Draft Bicester Conservation Area Appraisal November 2009

8.5 RoofsOriginal roofing materials such as stoneslate or thatch are now little in evidence.Thatch survives on two Church Streetproperties. Combed wheat straw now replacesthe more traditional longstrawthatch on these buildings. Handmade redclay tiles are found in the 16th centuryroofs of the Kings Arms, which fronts LondonRoad, and on properties such as no’s48/51 Market Square. Welsh slate becamea common roofing material particularlyin the 19th century with the introductionof railways; this material is widelyused as a replacement covering togetherwith concrete tiles. Examples of 19th centuryornamental ridge tiles are found atThe Old Court House, Sheep Street andthe Congregational Chapel in ChapelStreet.Historically the earliest chimneys wereconstructed in stone. Examples of earlystone bases with later brick shafts may beseen at the Kings Arms, London Roadwhere several chimneys have unusualdiagonally mounted brick shafts. Brickchimneys predominate from the 18th and19th centuries onwards. A particularlystriking chimney constructed of brick laidat alternating angles. The roofscape inMarket Square also an impressive featureof the Conservation Area. The variety inheights, materials and design is key to itsspecial character.8.6 Windows, doors and porchesPanelled and plank doors are in evidencein Church Street, Chapel Lane andLondon Road. Notable windows includethe oak mullioned windows in the KingsArms, (London Road range), the Orielwindows on the yard elevation of no’s 48-51 Market Square and the Venetianwindows with original ‘bulls eye’ glass inthe Kings Arms, London Road. Elsewherethe Conservation Area has goodexamples of sash windows and casementwindows. Stone mullions are found on theOld Priory and the Old Vicarage. Hippedor flat roofed dormer windows are foundon 2 or 3 storey buildings, set well back inthe roof space. Unfortunatelyreplacements in Upvc are diluting much ofthe quality of the area e.g. in North Streetand Chapel Lane. Manor Farm and no. 9Kings End have slated wooden porcheswith flanking settles, but porches are not afeature of the Conservation Areagenerally. Staircase turrets are found atno’s 63-67 Sheep Street, no’s 5-7Causeway and no. 44 Market Square.Photographs from the turn of the 20thcentury show shop fronts with elaborateawnings and porches but the majorityhave lost these additions. Many modernshop fronts have recessed entrance doorsrather than projecting over the pavement.The commercial premises on SheepStreet in particular have very openfrontages with wide expanses of glazingto show off the window displays. This is incontrast with the panelled shop fronts onno. 44 and 45 Market Square.The unusual roof and chimney of TheCourtyard CentreShop front to No. 44Varied Market Square roofscape28