South Lodge Courtyard, Merton College, Oxford

Home , Bodicote, Merton College Chapel, Merton Field

An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

for Merton College

by Steve Preston

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Site Code MCO08/24

April 2008

Summary

Site name: South Lodge Courtyard, Merton College, Oxford

Grid reference: SP 5190 0620

Site activity: Desk-based assessment

Project manager: Steve Ford

Site supervisor: Steve Preston

Site code: MCO04/24

Area of site: c. 400 sq m

Summary of results: The site lies just outside the medieval city walls, in a location likely to have been favoured for settlement from prehistoric times onwards. Saxon and medieval settlement remains have been found close by and a medieval grange barn is also considered probably to have been located nearby. A small area of the site to be developed has previously been built upon but most has always been gardens within its recorded history. The site therefore has considerable general and specific archaeological potential. It will be necessary to provide more information from field observations in order to devise a scheme to mitigate the impact of the proposal on any archaeological remains that may be present.

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

Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford9 30.04.08 Joanna Pine9 11.04.08

South Lodge Courtyard, Merton College, Oxford An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

by Steve Preston

Report 08/24

Introduction

This desk-based study is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a plot of land of around 400 sq m located off Rose Lane in Oxford (SP 5190 0620) (Fig. 1) and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. The project was commissioned by Mr Jolyon Price of Ridge and Partners LLP, The

Cowyards, Blenheim Park, Oxford Road, Woodstock, OX20 1QR on behalf of Merton College, Oxford.

Planning permission is to be sought for the construction of a new lecture theatre on the site. In light of the possibility of archaeological remains being present which might be affected by the proposed development, this report has been requested to accompany the application, in order to inform the planning process with regard to potential archaeological implications. This report will provide a basis on which to formulate a strategy to mitigate the effects of the development on any archaeological remains that might be present .

Site description, location and geology

The site comprises a small irregularly-shaped parcel of land in central Oxford, between South Lodge and

Meadow Cottages, to the west of Rose Lane and south of High Street, facing the Botanic Gardens and backing onto Merton College. It includes part of the college’s Rose Lane building, which is stepped slightly above the surrounding ground level. A wall of Merton College, which also formed part of the medieval city wall forms the western boundary of the plot, but is not included within the area to be developed: it does not appear that any of this wall is original in this location. The site lies at around 57m above Ordnance Datum on the floodplain of the

River Cherwell just north of its confluence with the Thames, in an area where both rivers are extensively braided. The site’s geology is mapped as being on the First Terrace (floodplain) gravels (BGS 1982), very close to the boundary with the alluvium of the valley of the Cherwell.

Planning background and development proposals

Planning permission is to be sought for the construction of a new lecture theatre on the site; the development will affect only around 400 sq m of the 1400 sq m plot (Fig. 2).

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

Paragraph 21 states:

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

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

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

18.

Paragraph 8 states:

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

Paragraph 18 states:

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

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

Paragraph 25 states:

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

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

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

Similarly, the Oxford Local Plan (OCyC 2005), includes several relevant policies:

‘Policy HE1 Nationally Important Monuments ‘Planning permission will not be granted for any development that would have an unacceptable effect on a nationally important monument (whether or not it is scheduled) or its setting.’ ‘Policy HE2 Archaeology: ‘Where archaeological deposits that are potentially significant to the historic environment of Oxford are known or suspected to exist anywhere in Oxford but in particular the City centre Archaeological Area, planning applications should incorporate sufficient information to define the character and extent of such deposits as far as reasonably practicable, including, where appropriate: ‘a. the results of an evaluation by fieldwork; and ‘b. an assessment of the effect of the proposals on the deposits or their setting. ‘If the existence and significance of deposits is confirmed, planning permission will only be granted where the proposal includes: ‘c. provision to preserve the archaeological remains in situ, so far as reasonably practicable, by sensitive layout and design (particularly foundations, drainage and hard landscaping); and ‘d. provision for the investigation and recording of any archaeological remains that cannot be preserved, including the publication of results, in accordance with a detailed scheme approved before the start of the development.’ ‘Policy HE3 Listed Buildings ‘Planning permission will be granted for the re-use of redundant or unused listed buildings for new purposes compatible with their character, architectural integrity and setting. ‘Planning permission will not be granted for proposals involving demolition of a statutory listed building. ‘Planning permission will only be granted for works involving an alteration or extension to a listed building that is sympathetic to and respects its history, character and setting. ‘Planning permission will only be granted for development which is appropriate in terms of its scale and location and which uses materials and colours that respect the character of the surroundings, and have due regard to the setting of any listed building. ‘Policy HE6 Buildings of Local Interest. ‘Planning permission will only be granted for development that involves the demolition of a Building of Local Interest, or that would have an adverse impact on the building or its setting, if: ‘a. the applicant can justify why the existing building cannot be retained or altered to form part of the redevelopment; and ‘b. the development will make a more positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area.’

The proposal area is within the City centre Archaeological Area and a conservation area. The Local Plan outlines specific requirements within this area.

