in their edges of this urban space. The consider- materials which are very varied. There is able width of the road and lack of highway a mix of red and yellow brick, usually with trees means that whilst the buildings are stone detailing. Sash windows predominate often shaded the road is usually well lit. with occasional displays of Gothic tracery, particularly at the southern end of the road. Roofs are steeply pitched. Again, a mixture Negative features of materials are used, clay tiles and slates. • Institutional use of large houses has led to an erosion of domestic character through, Originally these would have been houses for instance, office blinds, bright internal for an Oxford elite. In broad terms those FIG. 32 and external lighting, corporate signage FIG. 34

40 41 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: North Parade North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Character Area 7: North Parade reverse back up the one-way street onto the Banbury Road. There is no parking provided Significance for bicycles with the result that bikes are often fixed to street furniture. Paving here is unusual for the conservation area, in that concrete pavers of various sizes are Feature Contribution to significance arranged in a random pattern Elsewhere, Spaces • Tight nucleus of streets around houses and paving is the usual asphalt and stone kerbs. premises servicing market gardens Buildings here vary more than elsewhere • Greater variety of buildings, several pre-dating Buildings in the conservation area. The church of St John’s letting of land for development St Phillip and St James with its tall spire • Entrances into North Parade itself from Banbury and Winchester is a dominant feature. This contrasts with Roads appear to be ‘framed’ by the tall buildings either side the small scale shops in North Parade. • Landmark St Philip and St James is Grade I listed Houses too are on different scales; those • The only other listed building is 16 at the centre of the character area being FIG. 35 Winchester Road dating to the 1840s smaller and more densely spaced than the larger houses in Canterbury and Views • Important views of the spire of St Philip and St James Bevington Roads. These smaller buildings Road. The signs of institutional use are fig 35. North Parade contrasts • Church Walk offers attractive views into around North Parade include the older widespread: strip lighting, louvre blinds, significantly with and out of the character area signage, standardised paintwork, front houses from 1830s-1840s with the larger the primarily resi- • Gaps between houses reveal large spaces and trees behind houses dating from the 1860s-1870s. gardens given over to bins and parking. On dential streets in the south side of Bevington Road St Anne’s other parts of the Landscape • Mature and smaller ornamental garden trees enhance the The mix of date, style and scale is reflected College has acquired houses backing onto conservation area area; some are reminders of the market garden origins in the variety of building materials. There its campus, with unsympathetic internal and GE Street's • In North Parade itself, a rare example within the CA are bricks of various types and some external treatments evident from the street. fig 36. masterpiece of St as a whole where paving-stones, albeit concrete, are stucco. Roofs vary in pitch and materials. Philip and St James appropriate and enhance the experience of walking Sash windows predominate though there The spire of St Phillip and St James is the focal point of many views from within the • A particularly well-walked and well-cycled area, is diversity here too, from Georgian exam- Ambience character area. Some of these views have contributes to the prevailing village atmosphere ples with glazing bars and original glass to Victorian Gothic arched openings with large been harmed by unfortunate modern devel- sheets of glass. There are unfortunately opments. An extension at the back of one many losses to modern replacements with of the houses on Church Walk encroaches There are many interesting gaps between the deadening perfection of modern indus- on the view across back gardens from Commentary buildings allowing an appreciation of trially produced glass. In North Parade in The character area, which has a distinctly large spaces behind. Space on the streets particular, none of the commercial premises village-like feel, is hemmed in by the varies considerably, North Parade and preserves original glazing in their upper Banbury and Woodstock roads, east and Church Walk are narrow lanes of very storeys. Many buildings have been altered, west, St Hugh’s College to the north and different character. The other streets are and some poorly designed rear exten- St Anne’s College to the south. Almost generous residential roads. Whereas in sions are visible from the public domain. all of the south west block is occupied by North Parade commercial premises open the former convent built for the Society of directly onto the street, elsewhere front In addition to the church (now used as the the Holy Trinity, now St Antony’s College, gardens are bounded by low brick walls, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) and and is thus excluded from this character probably originally topped by iron railings. commercial premises in North Parade the area, though its tall stone boundary wall other buildings in the character area were all adds considerable interest to the street Commercial activity is confined to North built as family houses. Some still continue scene and buildings within the site have Parade with a variety of small shops, cafés, in this use, though many of the large houses a significant impact on the environment. pubs and a bi-monthly market. Motor traffic (e.g. at the south end of Winchester Road) here is largely confined to commercial have been divided into flats. Houses backing The street pattern within the character vehicles though the little on-street parking onto St Hugh’s College have nearly all been area is laid with various cross routes inter- permitted can result in through traffic acquired by the college. University depart- secting with the main north-south roads. ments occupy some houses in Bevington becoming impossible. Vehicles frequently FIG. 36

42 43 Conservation Area Appraisal 6. Character Areas: Lathbury and Staverton Roads North Oxford Victorian Suburb

North Parade are entirely different, and when Character Area 8: Lathbury parked cars allow can be equally enjoyable. and Staverton Roads

