Electrical Infrastructure at Hertford College, Oxford Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Jessop and Cook on behalf of Hertford
College to undertake an archaeological watching brief of proposed new service routes
at Hertford College.
A total of five trenches were excavated across the College to facilitate the installation
of new electrical services. These were located within Old Quad (Trenches 1 and 4), New
Quad (Trenches 2 and 5) and Holywell Quad (Trench 3). The trenches varied in size and
ranged in depth from 0.40m bgl to 0.90m bgl (63.33m OD – 60.63m OD).
Previously unknown demolished foundation walls recorded within Holywell Quad are
considered significant as they probably relate to post-medieval tenements that would
have fronted onto Holywell Street during the 17th century. Archaeological deposits and
features recorded within Old Quad dating from the post-medieval period are
considered to be of some significance, since they could have been contemporary with
the later demolition and redevelopment phase of Hertford College during the 19th
century