‘5.2.3 The Proposals Map identifies the City centre Archaeological Area. The City Council will require an archaeological assessment, which may include field evaluation, as part of any planning

application that involves significant breaking of the ground in the City centre Archaeological Area, regardless of previous archaeological information on the application site. In addition, there are known concentrations of past human activity elsewhere in Oxford and the City Council is also likely to require an archaeological assessment in these areas. Archaeological remains should be protected or investigated scientifically before development so that the information can become the base for new understanding. The City Council will seek the preservation of deposits or remains through the modification of designs, including sitting and location of foundations to mitigate adverse effects. Where preservation of deposits is not possible or feasible, archaeological investigation and recording may be an acceptable alternative. Planning conditions and/or a planning obligation may be used to ensure that the applicant makes satisfactory provision for archaeological investigation and recording prior to the start of the development. In areas where there is evidence that archaeological deposits or remains may exist, but where the extent and importance of these remains or deposits is unknown, applicants will be requested to arrange an archaeological field assessment before a planning application is determined and where appropriate, secure the archiving of the results.’ The site is also next to two Registered Park or Gardens. ‘Policy HE.8 - Important Parks And Gardens ‘Planning permission will not be granted for any development that will adversely affect the visual, historical or horticultural character of an historic park or garden or its setting, whether or not it is included on the statutory register. ‘Planning permission will be granted for development that avoids the loss of key features, retains the essential character of the site and assists with the protection, management and restoration of important parks and gardens.’

Methodology

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

Database, geological maps and any relevant publications or reports.

Archaeological background

General background

Oxford City as a whole has a rich and varied archaeological heritage, with a long and distinguished history of research (Hassall 1986). From the general area, a small number of findspots of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic tools are the earliest evidence. Later prehistoric sites and finds are more numerous and include evidence from cropmarks visible from the air, chance finds and formal archaeological investigations. Neolithic finds have been concentrated in the area of modern Christ Church, suggesting a possible major settlement. Evidence for the

Bronze Age comes from various locations within Oxford, and includes round barrows, bronze tools and pottery.

Iron Age cropmarks and enclosures have also been identified (Ashdown and Hassall 1975; Hassall 1986) and numerous Iron Age coins have been found.

Port Meadow from the air shows evidence of small enclosures of a type comparable to those at Farmoor and typically Iron Age (Henig and Booth 2000, 11). Roman activity in the Oxford area is reasonably well recognized, with a settlement in the Barton area located along the route of the Alchester to Dorchester road, and a major pottery industry concentrated around the south and east margins of the city. However, it seems that the city itself had no, or little, Roman settlement, certainly no town and no villa of note, despite (perhaps) two major river crossings in the area (Henig and Booth 2000, 50). Rather, settlement seems to have spread along the gravel terrace with quite a density of sites, perhaps one every kilometre or so.

The Roman roads and their river crossings seem to have been a major influence on Saxon settlement however (Blair 1994, 87–91). A burh was formally founded by at latest around AD 900, but earlier settlement certainly existed in the area, even if no early Saxon traces have yet been found within the modern city centre.

The concentration of Saxon churches (St Aldate, St Ebbe, St Frideswide and up to a dozen more) alone indicates as much. Headington may have been the focus of Saxon activity prior to the establishment of the burh by Alfred

(or earlier: Blair 1994, 99–100). By the 8th century the town formed part of a royal estate, centred on modern

Headington. The evolution of the Saxon town, possibly from a deliberately planned origin (Salter 1936), can be traced through the development of the street systems and the town defences (Hassall 1986, 118–20). The High

Street seems to have existed in its current form, already extensively built up, by the 11th century at latest (Dodd

2003), and although it has been argued that the Saxon defences extended no further east than the Church of St

Mary the Virgin and Oriel Street (Hassall 1975), what has been thought to be a Saxon bank marks the same line as the medieval walls within Merton College, and either an extension, or the main line of defences can now be placed on the same line as the medieval wall (Dodd 2003, fig.. 2.4). This argument can be supported by the evidence of the earliest street surfaces which continue well east from Oriel Street, although the dating of these is uncertain (Munby 2003).

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

(Blair 1994, 177) but if so, the decline was short-lived and Oxford was again one of the country’s major towns by the early 12th century. Abbeys, friaries and monastic colleges were drawn to the city in droves and the

University cemented its importance. Stone walls were built by the 13th century; these seem to have followed the line of earlier earthworks wherever the latter have been observed (Dodd 2003, 23). It was not long before medieval Oxford over spilt its walls (Hassall 1986, 124), indeed even at the time of Domesday Book houses outside the walls are mentioned. As yet there is no solid evidence for expansion beyond the Eastgate (as there is

to the west and south), but there was at least St John’s Hospital by the late 12th century next to Magdalen

Bridge, and the Trinitarian priory closer to the walls (Salter 1936; 1969). Magdalen Bridge may stand on the site of an earlier ford (Hassall 1986, 119), explaining the curve of High Street to meet it.

St Frideswide’s minster and priory, on the site that is now Christ Church, date from the late Saxon period, perhaps as early as the 8th century, and were certainly in existence before AD1004 (Blair 1994, 61): it was refounded as an Augustinian house in AD1122 and owned extensive property. Its grange barn (see cartographic sources below) would thus have been a substantial and economically important building.

The site is on the First Terrace river gravels, at or very close to the junction with the alluvium of the floodplain of the Cherwell. In such a location, the possibility of waterlogged deposits must also be raised. Should any waterlogged deposits survive, or even non-waterlogged fluvial silts, as might reasonably be expected in such a location, these would present the possibility of a significant sequence of organic survival and offer the prospect of detailed palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Waterlogged remains of considerable interest were recovered from recent excavations in Merton Street (to the west) (Pelling 2007).