The large open spaces behind houses Significance are often a reminder of the former market gardens and orchards that used to occupy the area. Trees are, as elsewhere in the conservation area, confined to the private Feature Contribution to significance domain, but their contribution is significant. Spaces • Two curving streets of early twentieth century In North Parade a hard urban landscape houses set at angles to the road contrasts with the green suburban feel of • The streets are broad creating a feeling of spaciousness FIG. 37 the surrounding streets. The treatment of • Primarily residential with some houses front gardens of houses used for institutional Buildings adapted for other uses, e.g. a nursery fig 37. View of St purposes is harmful to the character of the Winchester Road illustrating the harm that • The suburban character derives from most of the houses being Philip and St James relatively modest development can have area. At best, a low-maintenance approach from Winchester semi-detached, typically of two storeys with attic space on important views. The modern garages has been adopted, more often the front Road across back in the foreground of views from Canterbury gardens have been used simply as a means • There are no listed buildings in this area, but there is an integrity gardens, showing of providing parking for members of staff. to the building styles deployed and Nos 1-3 Lathbury Road by the potential for Road have a similar effect. Winchester degradation of Mountain make a distinctive contribution to the streetscape Road is wide and straight over most of This is a vibrant part of the conservation the view when its length, with the blank side wall of the area. Motor traffic movements are light. Views • For the most part there are short, inviting large extensions Dickson Poon Building at St Hugh’s forming views due to the curves in the streets are permitted The area is extensively used by walkers. an unsatisfactory termination of this vista. Pedestrians are a combination of those • Occasional glimpses beyond the houses are possible, but fig 38. Parking, attracted to the commercial outlets in despite the staggering each building is set close to the next even for deliv- The large spaces behind many of the North Parade and students and staff eries, is a problem Victorian houses allow for many inter- Landscape • Where retained or only partially retained, front gardens in North Parade esting views across gardens or between walking between St Hugh’s College and make a vital contribution to the character of the area the city centre, for which Winchester Road impacting on buildings. Where college campuses have • T he Woodstock Road end of the two streets is more verdant pedestrian space provides an attractive alternative to the developed on back-lands north and south with large mature trees in comparison with the Banbury Road busy main roads. The presence of the of the character area the views through end which is more open, with smaller garden trees visible gaps between houses have been blocked church, shops and occasional market gives • Calmness is a major feature of the area, although since by the elevations of modern, institutional the area something of a village-like feel. Ambience the roads connect the two major arterial roads north accommodation. The impact of this is out of the city centre, they are used as alternatives particularly noticeable in Bevington Road. Negative features to Rawlinson Road and St Margaret’s Road • Institutional use and poor maintenance The narrow lane of Church Walk allows for of former houses and their gardens particularly attractive views. Views along • Inappropriate modification and enlargement in the form of filled with later development. Feather extensions filling the gaps Commentary edged wooden fences are common. The character area consists of two suburban • High levels of light pollution caused streets running between the Banbury and by extended use of buildings A sense of space in created by the Woodstock roads. These streets lay outside for institutional purposes moderate scale of the houses in propor- of the St John’s College estate. The houses tion to their generous building plots. • Loss of front gardens to hard standing and were built in the early years of the twen- gravel for parking, bin and cycle storage tieth century up to the First World War. These roads do suffer somewhat from • Parking and deliveries being used as cut-throughs between the especially in North Parade Lathbury and Staverton Roads have a two main roads, usually by light commercial • Poorly maintained road surfaces and garden suburb character. The spaces vehicles or taxis. Though the space is quiet pavements in the area as a whole between houses are small where they enough for children to cycle accompanied outside North Parade itself face onto the street, but where they meet by adults. There is relatively little on-street the backs of houses facing onto the parking. Road surfaces and pavements are Woodstock and Banbury roads there are as elsewhere in the conservation area, laid FIG. 38 large gaps, though these have often been in asphalt often in an uneven condition

44 45 Conservation Area Appraisal 7. Negative Features, Vulnerabilities North Oxford Victorian Suburb and Opportunities for Enhancement

late-twentieth-century flat roofed garages During the preparation of this appraisal area laid out attractively to encourage projecting partially in front of the façades. a number of challenges for the future walking can be seen as a negative management of the conservation area were feature, which might be easily remediable The serpentine curves of these roads create identified. These included areas where particularly at bus stops, for instance. a series of relatively short views in which the the conservation area may be vulnerable façades of houses framed by trees feature to changes in character, negative features Street lighting: For the most part street much more prominently than in other parts that detract from its character and several lighting is sensitive and complements the of the conservation area. Moving along opportunities for future enhancement. conservation area. However there are places the roads, different houses reveal them- where consideration might be given to less selves as the focal point of the view. Trees utilitarian lamps standards, for instance play an important part in the street scene. Negative Features in the Kingston Road character area. Here they are usually more domestic in Motor traffic scale than in the older parts of the conser- Intrusive alterations to buildings Traffic negatively affects the character of the vation area. The mix of gables and finials Extensions: The impact of extensions conservation area at certain times of day. As add interest to the skyline. There are few either to the side or at the back of houses the major routes through the conservation FIG. 39 views out of the space other than when varies in the character areas. In the more area, the Woodstock and Banbury Roads one approaches the ends of the street. densely developed western side of the carry a high volume of traffic away from the conservation area, the noise and light fig 39. Stepped on pavements. Street furniture consists of The land is flat. In the public domain city centre. The roads either side of these gain has a much larger impact on other building line in the usual swan-necked lamp standards. hard surfaces predominate. The feeling arterial roads sustain heavy traffic particu- Lathbury Road houses than in the more spacious plots of a leafy suburb derives entirely from larly during school, morning and evening of houses in the central and eastern The contribution of buildings in the char- planting in private gardens. However, rush hours. Kingston Road is particularly fig 40. The curve sections of the conservation area. of Staverton Road acter area is not so much the architecture front gardens are increasingly being susceptible to a high volume of traffic as of individual houses but the suburban style, gravelled over for car parking. users try to avoid negotiating Worcester Both rear and side extensions can apparently informal layout and planning. Street and the junction between Beaumont close down important views between Where houses address the curving road The character area consists of two residen- Street and St Giles. Consequently it is the buildings and along back gardens, they are stepped back from one another tial roads that run between two busy main only street with traffic calming in place. that hint at openness and where and at an angle to the road, revealing roads. Individually they have the character there are trees inspire well-being. both front and side elevations. Houses of a quiet suburb, but there is no means On the east side of Banbury Road, the here are somewhat standard Edwardian of communicating between these roads pattern of development with the river Replacement of doors and windows: The suburban style, mostly semi-detached. without venturing onto either the Banbury boundary and Park Town effectively replacement of doors and windows with They are on a smaller scale reflecting or Woodstock roads. Both Lathbury and blocking north south routes, there is little uPVC units has detracted from the char- smaller families and fewer live-in staff. Staverton Roads are generally quiet. Both through traffic although an increase in acter of some buildings in the conservation There seems to have been an unfortunate are frequented by walkers and cyclists. volume is noticeable in school rush hours. area. This is the result of the reflective Motor traffic is only occasional but can be texture and even colour of plastic units quite fast moving as vehicles use the roads Public Realm and the heavy frames that reduce the as a cut through. The area is bright and open On street parking: Cars parked on the area of glass that is visible with traditional on account of the modest scale of the trees. roadside intrude into views up and down timber framed windows. Indeed, the the streets in some of the more densely replacement of windows with plastic units Negative features built-up character areas on the west. can significantly reduce the amount of • Poorly maintained road surfaces and light that reaches interior rooms. Historic extensive use of asphalt for pavements Pavement and road surfaces: Most of England has demonstrated that traditional • Loss of front gardens to gravel and hard the pavement and road surfaces in the windows can be just as energy efficient standing for parking and bin storage conservation area are treated with tarmac- as modern plastic units, whilst repairing adam. Despite being made of concrete existing windows is better for the environ- • Institutional development the paving stones in North Parade are an ment than fitting new ones that may need south of Staverton Road example of what can be achieved. Kerb replacement in less than twenty years. • Unattractive flat-roofed garages in front setts are generally of stone, although there gardens, extending in front of buildings. are discernible instances, where concrete Skylights: Due to the low height of most of • Use of roads as a cut through between replacements have been used detrimentally. the terraced properties on the west side of Banbury and Woodstock roads. the conservation area, roofs tend to be much The absence of public seating in an FIG. 40 more visible. This highlights the random

