Sir – As a footnote to Chris Koenig’s informative article on Pevsner’s ‘lost’ church treasures it is worth recalling that between 1973 and 1974, before the conversion of All Saints Church to the library of Lincoln College, Brian Durham carried out what is arguably the most spectacular excavation of any medieval site in Oxford.

Brian’s excavations, reported in the publication Oxford before the University, revealed not only traces of the original 11th-century church and later medieval burials, but also remarkable secular remains from the 10th century onwards when Oxford first developed as a town.

This excavation was an exemplary example of an excavation prior to development before planning legislation required the excavation in advance of development.

Tom Hassall, Archaeological and heritage management consultant, Oxford