Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, Littlegate Street, Oxford & Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, Littlegate Street, Oxford Additional Trenches

Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Z Hotels to undertake an
archaeological evaluation consisting of three trenches at the site of the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Centre, Oxford (NGR: SP 51207 05841). The works were
undertaken in advance of a planning application.
The evaluation was undertaken over 15 days during November 2020, consisted
of three archaeological evaluation trenches (Nos. 1, 2 and 3) that varied in size
from 5.50m long by 2.20m wide to 8.50m long and 5.50m wide.
Trench 1 was targeted over an area of unknown medieval potential adjacent
to the cemetery boundary wall of the Blackfriars. Within this area of site
medieval archaeology was encountered at 56.10m OD. This consisted of two
phase of construction deposits and surfaces associated with a possible
mason’s yard (similar to the ones recorded at Hampton Court Palace and at
Rose Cottage, Burford). This was overlain by a possible late medieval wall.
Both Trenches 2 and 3 were targeted over the projected medieval walls which
formed part of the porch as mapped by Lambrick (1985). Within these trenches
surviving medieval remains relating to the monastic institute were
encountered at 56.10m OD. These include walls forming part of a porch and
later redevelopments, gravel and limestone surfaces, graves containing in-situ
human remains, as well as post-dissolution garden soils. These have survived
in a well-preserved state despite post-medieval and modern disturbances. The
discovery of these medieval features relating to the monastic institute are
considered to be nationally significant.
The presence of post-medieval tanning pits is considered to be of some
significance due to, in part, further understanding of the historical landscape
of the site after the dissolution of the friary.
Victorian and later activity that has been recorded within the site is considered
to be of low significance.

Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Z Hotels through an
instruction from Planning Resolution to undertake additional archaeological
evaluation trenching at the site of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre,
Littlegate Street, Oxford (NGR: SP 51207 05841). The works were undertaken
in advance of, and to inform, a planning application to redevelop/repurpose
the site into a new hotel. The aim of the additional principal evaluation trench
(Trench 6) was to further identify the exact positions of human skeletal remains
and graves within the projected extent of the medieval cemetery that had been
originally identified in the initial evaluation, with the express purpose of
informing a foundation and drainage design that would avoid impacting any
such remains.
The evaluation was undertaken over three weeks during March and April 2022
and consisted of three archaeological evaluation trenches (Nos. 4, 5 and 6)
that varied in size.
Trenches 4 and 5 were small approx. 0.7 x 0.5m hand‐excavated test‐pits
located against the southern wall of the existing building to confirm the
nature, form, and condition of the foundations to help inform the design of
Trench 6, as well as record any significant archaeological deposits that were
revealed.
T‐shaped, Trench 6 was located within the central and northern area of the
southern carpark between and wrapping around to the northern extents of
former evaluation Trenches 2 and 3. This location was over medieval
foundations for the Porch and another structure (an Anchor House) which
formed part of the Oxford Blackfriars Church, as well as a newly identified
concentration of inhumation burials.
Surviving medieval remains relating to the use and fabric of the Oxford
Blackfriars complex were encountered throughout Trench 6. Remains included
substantial limestone foundations (heavily robbed in places) forming the
western wall/foundation of a small internal space interpreted as the Porch (the
entrance to the Church at the west end of the North Aisle), this structure also
formed eastern wall/foundation of an adjacent space ‐ a possible ‘Anchor
House’. Gravel surfaces (probably external) survived in patches to the west and
north of these structures. A significant number of often intercutting, east‐west
orientated graves containing in‐situ skeletal remains of supine inhumations,
with their heads to the west, were distributed throughout the trench, some
clearly cutting the stone foundations/robber‐trench backfill of the
aforementioned wall/foundation, indicating demolition and remodelling with
a change in use of the area probably associated with the rebuilding of the west
end of the Church. The skeletal remains survived in a well‐preserved state
despite limited post‐medieval and modern disturbance. The medieval features Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Z Hotels through an
instruction from Planning Resolution to undertake additional archaeological
evaluation trenching at the site of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre,
Littlegate Street, Oxford (NGR: SP 51207 05841). The works were undertaken
in advance of, and to inform, a planning application to redevelop/repurpose
the site into a new hotel. The aim of the additional principal evaluation trench
(Trench 6) was to further identify the exact positions of human skeletal remains
and graves within the projected extent of the medieval cemetery that had been
originally identified in the initial evaluation, with the express purpose of
informing a foundation and drainage design that would avoid impacting any
such remains.