46 47 Conservation Area Appraisal 7. Negative Features, Vulnerabilities and North Oxford Victorian Suburb Opportunities for Enhancement

insertion of skylights of varying quality, which parking. While guidance exists on railings, of the arterial roads and the important south of Bevington Road into the is particularly noticeable in terraced houses. more attention is needed to ensure that cross routes from west to east by peak time Central Conservation Area. replacement railings are supplied appro- traffic would further degrade the character Storage for bins/bicycles: There is a priately rather than indiscriminately. Similar of the conservation area and continue to Protection for unlisted buildings: commendable attempt within the conser- guidance on other types of boundary, degrade already poor road surfaces. Consideration should be given to vation area to address storage of wheelies including details on appropriate bricks, Article 4 directions to control inap- bins and of bicycles. The results are variable bonding and mortars would be welcome. Micro-generation: Providing energy through propriate development of unlisted across the area as a whole, with storage renewable resources is a popular means buildings by removing certain permitted having a negative impact on properties with Character of new development: New of reducing carbon emissions and some development rights, including: small front gardens in areas typically with the development has the potential to make examples of the installation of both photo- greatest density, as well as in front of build- a positive contribution to the char- voltaic and photo-thermal cells are now • Inappropriate boundary treatments, ings adapted for institutional use, where acter of the conservation area In future. visible within the conservation area. The e.g. excessively tall front walls/fences/ quality of provision could be encouraged. Employing standardised approaches design of many of these units could be hedges, inappropriate restoration of without consideration of the local char- considered to detract from the appearance replica railings where boarded fencing Intrusive Modern Development acter has the potential to be harmful. As of historic buildings where they conceal and was the original boundary treatment or railings of an inappropriate design; Loss of gaps between buildings: Infill well as the appearance, the siting and replace traditional roof details that make an introduction of large gate piers and development has reduced or removed the layout of new development can also have important contribution to the character and inappropriate gates; and inappropriate gaps between buildings that contribute a harmful impact if it does not respond appearance of both the building and area. use of cement pointing of masonry to the low density character of the conser- to the characteristics of the local area. Corporate use of former houses: Adaptation • Hardstanding replacing front gardens vation area that is a legacy of its organic Increased density of new development: of older buildings for institutional purposes • Replacement windows and doors development with properties surrounded The conservation area has become more can prolong the life and value of the by private gardens. The loss of glimpsed densely developed as a result of the infill affected property. However, there is a • Solar panels on street frontages views to greenery beyond the building development of former houses set within danger that office lighting, window treat- • Skylights on front elevations line has, in places, removed a major large plots. Whilst further infill development ments, signage, storage solutions work • Painting of brick and stonework feature of the suburb’s character. may be necessary, it will be essential to against the character of buildings that Improvements in the Public Domain: Character of new development: With ensure that this does not create a density contribute positively to streetscapes. changing ownership patterns, some later of development that detracts from the • Condition of road and pavement overall character of the conservation surfaces could be greatly improved 20th-century development in the conser- Opportunities for enhancement vation area has used building styles, area, or the distinctiveness of locations • Appropriate replacement of materials and landscaping of varying quality within it. Gaps and back gardens may be stone kerbs and setts vulnerable to development pressures. Designation that do not reflect the suburb’s special Statutory Listing: There is considerable • Street furniture: appropriate lamp architectural and historic character. Loss of green landscape: A major char- scope for adding to the statutory list (See standards; strategically located public Appendix on Positive Unlisted Buildings). seating would encourage walking Light pollution: Whether older houses acteristic of the conservation area is the • Permeability of residential roads between adapted for institutional use or new build- greenness provided by trees in front and Conservation area boundary review: Woodstock and Banbury Roads to motor ings designed for educational purposes, rear gardens as well as in the public domain When adjoining conservation areas traffic result in their use as cut-throughs high levels of light pollution is a concern. of two of the main east-west cross routes. Any loss of green spaces would erode this are appraised, there is a case to be by commercial traffic (couriers and taxis). special feature of the area. These spaces made for adjustments to the bounda- This could be improved to the benefit Vulnerabilities could be under threat from the desire to ries of this conservation area, e.g.: of residents, walkers and cyclists. use front gardens for parking and develop- Loss of front boundary walls and boundary • Include Bainton Road and ment proposals in private green spaces. Development Management features: The brick walls, railings or feath- perhaps Moreton Road; Development Management offers er-edged boarding that provide the front Loss of mature trees: Some mature trees are • Create a new conservation area consisting the opportunity to manage change boundaries of many properties make an coming to the end of their natural lifespan. of Bainton Road, Moreton Road, appropriately, conserve and enhance important contribution to the conserva- These trees are likely to be prominent in Staverton Road and Lathbury Road; the special character of the conser- tion area’s character; defining the limits of the streetscape or landscape and their loss • Merge the Walton Manor Conservation vation area by managing: public and private space, framing views will have an impact on views and character. Area into the NOVSCA; and along street, filling the gaps between Without proposals to ensure appropriate • Changes which could detract historic buildings in the street frontage, • Transferring the Radcliffe Observatory from the character of the area replanting this harm could be permanent. and the whole of the area between etc. These features are vulnerable to • Large scale backland development the Woodstock and Banbury Roads removal or adaptation to facilitate off-street Increase in traffic: Any increase in the use

48 49 Conservation Area Appraisal 8. Sources North Oxford Victorian Suburb

• Inappropriate extensions especially Airs, M (2016) “Oxford’s missing museum” Sherwood, J and N Pevsner (1974) on ends of terraces and blocking in C20 Magazine No 3, pp. 38-47 Oxfordshire (Buildings of England) gaps between buildings or the Harmondsworth: Penguin joining up of adjacent houses Barrett, H and J Phillips (1993) Suburban style: the British home, 1840- Tyack, G (1998) Oxford: an architec- Management of trees: 1960 Boston etc: Little, Brown tural guide Oxford: Oxford UP Pro-active tree management is desirable for dealing with aging trees and to encourage Curl, J S (1977) The erosion of Oxford Whiting, R C, ed. (1993) Oxford: studies succession planting that will help to ensure Oxford: Oxford Illustrated Press in the history of a university town since mature tree canopy cover is sustained 1800 Manchester etc: Manchester UP Dixon, R and S Muthesius (1985) Victorian architecture 2nd ed London: Thames & Hudson

Garnett, J and G Rosser, eds. (2013) Park Town: Oxford’s garden suburb Oxford: Privately printed

Graham, M (1985) The suburbs of Victorian Oxford: growth in a pre-industrial city Leicester: Unpublished PhD thesis

Harwood, E et al, eds. (2013) Oxford and Cambridge (Twentieth Century Architecture 11) London: Twentieth Century Society

