New Kitchen St. Anne’s College Oxford

Between 24 August and 2 September 2011 Oxford Archaeology (OA) undertook an
archaeological evaluation, comprising three test trenches on behalf of St Anne's
College, Woodstock Road, Oxford in order to ascertain the archaeological potential
on the site prior to the construction of a new kitchen. This was followed immediately,
with the agreement of David Radford - Archaeologist for the Local Planning
Authority at Oxford City Council, by a Watching Brief during the initial groundwork
for the new building. Although no deposits datable prior to the sixteenth century
were found, residual pottery of late Saxon and medieval date and a silver halfpenny
of Edward I were recovered from later deposits and may suggest activity prior to the
16th century at or in the vicinity of the site. Two rubbish pits containing 16th century
pottery were found, one contained a sawn deer antler which indicates small scale
antler working. Two phases of cobbles found in one trench of 17th or 18th century
date may have formed part of a courtyard or lane leading off from Woodstock Road.
Foundations and services pertaining to former the 19th century houses and the
kitchen block of St Anne's College (built in 1959) had removed much of the
archaeological evidence on the site.