Draft Bicester Conservation Area Appraisal November 2009

8.7 Means of EnclosureMost buildings are built at the back of thepavement and so only the rear curtilagesare enclosed.Limestone rubble walls are a dominantfeature of the Conservation Area,generally about two metres in height.Capping stones, stone on end, mortar, tileand mortar, and blue or red ridge tile onclay tiles or Stonesfield slates are allfound, the latter in significant proportions.Boundary walls are a major influence inthe character of the area south of KingsEnd/Church Street, in denoting the line ofburgage plots on the east side of SheepStreet and in lining the alleyways such asTwitchers Alley and Crumps Butt. Lowbrick walls with brick gate piers enclosethe front gardens of most of the brickEdwardian terraced housing. Railings andhedges are not a particular feature nowalthough examples of railings remainoutside Lloyds Bank, Sheep Street.Rear courts and yards, accessed througharchways off Sheep Street (e.g. WesleyLane, Evans Yard, Deans Court), havebeen brought back into productive useand add significantly to the specialcharacter of the town.Alleys to Priory LaneEntrance to Deans CourtSome of the most important boundarywalls within the conservation area arethose within the curtilage of listedbuildings such as those to BicesterHouse, The Old Place Yard Guest Houseand the Church of St. Edburg’s. However,there are many unlisted boundary wallswhich make a particularly significantcontribution. These include those of theLittlebury Hotel, Hometree House, PiggyLane, Cemetery Road, Crumps Butts andTwitchers Alley.Railings to properties in London RoadNarrow alleys or lanes running along theback of burgage plots occur at Piggy Laneand Crumps Butts, which links toTwitchers Alley. These are predominantlypedestrian routes and are contained by 2-3m high limestone walls.Side entrance inPriory RoadCrumps Butts alleyway29