Hinchcliffe, T (1992) North Oxford New Haven, London: Yale UP

Historic England (2008) Conservation Principles Swindon: English Heritage

Historic England (2011) Understanding Place: Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management Swindon: English Heritage

“Modern Oxford” in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 4, the City of Oxford (1979) Originally published by Victoria County History, London [http:// www.british-history.ac.uk/ vch/oxon/vol4/ pp181-259 Accessed 15 December 2016]

Oxford City Council (2008) North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area Appraisal Draft Oxford: City Council

Oxford Preservation Trust (s.d.) North Oxford railings: a guide to design, repair and reinstatement Oxford: OPT and OCC

Service, A (1977) Edwardian archi- tecture New York etc: Oxford UP

50 51 Appendix 1: Listed Buildings Appendix 1: Listed Buildings

The conservation area as a whole is richly The Lawn, is much more sophisticated in 19th-century ashlar building at the entrance 1891-94 J L Pearson added the austere Chapel, endowed with over 70 listed buildings and plan and execution being set well back from into The University Parks and by its inclusion now used as a library, deploying coursed structures ranging in date from the 17th century the road in a large plot and built of ashlar. in the conservation area a marker for the style rubble and adopting a simple lancet style. to the late 20th century. Designation has been and tone of the Norham Manor houses. One of the most distinguished 19th-century accorded to most of the building types in the 1850–1900 One of the most prolific developers in North architects to work in North Oxford was G E conservation area from large detached villas The first architect, whose work has contrib- through to terraced housing. Significantly Oxford in the 1860-70s was Frederick Codd. Street (1824-81), who was for many years the uted to the character of the conservation area One of his more successful commissions is Oxford Diocesan Architect. To him came the the larger colleges have listed buildings, in as a whole, was Samuel Lipscomb Seckham. the case of Lady Margaret Hall as many as considered to be 13 Bradmore Road built in commission in 1862 to build the Church of St He began the enclave at Park Town in 1853, 1870. The yellow-brick house is characterised Philip and St James (Grade I) on the Woodstock eight. The 20th century is best represented designated as a group together with his in College-owned buildings. All the listed by a varied composition with rich masonry Road (now used as the Oxford Centre for houses of the same date at 68 and 70 Banbury detailing, and is an example of a promi- Mission Studies). It is considered one of his buildings are designated Grade II except the Road which “flank” the entrance from the Church of St Philip and St James, the Radcliffe nent corner position being used effectively most important works. It was intended to Banbury Road. The enclave is characterised to contribute positively to the streetscape. provide a landmark within the new suburb, Observatory and the Observer’s house, now by large detached and semi-detached villas Osler House, which are all listed Grade I. Belonging to 1877 is 19 Norham Gardens, known its broach spire terminating many views from in and Italianate style, giving way to two fine as Gunfield, which has been altered signif- within it. Like St Antony’s (above), it is built of crescents facing each other across the oval icantly as a result of institutional use. Other coursed rubble relieved with bands of brick. Pre-1850 gardens. Further detached and semi-detached works by Codd can be seen in Banbury Road. The oldest surviving buildings are the pair of villas link the oval space to a third, shallower 52 Banbury Road (1869) is a yellow-brick house The vicarage at 68 Woodstock Road was houses at 42 & 44 Woodstock Road, converted terrace built from inferior materials, closing the now part of Wycliffe Hall and much altered, built some 25 years later to designs by HW to become the Royal Oak Public House, at enclave and completed in 1855. Seckham also while substantial red-brick 59 Banbury Road G Drinkwater, a local architect. A Tudor-style their heart 17th-century and altered in the designed in c. 1855, 7–9, 11-13 and 15–19 Banbury stands out from its surroundings because of building, it is distinguished by a cross wing, 18th century. St Giles Terrace at 14-36 (even) Road, all semi-detached houses in stucco. its of materials. 66 Banbury Road is another hall and oriel and good detailing. When listed Woodstock Road dates to the late 18th century; it was felt that it added considerably to the A number of distinguished local architects are large and striking yellow-brick house of 1869 these are timber-framed houses on stone bases in a prominent street-corner position. setting of Street’s church. Drinkwater’s contri- with cement rendering and are distinguished associated with the release of Norham Manor bution to the suburb can also be seen in the by the rhythmic pairing of the entrance doors. land and their works are well represented in Contrasting with Codd’s house now Church of St Margaret (1883–93) and in the the schedule of listed buildings. Amongst them forming part of Wycliffe Hall, is the red-brick adjacent vicarage there (1884). The large church The outstanding listed building is the Radcliffe was William Wilkinson (1819-1901), the chief Romanesque of John Gibbs at 54 Banbury Road was built as a chapel-of-ease to Saint Philip Observatory (Grade I), begun by Henry Keene estate architect, who built some of the earliest (1867), also part of the theological college. and St James to accommodate the growing in 1772 and completed by James Wyatt. The houses including 7 Norham Gardens in 1862, Wykeham House at 56 Banbury Road (1866) is population in this part of north Oxford as the octagonal tower with a sculptural relief on each an important showpiece for the new estate and also by Gibbs and much altered. 62 Banbury terraces on the western side of the suburb façade executed by John Bacon was based on notable for its use of a domesticated Gothic Road of 1864 by E G Bruton is listed as a fine increased. A porch intended to form the base the Tower of the Winds in the Roman market style (recently remodelled) as well 5 Norham example if a mid 19th-century house, the of a tower was added by Bodley in 1898–99. place in Athens; the design was indicative of Gardens in 1865, which has domestic Gothic entrance doorway incorporating sculpture. the discovery of Graeco-Roman remains at the fenestration and door archways, as well as the The development of the western part of the end of the 18th century. Keene also designed distinctive steeply pitched hipped roofs. In Another major contributor to the streetscape suburb is marked by the early terraces for the Observer’s House (now Osler House, also 1869 Wilkinson designed 13 Norham Gardens, was Charles Buckeridge (1832–73), a pupil of Sir artisans (1870–73) of Clapton Rolfe, of which Grade I), a three-bay two-storey dwelling built a large show-piece house, which he used to George Gilbert Scott. He designed 3 Norham three groups are listed: 114–38, 149–156 and in ashlar like the Observatory itself, to which illustrate his own English Country Houses (1870 Gardens in 1866, a finely detailed yellow- 159–164 Kingston Road (all consecutive). These it was linked by a curving covered way. and 1875) and which was also illustrated in brick house of a strong Gothic character with are influenced by the polychromy of Butterfield Viollet-le-Duc’s Habitations Modernes (1875). an early extension (1895) typical of the North and were illustrated in Building News (1870), The late Georgian period of the early 19th-cen- Oxford pattern. 9 Norham Gardens (1862–63) by cited in Betejman’s First and last loves (1952) as tury is evident in some stuccoed villas on Some 20 years later, Wilkinson, by then in contrast is in red brick with stone dressings and demonstrating the influence of Norman Shaw. the west side of Banbury Road. 77 and 79 partnership with his nephew, Harry Wilkinson designed in High Victorian Gothic. Buckeridge’s A grander terrace of 1883 built by the Curtis (c.1840 and early 19th-century respectively) Moore, designed 105 Banbury Road, consid- major contribution was the conventual buildings Brothers can be seen 11–25 (odd) Walton Well are close to the junction with North Parade, ered to be a particularly successful example of for the Society of the Holy Trinity in 1866–68 on Road, adjacent to Lucy & Co’s Eagle ironworks appearing to form an imposing entrance the Domestic Revival style with its overhanging Woodstock Road, which became St Antony’s founded in 1826. The terrace is enlivened with into this service street pre-dating the major asymmetrical gables, finely carved stone details College in 1948. The main block of nine bays tympana over a first-floor sash illustrating scenes expansion into the land owned by St John’s and clear definition of the separate elements is built of coursed rubble, marking a delib- in the life of Elijah. It is notable for the complete College. A similar entrance is to be seen in of the building. TN Deane was responsible erate contrast with the brick-built domestic set of marginally glazed sashes (unusual for Winchester Road. 89 Banbury Road, formerly for North Lodge in 1862 on Parks Road, a rare villas and housing in the rest of the suburb. In this late period) and the original door features

