West Oxford Character Statement and Heritage Assets Survey: Part 1 St Ebbe’s Suburb and Osney Island October 2013 WEST OXFORD CHARACTER STATEMENT: PART 1 ST EBBE’S & OSNEY ISLAND Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents ............................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 What is the Oxford Heritage Assets Register? ......................................................................................... 5 Why is Understanding Character Important? ........................................................................................ 5 Why has West Oxford been chosen for this study? ................................................................................ 6 What Area does it Cover? .................................................................................................................................. 6 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 8 Sources of information ................................................................................................................................... 8 Neighbourhood Assessment and Heritage Assets .............................................................................. 9 West Oxford’s History ......................................................................................... 13 Historical Overview of West Oxford’s Development ...................................................................... 13 Prehistory and Roman Periods (8,000 BC – AD43) ............................................................................ 13 Early Medieval Period (AD 410 – 1066) .................................................................................................. 13 Late Medieval Period (1066 – 1550) ......................................................................................................... 13 Early Modern Period (1530 – 1750) .......................................................................................................... 14 Industrial Period (1750 – 1900) .................................................................................................................. 14 20th century to the present ........................................................................................................................... 15 Character Areas in the Historic West Suburb ....................................................... 16 St Thomas’ Suburb ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Extent: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18 General Description: ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Historical development: .................................................................................................................................. 19 Key Historic Character Features: ................................................................................................................ 22 Historical Value:.................................................................................................................................................. 24 Aesthetic Value: ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Negative Features, Issues and Opportunities: ....................................................................................... 30 Heritage Assets: ................................................................................................................................................... 31 Rewley ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Extent: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 34 General Description: ......................................................................................................................................... 34 Historical Development: .................................................................................................................................. 34 Key Historic Character Features: ................................................................................................................ 36 Historical Value:.................................................................................................................................................. 38 Evidential Value: ................................................................................................................................................. 39 Communal Value: ............................................................................................................................................... 39 Aesthetic Value: ................................................................................................................................................... 40 WEST OXFORD CHARACTER STATEMENT: PART 1 ST EBBE’S & OSNEY ISLAND Negative Features, Issues and Opportunities: ....................................................................................... 41 Heritage Assets: ................................................................................................................................................... 41 Oxford Station and Railway Lands ......................................................................................................... 44 Extent: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 44 General Description: ......................................................................................................................................... 44 Historical Development: .................................................................................................................................. 44 Key Historic Character Features: ................................................................................................................ 45 Historical Significance: .................................................................................................................................... 46 Evidential Value: ................................................................................................................................................. 47 Communal Value: ............................................................................................................................................... 47 Negative Features, Issues and Opportunities: ....................................................................................... 48 Heritage Assets: ................................................................................................................................................... 49 Oxpens ................................................................................................................................................................ 51 Extent: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 51 General Description: ......................................................................................................................................... 51 Historical Development: .................................................................................................................................. 52 Key Historic Character Features: ................................................................................................................ 53 Historical Value:.................................................................................................................................................. 56 Evidential Value: ................................................................................................................................................. 57 Communal Value: ............................................................................................................................................... 58 Aesthetic Value: ................................................................................................................................................... 58 Issues, Negative Features and Opportunities for Enhancement: ................................................. 59 Heritage Assets: ................................................................................................................................................... 60 St Ebbe’s Suburb ............................................................................................................................................ 62 Extent: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 62 General