Draft Bicester Conservation Area Appraisal November 2009

7.8 There are several school buildings ofnote remaining. The Blue Coat School, socalled because of the uniform of the boys,opened in 1721 possibly in the FreeSchool House adjoining the Church of StEdburg. The building called Bluecoats,now 1 Church Terrace together with theadjoining Tysul House, was remodelled inthe late 18th century but includes interiorpanelling and staircase dating from themid 17th century to around 1700.St Mary's Roman Catholic School wasopened in King’s End in 1883, andexpanded in 1939. In 1998 planningpermission was given to demolish andredevelop the derelict building and the siteis now a health centre.The National School now St Edburg’sPrimary School, was opened in 1858. Itwas designed by the architect ThomasNicholson of Hereford in the gothic style.The primary school will move to SouthWest Bicester in the near future and theoriginal school is likely to be converted toresidential use.Some of the largest buildings in the townhave been used for education from time totime, for example Oxford House at King’sEnd was a ladies Collegiate School in the1870s and The Limes, 20 Church Streetwas a similar establishment. Bicester Hall,now Hometree House, was used to housethe County Grammar School from 1924and in 1946 this expanded to includeClaremont House, 1 Market Hill.14 Priory Road7.9 Twentieth century buildings whichdisplay architectural features of interestinclude terraced housing at Priory Roadand no’s 36-44 London Road, no’s 6-12Field Street, Bath Terrace, Victoria Road,Priory Terrace, Priory Lane and of lesserinterest Manchester Terrace, NewportTerrace and Victoria Road.Rented houses were built by the BicesterUrban District Council at Priory Roadsome of which remain close to theiroriginal appearance. Amidst them, no. 14Priory Road is an individual single storeydwelling influenced by the modernmovement and this retains its originaldesign including the flat roof.Although the town has expanded greatlyduring the second half of the 20th centurythere has not been a corresponding levelof new building with the historic core.Somerfield Supermarket and the CrownWalk Shopping Centre are examples oflate 20th century retailing which havebeen integrated into the historic streetscene with varying degrees of success.East side of Market Square23