Willow Walk, North Hinksey, Oxford

Between May and June 2011 Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out an
archaeological watching brief on an elevated causeway called Willow Walk through
the pastureland of Hinksey Meadows, North Hinksey, Oxford (NGR: SP 4955 0544).
The work was commissioned by the Environment Agency to take place during the
installation of two new culverts within Willow Walk to allow drainage between
pasture land either side of the causeway as part of general flood alleviation works to
the east of Oxford.
The watching brief revealed a natural floodplain sequence comprised of multiple
bands of gravel overlain by a thick layer of redeposited clay that formed the the
linear embankment or causeway along which Willow Walk runs. Set into this was the
current stone surface, dating from the Victorian period, which where not still visible
was overlain by modern soil encroachment and a very recent tarmac footpath. No
evidence for any former phases of routeway were encountered.