Post-medieval Oxford - Oxford City Council

Limited salvage recording of post-medieval structures along St Giles has also been
carried out at St Giles House in 1988, (UAD 761) and at 30 St Giles in 1957 (UAD
779); however, no further details are recorded. Garden or agricultural soils overlying
medieval occupation layers have been recorded to the rear of 37a St Giles (UAD
406).
Excavations for the new Kendrew Quad at St John’s College in 2008 provided an
opportunity to investigate land at the north end of St Giles, to the rear of the eastern
frontage, previously occupied by a medieval and post-medieval farm known as Black
Hall. A hiatus of activity in this area in the late medieval period ended in the mid-16th
century when a stone building was built and associated rubbish pits excavated. Two
later 17th century structures and a gravel spread of a courtyard appear to correspond
with structures on a map of 1673. The larger of the two buildings may have been a
barn but this was heavily disturbed, with much of the internal floor apparently
removed prior to demolition in the early 19th century. The smaller building contained
numerous layers which probably represent episodes of levelling and floor surfacing.
This structure also contained a sequence of hearths, probably dating from the 17th
and 18th centuries, which suggests that this building may have been a kitchen or
bakehouse for Black Hall. The building was demolished at some point in the 18th
century. Elsewhere, various pits in the south-west corner of the site suggest domestic
use by the occupants of Black Hall and the adjacent buildings on St Giles. Most
features here appear to have been simple rubbish pits, although a stone-lined cess
pit, dating from the 17th century, was also recorded against the western edge of the
excavation area. The excavated evidence demonstrated that the farm continued well
into the 18th century and perhaps later, and was only relocated once the town had
begun to expand significantly (Wallis 2010).
Worcester Street and Gloucester Green
Agas’ map indicates a large open space at Gloucester Green between the City Wall
and the remains of Whitefriars, while to the west, Gloucester Hall is the only structure
illustrated. By 1675, the area had been substantially developed with continuous
tenements along George Street and Worcester Street and the former expanse
separating the Whitefriars precinct from the town was now occupied by a tree-lined
Bowling Green known as Broken Hays. Gloucester Hall occupied most of the west
side of Worcester Street from Hythe Bridge Street. By the 18th century, Davis’ map
illustrates further development encroaching on Broken Hayes, now called Gloucester
Green, where the City Prison was built. Occupation north of the prison was limited. A
workhouse was located adjacent to what is now Beaumont Street, and a subsequent
workhouse further north at Wellington Square.
Only limited archaeological investigations have been carried out in this area. Traces
of 17th century buildings were noted during excavations at Gloucester Green in 1985
(UAD 485), and the 5m 2 cellar of a 17 th century house was noted during a watching
brief in Gloucester Street in 1982 (UAD 565). Evidence for the prison and the new
workhouse is discussed elsewhere (see above).
The eastern suburbs
Suburban settlement to the east of the city extended from the East Gate to Magdalen
Bridge, constrained by the presence of Magdalen College on the north side of the
High Street and the 17th century Botanic Gardens to the south. Agas’ map of 1578
illustrates the college with its extensive gardens and deer park along with domestic
tenements infilling the area between the gate and the college, and a number of
detached structures on the south side of the road. The Civil War also saw some
disruption to the area as Magdalen College was commandeered by the Royalists as
a defensive point for Magdalen Bridge. By the late 17th century, Loggan’s map
OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT- POST MEDIEVAL
17