Post-medieval Oxford - Oxford City Council

A number of plant remains assemblages excavated in Oxford have demonstrated the
rich variety of fruit consumed in the post-medieval period. At the Ashmolean Museum
Extension,16th-17th century samples contained fig and blackberry (Smith 2009).
Plant remains recovered from the site of Black Hall Farm at the north end of St Giles
also suggested that the occupants enjoyed a varied fruit diet, including raspberry,
grape, plum and fig during the post-medieval period (Robinson 2010). The 16 th
century kitchen waste from Lincoln College contained traces of figs and grapes
(Pelling 2002). At Corpus Christi College, plant remains from the 16th–18th century
cessy fill of a cellar and an 18th century stone-lined cesspit produced rich
assemblages, including large quantities of grape and other fruit pips, notable for
demonstrating fruit consumption in the Georgian period. Samples were recovered
from a stone-lined cess pit within the Bastion 21, and it is likely that they originate
from the President’s Lodging, which may go some way to explaining the apparently
rich diet (Nicholson 2009).
Leisure pursuits
Bowling greens
The Bowling Green in Magdalen College Grove shown on post-medieval maps was
one of several in existence in this period. Fairfax and Cromwell are reputed to have
used it (VCH iv). Another green was located at Gloucester Green before the city gaol
was constructed. A green was also located at New College and at Holywell, which
was converted into a garden in the 19th century.
Real tennis
Real tennis was introduced in England in the 15 th century, although no medieval
examples remain. The earliest recorded tennis courts in Oxford lie on the east and
west sides of Smithgate in 1530 (Potter 1994). The eastern one, shown on Loggan’s
map, became a book store in 1695 (VCH iv). A tennis court is recorded at Cardinal
College in 1546 (VCH iv); the surviving 17th century building was recorded before it
was demolished in 1966 for Blue Boar Quadrangle (Wilson and Hurst 1966). A tennis
court in Merton Street, behind Postmaster's Hall, was in use by 1595 (VCH iv). It is
still in existence and has been subject to a watching brief and photographic survey
(UAD 608; RCHME 1992). To the rear of Nos 3-8 Oriel Street, there is the shell of a
covered tennis court probably of the 16th century. The tennis court was investigated
in 1989-90 (Oxford Archaeological Unit 1989; Durham 1991; Durham and Tyler 1993;
Munby 1995). The tennis courts were initially laid out as an open court in 1572 before
a roof was added in around 1600 (ibid.: 94). A series of mortar floors were recorded
dating to the 16 th and 17 th centuries. Several real tennis balls have been recovered
from the town as stray finds (UAD 931). The roof has been dendro-dated, showing
that the wall plate was of timber felled in 1637, implying that the court was newly built
when Charles I and Prince Rupert played there in 1642 during the siege of Oxford.
Race track
A horse racing track is recorded on Port Meadow from the late 17 th century at least;
the earliest reference is dated 1695 (Cordeaux and Merry 1948: 56). By 1720, the
race track had been established as a pear-shaped circuit in the northern part of the
meadow, illustrated on the 1720 Port Meadow map by Benjamin Cole (VCH iv). The
event continued on a regular basis until the start of the 20 th century (ibid.: 65). Traces
of an 18th century race track can be seen as grass marks on Port Meadow.
Cockfighting
The cockpit north-east of Holywell Manor was in existence by the later 17th century.
By 1750, it had become the Cockpit Inn and it was demolished in 1845 (VCH iv).
OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT- POST MEDIEVAL
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