Post-medieval Oxford - Oxford City Council

Headington Quarry
The parish has long been known for its important stone quarries from which much of
the stone for the university buildings came (Mason 1989: 363). By the 16 th century,
Headington Quarry was recognised as a hamlet of the main village and cottages
were frequently added to the hamlet without licence (ibid). The quarries were at their
most productive in the 17 th and into the 18 th centuries as a result of major building
schemes within the city. The turnpiking of the road from Oxford to London via
Shotover in 1718 further improved access to the quarries and in consequence,
improved their productivity (Mason 1989: 364). Cartographic sources from the 18 th
century at least record settlement at Headington Quarry and by this point it is
afforded separate status to that at Headington. An overview of the map evidence for
Headington Quarry and historic summary is provided by Arkell (1947).
Iffley
Iffley is a linear village formed on the banks of the River Thames and at the base of
Rose Hill. The southern end of the village comprises the 12 th century church and the
13 th century Vicarage with extensive 16 th century extensions. There are several listed
post-medieval domestic structures along the village’s main street as it follows the
base of the hill to its northern extent on Henley Avenue. The core of the village
survives well despite intensive modern development along its periphery.
Littlemore
Littlemore Priory was held by Christ Church until the mid 17 th century when it was
granted to the Powell family with whom it remained until the 18 th century. Excavations
to the east of the priory between 1996 and 2001 have revealed evidence of its
continued use as a farmhouse throughout the post-medieval period (RPS 2001: 10).
A single structure thought to have been an agricultural building comprising stone and
brick walling was recorded in the western part of the site closest to the former priory.
Several tracks and roads were also recorded during the investigations as well pits
containing domestic and building waste (ibid.).
Marston
The village of Marston lies to the north-east of Oxford adjacent to the River Cherwell.
Access to the village was through the main road – now the Oxford Road and via
Marston Ferry across the river. An estate map of Marston from 1601 indicates a
mixture of agricultural use around the village with arable fields to the north, west and
south of the village, meadowland along the river and commons and marshes to the
east. The map also illustrates the village as a linear settlement along the main road
with irregular plots fronting onto the main road, many of which survived into the 19 th
century at least, while some have been retained in the modern village.
Archaeological investigations at the White Hart, Oxford Road in 2002 recorded
evidence of a post-medieval outbuilding of a probable 18 th century date (Hiller 2002:
7). The 1601 map of the village indicates the plot for the White Hart dates back to
17 th century at least, with a range of structures fronting onto the road. The 17 th
century White Hart in Old Marston has also been subject to a building survey (Oxford
Archaeological Unit 2001b).
St Clements
St Clements, although essentially a suburb of the city by the post-medieval period,
was not officially annexed until the mid 19 th century. The extensive redevelopment of
the area in the late 18 th century as a result of the Mileways Act removed much of the
pre-1771 settlement (Lobel 1957: 259). An archaeological watching brief during
OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT- POST MEDIEVAL
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