Oxfordshire Sites and Monuments Record and Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database

A search was made of the Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database (UAD) on 7th April 2008 for a radius of

250m around the proposal site. This revealed 124 entries for this area, not including several duplicates. These entries are summarized as Appendix 1 and their locations plotted on Figure 1. Oxford, naturally, has not only a long history, but specifically a long history of antiquarian and archaeological investigation and recording, and this is reflected in the number of entries from such a small area. Many of these entries are records of observations made in the 19th century (and many of these were collated by Herbert Hurst (e.g., Hurst 1899).

Although many of these are recorded as ‘excavations’ this term should not necessarily be taken to imply archaeological recording as understood today.

Prehistoric

Just three entries are certainly for prehistoric evidence. What may be Bronze Age ring ditches were discovered at

Logic Lane in 1960-1 [Fig. 1: 1]. One of these contained a sherd of a collared urn, a type of Bronze Age pottery which is most often associated with burials. A lone Palaeolithic hand axe and a Bronze axe (presumably Bronze

Age) came from 19th-century excavations at what is now the Examination Schools [25], whilst part of a polished

stone axe was found at St Edmund Hall in the 1930s [30]. Other finds, typically known only from vague 19th- century records, and listed as undated, might also be prehistoric [e.g., 23, 24].

Roman

The only entries for this period are for stray finds: a small Roman ceramic bowl, and glass vessels (perhaps also

Roman) were dredged up from the Cherwell in 1885-6 [2]. River finds are of limited value for assessing the development of the area where they were found, as they may have come top that spot from anywhere upstream.

Other finds are limited to odd sherds of pottery [1, 7]. Normally an absence of evidence cannot be taken as tremendously significant in archaeology, but in an area with such a long history of observations as here, and for a period normally so prolific in material remains, the absence of Roman finds can be taken reasonably confidently as evidence that there was no Roman occupation in this area.

Saxon

Saxon evidence is also rather limited; for this period that is not so significant, as Saxon pottery does not survive well, and other Saxon artefacts are rare except from cemeteries. Saxon post holes and pits indicate occupation at

Logic Lane [1]. Also in Logic Lane, Late Saxon pottery was found in 1936 [3], along with three skeletons: it is not clear if the pottery and the bone were associated, but it is at least possible that they were. What may be a

Saxon bank, along the same line as the later medieval city wall, was recorded at Merton College in 1962-3 [4]. If true, this extends the Saxon defences considerably further east than usually supposed (Hassall 1973; 1986), but the evidence here seems scant. Residual early Saxon pottery has also been found at Magdalen College [7]. Early

Saxon pottery and a gold ring came from 19th-century excavations at what is now the Examination Schools [25].

Finds dredged from the Cherwell include Viking-type stirrups and have been thought to come from a grave of this period (Seaby and Woodfield 1980) [32]. 7,25,

Medieval

For the medieval period, the evidence is much more widespread. The High Street was certainly in place and built up before the Norman Conquest and most of the side streets in place by the 12th century. City defences may date from the time of Alfred, but the line of the walls as currently known (here, along Longwall Street and Merton

Street, turning along Deadman’s Walk) is medieval. Several of the entries are for observations on the wall or its accompanying ditch [4, 10, 12, 15, 36, 41, 45, 49]. Most significant for the present study is the observation [4] that the section of wall between High Street and the south-eastern corner of the city has been entirely destroyed as far as the summer-house in Merton College garden; two bastions have also been removed. Part of the wall close to the site was resurfaced in 1971 [12].

Other medieval evidence abounds. There are numerous references to old street surfaces, at various depths below modern ground level [4, 6, 14, 47]: presumably at least some of these will have been medieval although they are rarely datable in this area. The medieval elements of the various college buildings have been variously surveyed and recorded [5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16]. Medieval finds including coins, pottery, tile, metal and glass vessels, are reported from several locations [5, 6, 9, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25], and clearly datable medieval sub-surface features are also recorded [1, 7, 9, 11, 22, 34]. Despite the intensity of landuse in the area over many centuries, recent work has shown that extensive medieval remains can survive [22] (Poore et al. 2007). Human remains have been found in several places [8, 17, 32, 36, 46]: this, at first sight surprisingly wide, distribution must reflect the medieval ecclesiastical origins of the colleges (and other institutions, such as hospitals). There is also known to have been a Jewish cemetery near the east gate. Even where not dated, most of these burials can probably safely be assumed to be medieval.

Post-medieval

Post-medieval finds and remains of various sorts come from throughout the search radius. Of note are a building with a bone floor (something of an Oxford specialty, these are generally 17th- or 18th-century: Armitage 1989) recorded by Hurst [1]; an underground chamber and a tunnel that seems to have been bricked up in the 18th century found after subsidence in 1940 [3]; there is an early real tennis court on Merton Street and the noted historian Anthony Wood lived at Postmasters Hall [11]; a note of the demolition of the East Gate in 1772 [17]; and the Botanic Gardens, founded in 1621, although its layout and surrounding walls were not completed until the 1650s [26].

Negative and undated

Very few investigations in the search area have produced no archaeological evidence whatsoever. An excavation at 84 High Street in 1971 [31] and a watching brief in 1963 seem to be the only instances [5]. However, undated discoveries of various sorts are reported from almost all the locations marked on Figure 1.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Surviving sections of the medieval City Wall are Scheduled. This includes the section that forms the wall to

Merton Gardens, along the western edge of the site. However, the proposed development is to be sited far enough from the wall as not to create any additional adverse impact on it.

