FRAGMENTS of Oxford’s ‘lost college’ have been uncovered by archaeologists.
Oxford Archaeology said it had found part of the limestone foundations of St Mary's College, dating back to early 16th century.
The team is excavating the site off New Inn Hall Street ahead of works to build 30 student flats at the Brasenose College annexe Frewin Hall, behind Cornmarket street in central Oxford.
Senior project manager for Oxford Archaeology Ben Ford said: “We are hoping to shed light not only on the layout of the 'lost college' of St Mary's, but also discover evidence that tells us about the lives of some of medieval Oxford’s most powerful Norman families who probably lived at the site.”
Intended as a base for Augustinian canons to study in Oxford, St Mar'ys College was founded in 1435.
The college struggled until Cardinal Wolsey, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor and right hand man until his fall from grace, intervened in the 1520s and building works continued apace.
However, Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s spelled the end for the ‘lost college’.
The archaeological team from Oxford Archaeology excavating pits on site in the east wing of the new basement Picture: SIMON GANNON
Archaeologists excavating the site have now found part of the building works dating back to the early 16th century.
A massive limestone wall foundation is believed to have supported a wall to a very significant stone building. The experts say it likely belonged to one of the buildings that formed St Mary's College, possibly the south range of the cloister.
Butchered animal bones and charcoal have been found nearby, possibly from the St Mary's College kitchens. Also uncovered during the excavations are a 17th century stone flagon, a bone comb, silver penny and ornately decorated medieval floor tiles.
The Frewin Hall complex has been continuously occupied since the 11th century, with evidence of a house built for a wealthy owner in the Norman period.
Ben Ford from Oxford Archaeology said: “Frewin Hall has a stone vaulted basement which dates from Norman times and is one of the oldest buildings still in use in Oxford.
“If we are really lucky, we may uncover signs of even older everyday life, from Oxford’s earliest years when it was first built as a heavily-defended town on the Thames, guarding the border between Saxon and the Viking held lands."
From left: Adam Fellingham (Oxford Archaeology site manager); Dr Llewelyn Morgan (Fellow at Brasenose College); Peter Beilby (Beard project manager); Matthew Hill (Bursar at Brasenose College), view the remains of the substantial limestone foundations to
Dr Llewelyn Morgan, a fellow at Brasenose College, said: "We are excited by the remarkable glimpses of St Mary's College and the longer history of Frewin that the archaeologists are revealing. It has been a place of education for 600 years, and our beautiful new building will continue that tradition."
Construction firm Beard is building the 30 new flats for Brasenose. Project manager Peter Beilby said: “Working alongside the archaeologists in this constrained site within Oxford’s historic centre is a difficult but interesting exercise.”
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