Establishing the Anglo-Saxon defences of Oxford

Archaeological investigations inevitably expand our knowledge of the past and Need us to reassess our understanding of what we think we know about the history of the environment around us. In centre of a city like Oxford the opportunities to carry out such investigations are inevitably limited by the very nature of the city that we know today. Any new building work likely to turn up evidence of past occupation in the city centre and indeed in the historic suburbs.

A very Good instance of this has happened at Oriel with the discovery of the line of the eastern ditch defending the tenth century town as originally laid out. This is often associated with the burh foundations made by Æthelflæd  Lady of the Mercians ( c.870-918 ) the daughter of King Alfred. This town, whose street plan underlies that of much of the present city centre, is where the town, and later city began as a trading community alongside St Frideswide’s religious foundation. Rebuilding of the kitchens at Oriel has revealed the width and depth of the defensive ditch which lies alongside what is now called Magpie Lane*. A century or so later this town was expanded east and south-eastwards along the line of the High Street down towards Magdalen Bridge. As a result the ditch was filled in or gradually accumulated soil and rubbish and disappeared as a consequence. 

The Oxford Mail reported on the discovery in an article which can be seen at Archaeologists solve 125-year-old mystery about origins of Oxford

More or less the same account can also be seen in the Daily Express at Archaeologists discover hidden secret behind one of the UK's prettiest cities

This is an important  insight into the history of the origins and development of the urban community in Oxford. 

Never let be said that Oriel has neglected its responsibilities to record the history of the city and university, even if we had to pull down the kitchens in order to do so.

 * The various names over the centuries of this narrow lane are of interest, and informative, but far too indelicate for a blog like this. The answer can be found in volume i of The History of the University of Oxford - try the map of Oxford in the thirteenth century.