52 53 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 1: Listed Buildings North Oxford Victorian Suburb

with side lights and glazed over lights. Road (1925–26) has merit for its three giant staircase system, reflecting its foundation for Hartland House at St Anne’s dates to 1937 and is brick arches, the rendered infill walling artic- women only. The simple Neo-Georgian style by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The earlier buildings An early essay in the Arts & Crafts style was seen ulated by ground floor piers and entablature. is enlivened by Baroque entrance/chapel at St Antony’s College are described above. in Codd’s design for 59 Banbury Road and the The late 17th-century style is continued by the block, with rusticated quoins, pediments, continuing northward expansion of the suburb tall hipped roof, dormers and symmetrical tall carved doorcase and lantern, and enhanced Outstanding 20th-century architecture can be saw further examples being built. Nearer St chimney stacks. Fred Openshaw’s house of by the grouping with the ashlar lodges. The seen in the Bardwell character area at Wolfson Giles however are two interesting examples of 1924, 20 Northmoor Road, was built for Basil garden front is consciously more gracious. College by Powell and Moya (1968-74) with the Queen Anne Revival, in two buildings by Blackwell and became the home of JRR Tolkien later extensions (excluded from the listing) in Sir Thomas G Jackson (1835-1924) at 21 Banbury in 1930, who wrote The Hobbit and the majority The 1928 extension is attached by a single- sympathy with the original from 1992 onwards. Road (1879) and 23 Banbury Road (1896). of The Lord of the Rings while living there. Its storey link and is matching in style. Near this Here reinforced concrete on piled foundations Jackson, who had been articled to Sir George significance is more historical than aesthetic. extension is the Kenyon Building, dating to has been used to develop “a fluid, informal Gilbert Scott, designed a number of buildings 1964–66 by David Roberts, one of the first composition of open and enclosed spaces across the city. 21 Banbury Road, designed as The interest of the listed college buildings lies architects to specialise in designing university connected by covered walkways” giving it a the Girls’ High School, is notable for its red brick in their interpretation, in some cases refuta- buildings in a modern idiom. Historic England powerful affinity with its setting beside the river. rendered with terracotta mouldings. 23 Banbury tion, of the Oxford paradigm of quadrangles, argue that this is his most accomplished Road has tall chimney stacks and a mansard roof and for their contribution to the development building showing the influence of Louis Kahn. Structures with Dutch gables containing Venetian windows of 20th-century architecture in an academic The building is a block of study bedrooms on While the majority of the listed buildings are (part demolished in 2016). In similar style are environment. Their relationship with their a staggered V-shaped plan around a central residential or institutional, there are a few 27 and 29 Banbury Road by JJ Stevenson. environment is also interesting, particularly stairwell. At the south-west corner of the notable structures within the conservation at Wolfson where the architects designed college grounds is The Principal’s House, 72 area. The largest of these is the former plant 1900–1970 a bridge to link it to the meadows adjacent Woodstock Road, an altogether earlier building shop in Banbury Road, now Gee’s Restaurant There are many speculatively constructed villas to Marston Brook and to a footpath along dating to c. 1850, of coursed rubble with part (1897), in the form of a conservatory. The dating to before the First World War in North the river, leading to the University Parks. rendering and ashlar dressings and coigns. 18th-century ashlar boundary wall enclosing Oxford. The pair of semi-detached houses at 2-4 At Lady Margaret Hall, located within Norham The work of Howell, Killick, Partridge and Amis the Radcliffe Observatory campus is sepa- (even) Charlbury Road of 1908-09 by Stephen Manor, the earliest listed building is the Old can be seen in two colleges within the North rately listed as is the coursed rubble boundary Salter in the Domestic Revival style is imagina- Hall at Lady Margaret Hall (1879). Originally a Parade character area. The lead architect was wall surrounding St Antony’s College that is tively composed on a U-plan with a massive house, it was soon extended to form the basis John Partridge (d.2016), whose Wolfson & Rayne contemporary with the main building. Within hipped roof rising behind gabled side wings of the first college for women. Sir Reginald Buildings at St Anne’s College (1960–69) and the conservation area the brick-built canal and descending catslide over porches in the Blomfield (1846-1942) appears to have been the Hilda Besse Building at St Antony’s College bridge dates to c.1790 and emanates from the angles. Moberley’s 7 Linton Road (1910) occu- architect of choice when he designed addi- (1966-71) are considered to be among his finest Office of James Brindley, while Walton Well pies a corner plot, and is styled like a miniature tional wings: the Wordsworth Building (1896) works. Both employ pre-cast concrete and at Road bridge dates to 1881. The stone Walton country house, with finely graded brickwork, in the Dutch style, The Talbot(ing) in 1909 in a St Anne’s board-marked site cast concrete. The Well Drinking Fountain (1885) occupies a key cornice and roofscape outside, and great 17th-century French style, the Toynbee Building Guardian obituary (30 July 2016) describes how street corner and is an eye-catcher on entering dignity on a very compact scale within. Other (1915) in a Georgian manner and finally in Partridge detailed “the chocolate bar façades of the conservation area over Walton Well Road quality examples can be seen at 2 Northmoor 1920 the Lodge Building in the same style as his Oxford designs to shed water cleanly”, which bridge. There are two surviving letterboxes Road designed in 1903-08 by Edward Allfrey the Toynbee Building which links the Old Hall he apparently dubbed “elevational plumbing”, of 1865 in Park Town and at the junction of and 121 Banbury Road, also of 1903, by Henry with the new ranges. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott thus displaying both creativity and pragmatism. Farndon Road with Warnborough Road. T Hare (1860-1921), which stands out by virtue added the distinctive Byzantine-style Chapel These are additional buildings at both colleges. of its sophisticated composition, evoking a in 1933, which leads off his Deneke Building Restoration style, with fine brick and window of the same date. Enclosing the Wolfson 3 Norham Gardens, 1866, 13 Norham Gardens, 1869, details as well as pargetting; Hare’s contribu- Listed buildings by Quad at the front are two wings designed Character Area Architect: Charles Buckeridge Architect: William Wilkinson tion to other buildings in Oxford is significant. in 1959-61 by Raymond Erith, containing All buildings are Grade II listed 5 Norham Gardens, 1865, 19 Norham Gardens, 1877, Belbroughton Road was developed between rooms, entrance lodge and the Library with unless otherwise specified. Architect: William Wilkinson Architect: Frederick Codd 1924 and 1931 with detached middle-class Diocletian windows at top storey level. housing, mostly of only two storeys. It is there- St Hugh’s occupies the south-eastern corner Norham Manor 7 Norham Gardens, 1862, North Lodge, Parks Road, fore one of the latest original developments of the St Margaret’s character area. The Architect: William Wilkinson 1862, Architect: TN Deane 13 Bradmore Road, 1870, in the conservation area. Christopher Wright’s College Main Building and separately listed (not Moore as stated houses are of especial interest for their re-exam- Architect: Frederick Codd 9 Norham Gardens, 1862-63, in list description) Lodge and Gates were designed in 1914-16 Architect: Charles Buckeridge ination of later C17 themes and proportions in by Buckland and Haywood. The plan is of a modern context. His house at 1 Belbroughton interest for varying the standard Oxford

