Draft Bicester Conservation Area Appraisal November 2009

Although the buildings remain very similar the domination of car parking is clearly visible in comparingthe 1910 and 2009 photographs of Market Square.Glimpses of space to the rear of the buildingsare possible through the coachingarches of the Kings Arms, the entrance tothe Crown Walk shopping centre and thelanes leading off the main square, toDeans Court.Almost all the buildings in this characterarea are listed. An important characteristicof the area is the block of buildings whichstand in the centre of the square to theeast. These are some of the oldest propertiesin Bicester and dominate the area.In the early 20th century a similar group offreestanding buildings at the south ofSheep Street were demolished.They were partially replaced by twounlisted structures, number 11, a incongruous1970s flat roofed structure thatprotrudes from the building line and themore impressive brick HSBC bank thatadjoins it.In general the buildings date from the17th, 18th and 19th centuries, with thepreviously mentioned buildings being the20th century additions. Many of the buildingsaround the square have had 20thcentury shop fascias attached and somehave been gutted at ground floor level toaccommodate offices and retail uses.Most buildings are rendered limestonerubble with timber frames although thereare also brick structures and two buildingswith exposed timber frames. There aresome impressive sash windows, somebays visible and also an oriel window onthe central block.At night the footfall is kept up by thenumber of public houses, restaurants, andtakeaways around the Square and onSheep Street and The Causeway. Thetaxi rank and kebab van ensure that thereis activity on Market Square until late intothe night.However the area has lost some of itsvibrancy and character with the transfer ofmarkets to Sheep Street and the volumeof traffic. The square is entirely devoted tovehicle movement and parking. Theamount of traffic has now become one ofthe Market Squares main characteristicswith the area being dominated by vehiclemovement. In general the square has lostits character as a destination or thrivingcentre and now appears to merely form acentral car park.There are plans to bring parts of MarketSquare back to use as a public spacewhich will represent a substantialenhancement to the Conservation Area.40