Cartographic and documentary sources

Oxford is an Old English (Anglo-Saxon) place name, first recorded in AD911 as Oxnaforda (‘ford used by oxen’) (Mills 1998, 265). The proposal area is on the edge of the historic core of Oxford. Already by the time of

Domesday Book (AD1086) Oxford (Oxeneford) was a major centre, a walled town of over 700 houses (although a large number of these were lying waste at the time of the survey) and was worth £60 to the King (Williams and

Martin, 2002). The Oxford Domesday entry is complex and self-contradictory, and the total number of households may be as high as 1018 (VCH 1939, 390). For comparison, York is listed at some 1400 messuages

(house-plots), of which only around 400 were inhabited, yielding £100 to the King.

Subsequent development of the city has been well documented, aided by the concentration of historians within its walls (e.g., Clark 1889–99; for a summary, see Hassall 1986). Nonetheless, archaeology continues to add new information almost continuously (e.g., Munby 2007; Dodd 2003). However, little in detail is known about the eastern suburb (the proposal site lies just outside the east gate of the medieval town), nor indeed was much known about the area just inside the eastern wall until very recently (Poore et al 2007, 213).

In 1263–4, Walter de Merton (former Chancellor of Henry III) had established eight of his nephews at the

University, with provision to add other scholars, not his relations (VCH 1954, 103). Merton acquired land from

Reading Abbey, west of St John’s church, south of St John’s Street, initially extending south almost to the city wall, and later right up to it, in 1266. He added the church itself in 1292. St John’s Street is now Merton Street, and the church stood close to the site of the college chapel. Accounts for college buildings begin in 1287, but the college will have occupied existing buildings before then. More land was acquired in the mid 14th century, land within the walls being cheap on account of the depopulation caused by the Black Death (VCH 1954, 97–9). The current site, outside the walls, is a much more recent acquisition.

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

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

The earliest map available of the area is Saxton’s (1574) county map. This shows no detail beyond the impressive pictogram of Oxford itself (Fig. 3). Oxford is particularly well-served by early cartographers. Ralph

Agas produced a detailed map as early as 1578 (Fig. 4). The site is shown as open field just beyond the city wall.

Wood’s rendering of the civil war defences in 1644 is more of a sketch (Fig. 5) and perhaps should not be relied on in detail, but suggests the site may have been on or close to one of the batteries covering the bridge.

The first signs of development on the site come from Loggan’s ‘Ichnography’ of 1675, when the basic layout of the area is already taking on close to its present form. The east side of the site is lined with quite substantial buildings and the interior seems to be laid out to gardens (Fig. 6); further buildings are shown in the positions now occupied by Meadow Cottages. There is an internal subdivision of the larger block of land into an orchard at the north and open space to the south, in the area of the proposal site. What will become the present

University Botanical Garden has by now been established, ‘Hortus Botanicus’, facing the site. Williams’ map of

1733 adds no detail for this area other than to name the lane Trinity Lane (not illustrated). On Longmate’s plan of 1773 (Fig. 7), the buildings on the east (Rose Lane) frontage are not shown, those along the southern margins are quite small and quite closely resemble their current configuration. It is possible these are already the buildings currently present. The interior of the site appears to be orchard or formal gardens. The Botanical

Garden is now named as a ‘Physic Garden’. This map also shows surviving parts of the medieval city wall (west of the site) and marks the stretch along the western boundary of the site as ‘ruins’. As the Eastgate was pulled down in 1771, it is tempting to wonder if this stretch of wall was also removed at that time.

Most 19th-century maps show less detail or changes only in the style of depiction. For example, the plan by

Haywood from 1870 (Fig. 8) appears to show the site completely cleared, but this is misleading as this plan does not offer detail of individual buildings other than the colleges and major structures. The state of the city wall is also far from clear on this depiction. The Botanical Gardens are now so named.

The more authoritative mapping of the Ordnance Survey allows the site’s boundaries to be located precisely. The First Edition (1876) shows the site within Rose Lane nursery, with the buildings of St Peter’s in the East School occupying the north-east corner of the site (Fig. 9). By the Second Edition of 1898, the building in the north-east of the proposal area is still shown as a school, and those to the south are clearly cottages (Fig.

10). There is no new development on the site itself, which appears to be fully within the school grounds rather than part of the nursery, although this is not definite.

By 1939 the site is shown almost identical to today (Fig. 11). The school has been removed. The buildings now standing along the north side of the site are the Merton College Rose Lane Buildings, by Sir Hubert

Worthington, newly built. Sherwood and Pevsner (1974, 164) describe them as Palladian, ‘timid … but at least has some panache’. There is no change on subsequent mapping from the 1950s (Fig. 12) to 1970s, except that the 1957 map shows the Rose Lane Buildings are raised above the ground level to the south and west (as confirmed by site inspection) .

Finally, mention must be made of a map published by Herbert Hurst in 1899 showing the known and conjectured positions of ecclesiastical and academical buildings in Oxford at AD1440 (Fig. 13). This shows the position of St Frideswide’s Grange conjectured where Meadow Cottages now stand. This location cannot be relied on in detail (the hached buildings are conjectured, the open ones known), but presumably the location given for the grange will have been based on documentary references to its being just beyond the south-eastern corner of the city walls, in relation to the parish boundary, or to known buildings such as the Trinitiarian friary; so it should be taken as no more than a suggestion that the site of the grange may lie near the proposal site.

Listed buildings

Numerous buildings in the vicinity are listed; none is on the site itself nor will any listed building be affected by the proposed development. The settings of listed buildings and the general historic character of the conservation area, however, will be material considerations in the planning process.