54 55 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 1: Listed Buildings North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Park Town 159–164 consec, Kingston 68 & 70, 1853, Architect: North Parade continued Wolfson & Rayne Buildings, , 1870–73, Built Samuel Lipscomb Seckham 1960-69, Architect: John 1-61 Odd, North side, Road 68 Woodstock Road, The 1853, Architect: Samuel by Clapton Rolfe Vicarage, 1887, Architect: Partridge (Howell, Killick, West side Partridge and Amis) Lipscomb Seckam 11–25 odd, Walton Well Road, H W G Drinkwater 1883, Built by Curtis Brothers 7 & 9, c. 1855, Architect: Sts Antony’ College 2-46, 50-64 Even South Samuel Lipscomb Seckham Church of St Philip and side, 1853, Architect: Samuel Drinking Fountain, Walton St James, 1862, Architect: Main Block, 1866–93, Lipscomb Seckam (No. 10 Well Road, 1885, marking 11 & 13, c. 1855, Architect: GE Street (GRADE I) Architect: Charles Buckeridge is associated with Sarah site of Walton Well Samuel Lipscomb Seckham Angelina Acland (1849–1930), University Buildings Chapel, 1880, Architect: 15–19, c. 1855, Architect: Photographer; No 42 is Road Bridge 242, Walton Radcliffe Observatory, 1772, J L Pearson to designs Samuel Lipscomb Seckham associated with William Well Road, 1881 (not c. 1790 as Henry Keene, completed by by Buckeridge Richard Morfill (1834–1909), stated in the list description) James Wyatt (GRADE I) 21, 1879, Architect: Hilda Besse Building, First Professor of Russian T G Jackson 1960, Architect: John and Slavonic Languages) St Margaret’s Osler House, late 18th century, Partridge (Howell, Killick, Church of St Margaret, 25, Rear of Acland House, Henry Keene (GRADE I) , 1865 Penfold type Partridge and Amis) Letterbox 1883–93, Architect: H 1896, Architect: T G Jackson (west end The Crescent) Boundary wall, 18th century G W Drinkwater with 27, 1881, Architect: Boundary wall, Contemporary porch by G F Bodley Lady Margaret Hall Bardwell JJ Stevenson with Main Block 1 Belbroughton Road, 1925-26, War Memorial, Chapel, 1933, Architect: 29, 1881, Architect: St Hugh’s College Architect: Christopher Wright Dedicated 1920 Sir GG Scott JJ Stevenson Main Building, 1914-16, 2–4 Charlbury Road, 1908-09, Vicarage, c. 1884, Architect: Wordsworth Building, 59, 1869, Architect: Architects: H T Buckland Architect: Stephen Salter H G W Drinkwater 1896, Architect: Sir Frederick Codd & W Haywood Reginald Blomfield 7 Linton Road, 1910, Architect: Road Bridge 240, Aristotle Gee’s, Nursery building, Lodge & Gates , 1914–16, Arthur Hamilton Moberly Lane, c. 1790 Office The Talboting, 1909, Architect: 1897, constructed by RD Architects: H T Buckland of James Brindley Sir Reginald Blomfield & W Haywood 2, Northmoor Road, 1903, Tucker of Tottenham Architect: Edward W Allfrey Banbury Road Wolfson Quad, 1959–61, 77, c. 1840 Kenyon Building, 1964–66, (Associated with Charles Architect: Raymond Erith East side Architect: David Roberts Firth (1857-1936), Regius 79, Early 19th century Toynbee Building, Professor of Modern History) 52-54, Architects: Frederick 72 Woodstock Road, Formerly 1915, Architect: Sir Codd (1869, 52) and 89, c. 1830 The Shrubbery, c. 1850 , 1924, Reginald Blomfield 20 Northmoor Road John Gibbs (1867, 54) Architect Fred E Openshaw, 105, 1886, Architects: Wolfson College Lodge Building, home of JRR Tolkein 56, 1866, Architect: John Wilkinson & Moore 1920, Architect: Sir Original buildings only, 1968– Gibbs (Associated with 121, 1903, Architect: H T Hare Reginald Blomfield 74, Architects: Powell & Moya Kingston Road Professor Sir Edward Poulton, Letterbox, 1865 Penfold FRS (1856– 1943), Evolutionary North Parade Old Hall, c. 1879, Architects: type (junction Farndon and biologist, and Ronald Poulton 16 Winchester Road, c. 1840 Pike & Messenger or Warnborough Roads) (later Poulton Palmer) (1889– Willson Beasley 1915), rugby football hero) 14–36 even, Woodstock 114–138 consec, Kingston Road, Late 18th century Denake Building, 1933, Road, 1870-73, Built 60, 1864, Architect: Architect: Sir GG Scott by Clapton Rolfe William Wilkinson 42 & 44, Woodstock Road, 17th century, Sts Anne’ College 62, 1864, Architect: E G Bruton 149–156 consec, Kingston altered 18th century Road, 1870–73, Built Hartland House, Begun 1937, , 1869, Architect: by Clapton Rolfe 66 Architect: Sir GG Scott Frederick Codd

