Environmental Statement volume 4 - Chiltern Evergreen3

Conservation Areas3.6.7 There are eight Conservation Areas within the study area. Six are Oxford CityCouncil Conservation Areas (Binsey - OA 12, Central Oxford - OA 10, NorthOxford - OA 14, Osney - OA 11, Walton Manor - OA 13 and Wolvercote - OA 15)and the remaining two are Cherwell District Council Conservation Areas (Bicester -OA 17 and Islip - OA 16). The nearest Conservation Areas to the route are CentralOxford (OA 10) which is located c 35m to the east of the southern extent of theroute, and Wolvercote (OA 15), located c 50m to the west of the route in the northof Oxford.Archaeology3.6.8 There are 27 non-designated sites recorded in the NMR and SMR that fall within orvery close to the line of the current railway. These range in date from Palaeolithicartefacts through to World War Two military features.3.6.9 The only early prehistoric activity recorded within the study area is the discoveryof a number of Palaeolithic artefacts which were recovered during quarrying nearWater Eaton in north Oxford (OA 103). Evidence for later prehistoric activity ispresent along the majority of the route. During the early Bronze Age, and possiblyearlier, it is clear that a ritual focus developed at Oxford. Since 1976, a series oflinear features and barrows across the city, have been identified throughparchmarks, aerial photography and archaeological investigations, with a barrowcemetery located at Port Meadow (Scheduled Monument OA 6), c 100m to the westof the railway line (Dodd, 2003, 11). Cropmarks of potential prehistoric enclosuresare also visible further north along the railway line at Water Eaton (OA 106),Brookfurlong (OA 109 - 111) near Oddington Grange (OA 112) and to the south ofthe M40 (OA 114).3.6.10 The main Roman settlement in the region is the small town and military camp atAlchester (OA 8), a Scheduled Monument located on the alignment of the railwayline, although the cutting for the track is not itself Scheduled. There are also anumber of Roman roads, which lead to Alchester from the north (OA 126), south(OA 124) and east (OA 125), two of which (OA 124 and 125) cross the railway line.Roman activity has also been discovered in north Oxford during archaeologicalwork (OA 105), to the south of Alchester as cropmarks (OA 115), and a Romansettlement near London Road in Bicester (OA 119).3.6.11 The origins of Oxford as an urban settlement almost certainly date to the AngloSaxon period. Oxford developed as a fortified town (burh) around the turn of thetenth century, and is first mentioned by name in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 911-912 (Dodd, 2003, 7). Other settlements along the route are also believed to havetheir origins in the Anglo Saxon period, with Bicester, Wendlebury and Islip allbeing names of Saxon origin.3.6.12 Oxford grew rapidly during the medieval period, due to the establishment of bothecclesiastical and educational establishments. There has been constantdevelopment within the city throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods.ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT32CHILTERN RAILWAYS LTD