Registered Parks and Gardens; Registered Battlefields

There are no registered battlefields within 250m of the proposal area. Both the Botanic Garden and Merton

Gardens are Registered.

Aerial Photographs

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

No air-photographic collections have therefore been consulted.

Discussion

In considering the archaeological potential of the study area, various factors must be taken into account, including previously recorded archaeological sites, previous land-use and disturbance and future land-use including the proposed development (Fig. 2).

The site is immediately outside the medieval city wall, and in an area thought to have been defended by artillery emplacements during the 17th-century Civil War. The conjectured location of the medieval grange of St

Fridewide’s priory would place it on, or very close to the site; this must be regarded as a possibility requiring investigation. Even if this specific building is not on the site, medieval extra-mural occupation of some sort

would not be unusual: Oxford overspilled its medieval city walls almost as soon as they were built. The location is also one likely to have been favoured for settlement from the earliest prehistoric times. The site thus has both generalized and specific potential to contain archaeological remains, which are likely to be of local importance if present.

Cartographic review shows that only a small area of the site not currently occupied by buildings, has previously been developed while the rest seems to have been gardens since the 16th century. Thus any archaeological deposits that might have existed on the site may be expected to have survived reasonably intact, except under the 1930s buildings and the small additional area of the east edge of the site that was previously a school. Even below the footprints of these buildings, it is perhaps not safe to assume necessarily total destruction of archaeological levels, as the ground level seems to have been raised to set the modern buildings on a slight platform relative to the natural surface level.

The site’s topographical setting also gives rise to the possibility that any remains present may be exceptionally preserved by waterlogging, increasing their potential information value. It remains to determine whether any relevant deposits do in fact exist.

It will be necessary to provide further information on the potential of the site from field evaluation by means of trial trenching in order to provide sufficient information with which to devise a scheme to mitigate the impact of development on any below-ground archaeological deposits if necessary. A scheme for this evaluation will need to be drawn up and approved by the archaeological adviser to the City and implemented by a competent archaeological contractor, such as an organization registered with the Institute of Field

Archaeologists.

References

Armitage, P, 1989, ‘Gazetteer of sites with animal bone used as building material’, in (eds) D Sarjeantson and T Waldron, Diet and crafts in towns, Brit Archaeol Rep (Brit Ser) 199, Oxford, 201–23 BGS, 1982, British Geological Survey, Solid and Drift Edition, 1:50,000, Sheet 236, Keyworth Blair, J, 1994, Anglo-Saxon Oxfordshire, Stroud Clark, A, (ed), 1889–1899, ‘Survey of the Antiquities of the City of Oxford’ composed 1661–6 by Anthony Wood, (3 vols), Oxford Hist Soc, Oxford Dodd, A, (ed), 2003, Oxford before the University, Thames Valley Landscapes Monogr 17, Oxford Hassall, T, 1973, ‘Excavations at Oxford, 1972: Fifth interim report’, Oxoniensia, 28, 268–98 Hassall, T, 1975, ‘Topography of pre-University Oxford’, in C Smith and D Scargill (eds), Oxford and its region, Oxford, 29–36 Hassall, T, 1986, ‘Archaeology of Oxford City’, in G Briggs, J Cook, and T Rowley, (eds), The Archaeology of the Oxford Region, 115–34, Oxford Univ Dept of External Studies, Oxford Henig, M and Booth, P, 2000, Roman Oxfordshire, Stroud Hurst, H, 1899, Oxford Topography; an essay, Oxford Hist Soc vol 39, Oxford Mills, A D, 1998, Dictionary of English Place-Names, Oxford

Munby, J, 2003, ‘The eastern extension’, in (ed) A Dodd, Oxford before the University, Thames Valley Landscapes Monogr 17, Oxford, 24–5 Munby, J, 2007, ‘The Archaeology and History of Oxford’s West Suburb’, Oxoniensia, 71 (for 2006), 343–6 OCC, 1998, ‘Oxfordshire Structure Plan to 2011 deposit draft (adopted 1998)’, Oxfordshire County Council OCyC, 2005, ‘Adopted Oxford Local Plan 2001–2016 (November 2005)’, Oxford City Council Pelling, R, 2007, ‘Charred and waterlogged plant remains’, in D Poore, D Score and A Dodd, ‘Excavations at No. 4A Merton St., Merton College, Oxford: The Evolution of a Medieval stone house and tenement and an early college property’, Oxoniensia 71, (for 2006), 322–38 Poore, D, Score, D and Dodd, A, 2007, ‘Excavations at No. 4A Merton St., Merton College, Oxford: The Evolution of a Medieval stone house and tenement and an early college property’, Oxoniensia 71, (for 2006), 211–341 PPG16, 1990, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, Archaeology and Planning, HMSO Salter, H E, 1936, Medieval Oxford, Oxford Hist Soc vol 100, Oxford Salter, H E, 1969, Survey of Oxford Seaby, W A and Woodfield, P, 1980, ‘Viking stirrups from England and their background’, Medieval Archaeol 24, 81–122 Sherwood, J and Pevsner, N, 1974, Buildings of England, Oxfordshire, London VCH, 1939, Victoria History of the Counties of England: Oxfordshire, vol i, Oxford VCH, 1954, Victoria History of the Counties of England: Oxfordshire, vol iii, Oxford Williams, A and Martin, G, H, 2002, Domesday Book: A complete Translation, London

APPENDIX 1: Oxford City Urban Archaeological Database records within a 250m search radius of the development site.