56 57 Appendix 2: Positive, unlisted buildings Appendix 3: Maps

In the early 21st century 3, 5 and 9 Belbroughton 12 Rawlinson Road, Scale 1: 8,967 several additional build- Road, Architectural, Interwar Historical, associated with Map 1. Conservation Area Boundary ings were designated in houses by Wright and Sir Richard Doll (1912– Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 recognition of their national Fisher & Trubshaw (No. 9) 2005), Epidemiologist importance, as significant examples of particular archi- 10 Belbroughton Road, 78 Woodstock Road, tects’ work or associations with Historical, associated with Sir Architectural, Pike & individuals. The Conservation Francis Simon (1893–1956), Messenger 1885 Principles (2008) provide four Low-temperature physi- cist and philanthropist 80 Woodstock Road, criteria, which permit objective Architectural, Edis 1886 ¯ evaluation of significance as a 11 Chadlington Road, way forward: evidential, histor- Architectural, Mountain 1908 82 Woodstock Road, ical, aesthetic and communal. Architectural, H W Moore 1896 22 Charlbury Road, This appendix lists buildings Architectural, Harrison 1910 94 Woodstock Road, which are deserving of further Historical, associated with consideration either nationally 29 Charlbury Road, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, or locally to avoid degrada- Architectural, Harrison 1914 OM, FRS (1910–1994), tion or loss to buildings of Crystallographer, Nobel 18 Northmoor Road, architectural and historical Laureate in Chemistry Architectural, Rayson 1957 interest. Houses with signif- 121-23 Woodstock Road, icant historical value, that Church of St. Andrew, Architectural, Seckham 1855 are also designated on the Architectural, Fenning 1907 National Heritage List, are Banbury Road only listed in Appendix 1. Kingston Road 65–67 Banbury Road, 22-27 consec, Kingston (group), Architectural, Norham Manor Road, Architectural, Early 19th-century 2 Bradmore Road, Historical, 1870s built by Horne associated with Walter 69–75 Banbury Road, 35-40 consec, Kingston Pater (1838–1894), Author (group), Architectural, Road, Architectural, and scholar, and Clara Early 19th-century 1870s built by Holt Pater (1841–1910), pioneer 78 Banbury Road, of women’s education 106-111 consec, Kingston Historical, associated Road, Architectural, 1870s 14–16 consec, Bradmore Road, with Sir James Murray built by Wheeler Architectural, Codd 1871 (1837–1915), Lexicographer 47-53 consec, Leckford and Editor of the OED 17 Bradmore Road, Road, Architectural, Historical, associated with 106 Banbury Road, Historical, 1876 built by Walter Mary Arnold Ward (Mrs associated with Paul Nash (1889–1946), Artist Humphry Ward) (1851–1920), St Margaret’s Social reformer, novelist 2 Polstead Road, Historical, Lathbury & Staverton Roads 11 Norham Gardens, associated with TE Lawrence 1–3 odd, Lathbury Road, (odd), Architectural, Wilkinson 1867 (1888–1935), Author, archae- Architectural, Mountain 1905 ologist, officer and diplomat Bardwell 20 Lathbury Road, Historical, St. Margaret’s Institute, Cherwell Boathouse, associated with Nirad C. Polstead Road, Architectural, Architectural, 1904, built by Chaudhuri (1897–1999), Writer Drinkwater, 1889–91 Tims, University Boatman

© Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:8,967 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 58 59 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 2. North Oxford 1898 Scale 1: 8,967 Map 3. North Oxford 1919 Scale 1: 8,967 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 ¯ ¯ Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348

© Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:8,967 Ordnance Survey 100019348. (A1) Scale:1:8,967 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 60 61 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 4. North Oxford 1938 Scale 1: 8,967 Map 5. Age of Buildings Survey 1948 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 ¯

© Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:8,967 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 62 63 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Scale 1: 8,967 Map 6. Views and vistas within North Oxford Scale 1: 8,967 Map 7. North Oxford Character Areas Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 ¯ ¯

Lathbury & Staverton Roads

Bardwell Estate Banbury Road

St Margaret's

Park Town

North Parade Kingston Road Norham Manor

Viewcones (! Targets of Views

© Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:8,532 Ordnance Survey 100019348. (A1) Scale:1:8,967 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 64 65 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 8. Character Area 1: Norham Manor Scale 1: 2,311 Map 9. Character Area 2: Park Town Scale 1: 1,958 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348

64 39 FW 61.6m 13 5 27 CW Def 62.8m W 15 62.3m 44 F 2 44b 48 2 PARK TOWN 3

Norham End 7 34 44a

62.9m 60.8m ROAD ¯ Benson Place ¯ 1 NORTHMOOR ROAD 26 4 22 3 1 2 House 21 LB 3

82 13 to 22 CR 10 61.1m 13 1 7 8 12 13 18 Bardwell Court

4 Murray Court 30 27 3 62.1m 8 9 Dragon School 2 9a 11 24 Maison 8 33 Ockham Court5 to 9 Sub Sta BARDWELL ROAD 18 Def Lodge 1

37 78 Cottage Hotel 5 CW 62.5m Def Oxford 47 13 9 76 FW 4 of English 41 8 6 FW 61.3m

12 FW LB 4 45 38 2 2 61 5 13 43 64 1 39 14 C Tk FW 61.6m 1 10 27 CRICK ROAD NORHAM MANOR School CW 17 Def 62.8m 62.3m 44 FW 15 62.6m 60.7m CW 44b 48 30 PARK TOWN 19 Def El 17 34 63.5m 70 44a 18 7 62.9m BANBURY ROAD 62 1 62.3m 19 26 17 PARK TOWN 22 22 CF Kellogg College 20

5 10 61.1m 20 15 University 8 18 Studies 18 El 4 The 13a 27 Road 62.1m 13 63.3m 2 11 12 Maison

1 33 6 68

4 NORHAM ROAD Lodge Hall 9 9a 37 62.8m 63.4m 66a Hotel 2 62.5m

Chapel 83 13 Group Tree Preservation Orders Group Tree Preservation Orders TCB 8 mn Individual Tree Preservation Order mn Individual Tree Preservation Order 12 63.3m 1 38 Character Areas Character Areas 77 5 Positive Buildings Positive Buildings 63.4m Wolsey Hall 75 Listed Buildings Listed Buildings 66 62.2m Grade 1 BA Grade LB 10 Grade I NBURY ROAD LB Grade I CRICK ROAD