The evaluation was undertaken over three weeks during March and April 2022
and consisted of three archaeological evaluation trenches (Nos. 4, 5 and 6)
that varied in size.
Trenches 4 and 5 were small approx. 0.7 x 0.5m hand‐excavated test‐pits
located against the southern wall of the existing building to confirm the
nature, form, and condition of the foundations to help inform the design of
Trench 6, as well as record any significant archaeological deposits that were
revealed.
T‐shaped, Trench 6 was located within the central and northern area of the
southern carpark between and wrapping around to the northern extents of
former evaluation Trenches 2 and 3. This location was over medieval
foundations for the Porch and another structure (an Anchor House) which
formed part of the Oxford Blackfriars Church, as well as a newly identified
concentration of inhumation burials.
Surviving medieval remains relating to the use and fabric of the Oxford
Blackfriars complex were encountered throughout Trench 6. Remains included
substantial limestone foundations (heavily robbed in places) forming the
western wall/foundation of a small internal space interpreted as the Porch (the
entrance to the Church at the west end of the North Aisle), this structure also
formed eastern wall/foundation of an adjacent space ‐ a possible ‘Anchor
House’. Gravel surfaces (probably external) survived in patches to the west and
north of these structures. A significant number of often intercutting, east‐west
orientated graves containing in‐situ skeletal remains of supine inhumations,
with their heads to the west, were distributed throughout the trench, some
clearly cutting the stone foundations/robber‐trench backfill of the
aforementioned wall/foundation, indicating demolition and remodelling with
a change in use of the area probably associated with the rebuilding of the west
end of the Church. The skeletal remains survived in a well‐preserved state
despite limited post‐medieval and modern disturbance. The medieval features Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by Z Hotels through an
instruction from Planning Resolution to undertake additional archaeological
evaluation trenching at the site of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre,
Littlegate Street, Oxford (NGR: SP 51207 05841). The works were undertaken
in advance of, and to inform, a planning application to redevelop/repurpose
the site into a new hotel. The aim of the additional principal evaluation trench
(Trench 6) was to further identify the exact positions of human skeletal remains
and graves within the projected extent of the medieval cemetery that had been
originally identified in the initial evaluation, with the express purpose of
informing a foundation and drainage design that would avoid impacting any
such remains.
The evaluation was undertaken over three weeks during March and April 2022
and consisted of three archaeological evaluation trenches (Nos. 4, 5 and 6)
that varied in size.
Trenches 4 and 5 were small approx. 0.7 x 0.5m hand‐excavated test‐pits
located against the southern wall of the existing building to confirm the
nature, form, and condition of the foundations to help inform the design of
Trench 6, as well as record any significant archaeological deposits that were
revealed.
T‐shaped, Trench 6 was located within the central and northern area of the
southern carpark between and wrapping around to the northern extents of
former evaluation Trenches 2 and 3. This location was over medieval
foundations for the Porch and another structure (an Anchor House) which
formed part of the Oxford Blackfriars Church, as well as a newly identified
concentration of inhumation burials.
Surviving medieval remains relating to the use and fabric of the Oxford
Blackfriars complex were encountered throughout Trench 6. Remains included
substantial limestone foundations (heavily robbed in places) forming the
western wall/foundation of a small internal space interpreted as the Porch (the
entrance to the Church at the west end of the North Aisle), this structure also
formed eastern wall/foundation of an adjacent space ‐ a possible ‘Anchor
House’. Gravel surfaces (probably external) survived in patches to the west and
north of these structures. A significant number of often intercutting, east‐west
orientated graves containing in‐situ skeletal remains of supine inhumations,
with their heads to the west, were distributed throughout the trench, some
clearly cutting the stone foundations/robber‐trench backfill of the
aforementioned wall/foundation, indicating demolition and remodelling with
a change in use of the area probably associated with the rebuilding of the west
end of the Church. The skeletal remains survived in a well‐preserved state
despite limited post‐medieval and modern disturbance. The medieval featuresassociated with the Oxford Blackfriars are considered to of national
significance.
Accurate plans of the burials were shared with the project design team to
allow for a final phase of foundation redesign prior to the schemes submission
to the Local Planning Authority (OCC).