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment 1 181 51786 06194 Excavation Prehistoric Logic Lane, 1960-1. Prehistoric ditches, one containing 1218 51788 06209 Observation Roman a sherd of collared urn, may be ring ditches. Roman 1446 51786 06172 Saxon pottery. Saxon post holes and pits. Medieval pits and Medieval walls. Bronze tokens were found in 1889. Hurst records Post-medieval a building with a bone floor 2 770 52023 05957 Findspot Roman A small Roman ceramic bowl was found. Glass bottles were also recovered during dredging the River Cherwell at the Botanic Gardens in 1885-6. 3 127 51780 06229 Observation Saxon Logic Lane 1936. Late Saxon pottery was found, with 157 51789 06224 Excavation Post-medieval three skeletons. 18th-century underground chamber found after subsidence, interpreted as sump pit. 4 195 51898 06147 Excavation Saxon Merton College, 1962-3. Footings of the City Wall. 876 51902 06130 Observation Medieval Within the wall lay a deposit of soil, possibly a late 1399 51888 06146 Post-medieval Saxon bank along the same line. The section of wall 1403 51893 06162 between High Street and the SE angle of the city has been entirely destroyed as far as the summer-house in Merton College garden; in this part were formerly two bastions, Nos 17 and 18. According to Hurst there was an old road surface about 2m down at the angle of Merton Street and King Street. Hurst recorded a fragment of carved stone found in a sewer in Merton Street 1892. 5 132 51708 06063 Excavation Medieval Merton College, excavation 1922. An ‘early’ building 634 51698 06083 Building survey and medieval pottery were found. Chapel roof, 13th 624 51722 06078 Watching brief century. Excavation 1885, Undated brass token, an iron 729 51709 06064 Findspot knife, a dagger and a key were found. Watching brief 1198 51705 06021 Observation 1963 uncovered the natural undisturbed gravel 0.75m 1347 51693 06067 below surface. Excavation, 1992. During drainage work 1352 51699 06047 the brick-lined pit containing the stone foundations seen in the 1922 excavations was reopened. An inscription on glass and a mural painting were sketched by Hurst, 1889. 6 136 51797 06301 Excavation Medieval Queen's College, 1940s. Medieval paving tiles from the 1424 51791 06268 old chapel were found. Hurst records that an old road surface was found outside Queen's College in 1896 7 301 52122 06141 Excavation Roman Magdalen College, 1986-8. The stone kitchen was one Saxon of the last surviving structures from the medieval Medieval Hospital of St John the Baptist, 1474–80. Pottery included residual Roman and early Saxon sherds as well as a sequence from early medieval to post medieval. Medieval finds included bone, tile, glass and metalwork 8 329 52088 06170 Findspot Medieval Magdalen College, 1976. Burials related to the Hospital 635 52106 06176 Building survey Post-medieval of St John and arches in 13th century stonework. Chapel 1298 52082 06160 and hall roofs, both later replacements of 15th century originals. Professor Rolleston acquired the skulls of two individuals in 1874, perhaps from the Jewish cemetery. 9 479 52139 06168 Watching brief Medieval Magdalen College, 1983. Floor layers and possible 645 52134 06167 Building survey Post-medieval oven. Kitchen contains traces of 13th or 14th century 501 52137 06172 work. 10 491 51942 06324 Watching brief Medieval Bodicote House, 2000. City Wall 11 520 51715 06142 Watching brief Medieval Merton College, 2000. Extensive medieval deposits 861 51705 06120 Building survey Post-medieval were found in the geotechnical pits. Two undated pits. 965 51716 06122 Excavation Undated Medieval and later stone wall footings. Beam Hall, 1158 51726 06116 Photograph Merton Street, is a late 15th century hall. Merton 808 51735 06153 Observation College Stables, medieval origin. Medieval gilded metal 862 51729 06126 vessel found 1876. Real Tennis Court, Merton Street, 1448 51720 06161 17th century. Postmaster's Hall, Merton Street, c. 1600. Hurst records that part of the Postmaster’s hall was demolished in 1815. 12 533 51894 06107 Watching brief Medieval Merton College, 1975 watching brief on rebuilding the 268 51887 06094 collapsed medieval garden wall. Re-facing of City Wall in 1971. 13 748 52099 06201 Findspot Medieval The rim of a 15th century green glazed pot was found in 842 52117 06210 Building survey Post-medieval 1911. Magdalen College was founded in 1458. Hurst 1386 52079 06230 Observation recorded various features at Magdalen College in 1888- 90, including the elevation of the President's House. 14 781 51989 06278 Excavation Medieval Magdalen College, excavation 1930-1. A tile dating 1373 51999 06230 Observation Post-medieval from the reign of Edward III was found. A view of