67 17 Grade II Grade II

3 Grade II*63 63.6m Grade II* 62.6m Grade A Ecclesiastical Grade A Ecclesiastical Grade B Ecclesiastical Grade B Ecclesiastical 61 17 63.5m Grade C Ecclesiastical Grade C Ecclesiastical Sub Sta © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:2,311 Ordnance Survey 100019348. (A1) Scale:1:1,958 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 66 67 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 10. Character Area 3: Bardwell Scale 1: 1,344 Map 11. Character Area 4: Kingston Road Scale 1: 2,646 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348

13 1 86 1 7 22 11 10 37 PH 30 Dame Aristotle Bridge School GDST 2 57.9m 23 63.5m 89 31 Court 92

¯ 85 ¯

41 98 32 8 63.4m 39 28

7 80 23 6 Church of 19 31 Recreation Ground 5 El 15 63.4m 9 9 Russell Court

21 80 14 9

74 18 1 8 El Tk

11 27 14 4 2 62.0m 1 5 26 63.6m

1

2

68 21 Drain Oxford Canal 1a 24 24 19 15 12 1 25 3 10 Stevens LB 19 5 62.4m 62.6m 18 2

12

62 6 8 15 7 9 51 1 6

62.7m 23 16 13

1 Lodge River Cherwell

56 63.2m 27 9 to 81 71

28

83

7 51 62.7m Close 1 59

39 29 61 7 8 69 40 5

46 13 2 8

51 6 62.7m

2 57 52 62.3m El LB 1 2 7 35 3 29 8 32 63

35 9 64 45 1

34 34

67 5

66 28

43 2 35 62.6m 2 3

7 MANOR

79 21

78 61.8m Hall Drain House 3 41 1

22

20

90 Drain 91 3 47 62.5m 13 77 53 71 11 73 1 Group Tree Preservation Orders 7 Group Tree63 Preservation44 Orders 51 14 63.0m 61.9m 1 PH mn Individual Tree Preservation Order 5 Wyndham House mn Individual Tree Preservation Order 6 4 8 13 61.8m 2 Character Areas Character Areas 5 17 7 1a 22 Positive Buildings Positive Buildings8 1 1 20 7 1 4 30 14 10 Listed Buildings Listed Buildings22 14 61.0m 27 58.8m 18 6a 2 Grade 16 Grade 43 10 28 79 PARK TOWN 31 76 Grade I 34 Grade I 73 21 17 60.5m 67 30 Grade II 11 1 40 Grade II 1 4 45 3 49 1 2 Grade II* 62.0m 61 Grade II* 90 13 5 55 24 8 Grade7 A Ecclesiastical 1 Grade A Ecclesiastical 4 Grade B Ecclesiastical Grade B Ecclesiastical18 94 8 Grade C9 Ecclesiastical 17 Grade C Ecclesiastical © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:3,444 Ordnance Survey 100019348. Scale:1:2,646 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 68 (A1) 69 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 12. Character Area 5: St Margaret's Scale 1: 3,217 Map 13. Character Area 6: Banbury Road Scale 1: 5,952 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348

Group Tree Preservation Orders Road 1 mn Individual Tree Preservation Order 2 6

Character Areas 6 1 2 Positive Buildings

Listed Buildings 9 Grade ¯ ¯ Grade I Grade II

Grade II* 2 Grade A Ecclesiastical Grade B Ecclesiastical

Grade C Ecclesiastical 1

Oxford Canal

4

2 2

1 5 1

2

1 1 5

2 9 7

7

3 3

1 1

2 1f

6

4 1

PH Dame

Court

Group Tree Preservation Orders St Hugh's College 7 mn Individual Tree Preservation Order

5 Character Areas 4 9 Positive Buildings

9 Listed Buildings Grade Grade I Grade II Grade II* Oxford Canal 1 Grade A Ecclesiastical 3 1 5 Close Grade B Ecclesiastical 9 2 Grade C Ecclesiastical © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:3,217 Ordnance Survey 100019348. (A1) Scale:1:5,952 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 70 71 Conservation Area Appraisal Appendix 3: Maps North Oxford Victorian Suburb

Map 14. Character Area 7: North Parade Scale 1: 1,710 Map 15. Character Area 8: Lathbury & Staverton Roads Scale 1: 1,406 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. Ordnance Survey 100019348

11 141

87 El 63.6m 15

139 Dickson Poon Building 63.3m 19 85 74 East Cottage 63.4m CR

West 182 St Clare's, Oxford Shelter ¯ 2 68 ¯ 72 13 St Clare's Hall 12 11 6

137 9 63.4m CR 1 138 of the Holy Trinity 14 83 1 2 3 136 4 TCB 5 CANTERBURY ROAD

6 9 63.2m 77 8 LATHBURY ROAD Lodge 63.4m 26 75

PH WINCHESTER ROAD 16 70 49 to 60 20 69 to 71 LB 1 19 1a 129 NORTH PARADE AVENUE 2 2b 16 PH ED Bdy 21 3

63

61 to 72 15 29 Church of 2 4

1 8a 126 (C of E) 2

61 CHURCH WALK 22 LB 5 4 11 10 63.4m Walk 3

127

57 111 The Vicarage 68 23 9 63.4m 63.1m 63.5m 1a

55 20 ROAD 1 109 25 7 to 63.6m 26 123 125

51 116

66

103

WINCHESTER ROAD 64

to 27 1 1 121 House

91 108 Sub Sta St. Clare's College

College 13 43 WOODSTOCK ROAD 89 63.2m 91

52 WOODSTOCK ROAD 11 63.7m 77 81 1 to 18 50 83 13 THACKLEY END 106 30 73 63.8m 31 to 41 Group Tree Preservation Orders Group Tree Preservation Orders 17 to 30 39 to 41 44 79 81 mn Individual Tree Preservation Order BEVINGTON ROAD mn Individual Tree Preservation Order

71 10 63.4m Character Areas Garage Character Areas FS 7 Positive Buildings Positive Buildings 25 69 42 to 55 3 Listed Buildings 2 Listed Buildings 1 TCBs 1 Grade 63.3m Grade El PC 35

Grade I 67 60 Grade I 104 8 Grade II 58 Grade II 36 63 14Grade II* Grade II* 86 61

Grade A Ecclesiastical 57 Grade A Ecclesiastical 79 Court 76Grade B EcclesiasticalDef Grade B Ecclesiastical Skirlaw ED Bdy LB Grade C Ecclesiastical Grade C Ecclesiastical © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. (A1) Scale:1:1,710 Ordnance Survey 100019348. (A1) Scale:1:1,406 Ordnance Survey 100019348. 72 73