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment 1427 51940 06235 Building survey Perrot's House was recorded from the gravel walk in 1527 51980 06243 1890s. An old stone-paved road surface found in 1895. 15 843 51754 06054 Building survey Medieval Merton College founded by Walter de Merton, later 877 51804 06044 Bishop of Rochester, in 1264 and moved to Oxford in 1274. This section of the city wall is the S wall of Merton College. The SE angle-bastion, No 19, has been completely demolished. Bastion No 20 opposite Merton College has been extensively patched and rebuilt; Bastion 21 is similar but larger; there is a blocked postern of 14th or 15th century date. 16 846 51741 06241 Building survey Medieval University College, 1249 (or earlier?). Excavation, 1186 51787 06249 Excavation 1878. An early English jug and a halberd head were found. 17 1122 51929 06232 Building survey Medieval Chapel of Holy Trinity was above the East Gate in the 170 51959 06221 Excavation Post-medieval early medieval period. Excavation, High Street, 1958. 392 51919 06223 Evaluation Three graves were found. In the 13th century the area 792 51931 06221 Listed Building was probably part of the Jewish cemetery, passing to the 875 51925 06233 Hospital of St John in 1293. Evaluation a Eastgate 1340 Hotel, 1997. Post medieval garden features were uncovered, including walls and pits. 71-2 High Street 18th century Listed Building. The East Gate was demolished in 1772. Excavation 1899–1900: a ditch may be the city ditch 18 1138 51771 06065 Findspot Medieval Edward II groat was found with rubbish in Merton 514 51734 06058 Building survey Post-medieval College c 1872 Survey of Staircase 5 in the Fellows' 931 51712 06086 Quadrangle dating from 1610. A number of real tennis balls were recovered from a putlog hole at Merton College Chapel in 1957. 19 1225 51729 06197 Excavation Medieval Medieval pottery, including jugs, was found in 444 51729 06206 Building survey Post-medieval University College kitchen in 1892. Survey of Hall, Kitchen and Buttery 20 1236 51903 06250 Excavation Medieval Medieval and post-medieval pottery and bottles and 1569 51878 06264 Observation Post-medieval medieval lamp found at the Masonic Hall, 50a High 785 51885 06260 Street, included 13th or 14th century jugs and a medieval lamp. Medieval window tracery from the former White Hall was found at 47 High Street in 1932. 48 High Street, 1971-2. Pottery was found. No 48 was photographed before work was carried out. 21 1271 51842 06098 Excavation Medieval An early medieval glass oinochoe was found in Merton Gardens c1865. 22 1646 51710 06140 Watching brief Medieval 2000–2003. Excavation revealed the remains of two Post-medieval buildings. In the southern part of the site a cellar was found provisionally dated to c1200. A second building was probably 13th century; Extensive pits and wells from 11th to 18th century 23 708 52067 06225 Findspot A quartzite hammerstone 24 711 52167 06099 Findspot A bronze axe and sword were found in the River Cherwell near Magdalen Bridge in 1865. 25 159 51855 06202 Excavation Palaeolithic Angel Inn, now the Examination Schools, 1870s. A 1252 51878 06192 ?Bronze Age number of pits had been cut into the gravel, possibly 1260 51899 06181 Roman Saxon? The earliest find was a Palaeolithic handaxe. Saxon Bonze axe. Early Roman coin and quern fragment. Late Medieval Saxon pottery and a gold ring. Medieval pottery. In Post-medieval 1882 an 11th century carved tomb slab was found. Iron arrowheads and blades and two undated iron axe blades. A Bellarmine (Bartmann) jug was found in 1914. A pottery candlestick was recovered from the old City Ditch in Merton Street in 1904. 26 162 52028 06081 Excavation Post-medieval Botanic Gardens, 1954: early 17th century well. The 835 52032 06075 Building survey Botanic Garden was founded by Henry Danvers, Earl of 927 52016 06068 Findspot Danby, in 1621. The gateway and enclosing wall were 1313 52083 06035 not finished until 1652-3. A clay pipe dated to 1640–70 was recovered from the Botanic gardens in 1851; and another in 1958. 27 208 52122 06114 Excavation Post-medieval Magdalen Bridge, 1967. A deep culvert was covered by a stone arch and blocked at both ends 28 213 51842 06272 Excavation Post-medieval 39-41 High Street, excavation 1967-8. A wine bottle and 948 51837 06275 Building survey pottery. 39-41 High Street and 2 Queen's Lane are 949 51856 06267 Observation probably 16th century. 42-3 High Street is c. 1600. 1354 51855 06284 Watching brief Hurst recorded the former Link Lodgings before they 1636 5184 0627 were pulled down at 42a High Street in 1890. A building assessment and recording 29 222 51739 06164 Excavation Post-medieval University College, 1969-70. A stone-lined cess pit.

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment 30 230 51836 06315 Excavation Undated Queen's Lane (St Edmund Hall) excavation in 1970-1. 828 51860 06308 Building survey Early street levels and a pit recorded but no dating 1267 51875 06293 Observation evidence retrieved. A 17th century ceramic candlestick 1310 51899 06302 was found in 1927. Bellarmine (Bartmann) jugs from 1380 the 16th or 17th century were recovered in 1934-5. Part of a polished stone axe was also found. St Edmund Hall recorded. Hurst recorded two pieces of worked stone incorporated into the wall of the chapel, 1887. 31 267 51834 06236 Excavation Post-medieval Excavation 84 High Street, 1971, negative. 85 High 950 51825 06242 Building survey Negative Street, late 17th or early 18th century. 86-7 early 17th 951 51804 06241 Findspot century. A fragment of regency wallpaper from the 1320 51841 06239 Angel Inn, was retrieved from 83 High Street in 1943. 1404 51820 06250 Undisturbed gravel was found outside 86-7 High Street in 1892. The line of the High Street begins to curve at that point, supposedly due to the presence of a mound. 32 313 52115 06032 Findspot Saxon Human and horse bones, three stirrups, a prick spur, a Medieval horseshoe, all 10th or 11th century, found in dredging work, apparently from a Viking grave. Also late medieval horseshoe 33 320 52139 06275 Geophysical survey ?Medieval Resistivity Survey in Magdalen College Gardens in 1996, appeared to locate gardens and fish ponds of St John’s hospital. 34 321 51997 06368 Excavation Medieval Magdalen College, 1995. Early medieval ditch parallel to Longwall Street. A building encroached on the ditch which was later recut. Three gravel surfaces were identified in the upper fills. It is not clear whether the ditch was the City Ditch or lined an extramural street. 12th to 13th century gully and plough furrows The overlying soil contained 13th to 15th century material. Intercutting, rubbish pits for properties fronting onto the High Street. Some evidence of garden paths and a possible college wall were also found. 35 582 52081 06261 Watching brief Undated Magdalen College, 1986. coursed stone block wall, 1190 52022 06223 Excavation bonded into the north boundary wall. Undated bronze thimble was found in excavation in 1884. 36 583 51737 06027 Watching brief Medieval Merton College, 1986. A layer of pitched stones set in 1558 51721 06081 Findspot Post-medieval yellow mortar, may be the remains of the medieval City Wall. Above this was a narrower post medieval stone wall., perhaps after 1675. It is possible that there was an earlier postern. No sign of any rampart from the late Saxon period was seen either below or behind the wall. Hurst records that inhumations were found close to Merton College chapel. At least one had a stone coffin (the chapel was previously the parish church). 37 598 52003 06188 Watching brief 61 High Street, 1991. Early floor levels recorded. 38 608 51753 06146 Watching brief Merton Street, 1996. Deep pits cut into ballast, above 1408 51774 06117 Observation natural gravel. Hurst made sketches and plans of the front and quadrangle at St Albans Hall, Merton Street, in 1890. 39 966 51841 06150 Building survey 13, 14, 15, 17 Merton Street all late 16th or early 17th 967 51850 06150 Excavation century. An iron key was found at 9 Merton Street in 968 51861 06149 1906. 969 51875 06151 1265 51791 06140 40 971 51703 06161 Building survey Medieval Grove House, 2 Kybald Street, 17th century, Photograph 1544 51696 06161 Photograph Post-medieval of rear gateway to University College 1906. Monitoring 1645 5170 0615 Watching brief of geo technical test pits revealed a stone built cellar or basement butting an earlier wall, possibly a tenement boundary. Both may date to 11th to 12th centuries. Ceramics from the 11th to 19th centuries. Plentiful animal bone, a small number of human bones. 41 1107 51961 06318 Building survey 1–4, 8 Longwall Street all late 17th century. An undated 1108 51962 06294 Excavation iron key was found in excavation on Longwall Street in 1109 51961 06284 Evaluation 1885. Excavations c. 1896. Hurst records that a wall was 1199 51968 06303 Watching brief found at 1m down. Blackish mud lay below to 2m. A 1432 51965 06273 trench behind No 5 Longwall Street revealed deposits 1607 5193 0634 infilling the city ditch, including a stone-lined culvert. a watching brief below the floors of No 5 revealed deposits of 16-17th centuries 42 1151 51841 05965 Excavation Merton Field, 1873. Stained glass in a metal frame was recovered. No dating was possible. Ceramic jars were also found.. 43 1179 52168 06073 Excavation When Magdalen Bridge was widened in 1882, workmen

No UAD Ref Grid Ref (SP) Type Period Comment uncovered 18th century coins, gibbet irons, a pair of spectacles and the foundation stone from 1773. 44 1343 51972 06214 Excavation 65 High Street c. 1890. A ditch running E–W and c4.5 m wide and 1.5 m deep lay c3 m below the surface extending under the road. 45 1382 51882 06085 Observation Hurst recorded inserted pieces in the city wall parapet at Merton College in 1890s. 46 1401 52106 06120 Excavation Excavations near the Botanic Gardens and Magdalen Bridge in 1806. When the sewer was put in skeletons were found. They might be from the Jews' Burial Ground. 47 1402 51907 06205 Observation Observations in Merton Street in 1891. A road surface was seen 1m below the surface. Alongside it were traces of old pools. 48 1533 51831 05866 Cartographic William's Map of Oxford, 1733. 49 1546 51809 06047 Excavation Dead Man's Walk, 1994. Trenches were dug at the foot of the wall near the bastion. An earlier foundation built on relieving arches was found. 50 1576 51884 06157 Documentary The Nag's Head, King Street (now Merton Street), operated between 1783 to 1907

APPENDIX 2: Historic and modern maps consulted

1574 Saxton’s map of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire (Fig. 3) 1578 Agas’s map (as re-engraved 1825) (Fig. 4) 1644 Wood’s plan of ‘Oxford Fortified’ (Fig. 5) 1675 Loggan’s ‘New and Highly Accurate Ichnography of the most famous university and city of Oxford’ (Fig. 6) 1733 Williams’ Map of Oxford 1773 Longmate’s Plan of Oxford (Fig. 7) 1817 Pearson’s New Map of the University and City of Oxford 1842 Map from Barclay’s Directory 1850 Heggaw’s map of Oxford 1870 Haywood’s plan (Fig. 8) 1876 First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Sheet xxxiii.15 (Fig. 9) 1889 Map from Kelly’s Directory 1898 Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Sheet xxxiii.15 (Fig. 10) 1899 ‘Oxford Ecclesiastical and Academical, AD1440’, from Hurst’s Oxford Topography (Fig. 13) 1921 Ordnance Survey revision 25 inch Sheet xxxiii.15 1939 Ordnance Survey revision (Fig. 11) 1957 Ordnance Survey (Fig. 12) 1972 Ordnance Survey