More information has been revealed after archaeologists uncovered the original eastern defensive line of the late Saxon town of Oxford at Oriel College.
The discovery, made by Oxford Archaeology, confirms a hypothesis that had gone unresolved since the Victorian period, when excavations outside the Bodleian Library revealed a section of wall thought to be the original town’s north-eastern corner.
The whereabouts of the defences gives credibility to theories that the early fortified Oxford was significantly smaller than the later medieval town and had a square perimeter — built by the Anglo-Saxons according to the model of walled Roman towns such as Winchester.
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The east range of First Quad is undergoing extensive renovation.
The bar and other catering spaces are being refurbished, and the kitchens rebuilt.
In addition to the late-Saxon defences, which have been discovered deep underground by specialist technology, excavations have uncovered structures that belonged to Oriel College before the buildings in First Quad were rebuilt between 1620 and 1642.
A spokesman for the college said: “There have been conflicting theories regarding the origins of the late-Saxon town of Oxford, but archaeological evidence supporting any specific theory has been limited.
”Ever since the early excavations outside the Bodleian Library in 1899, it has been speculated that the eastern defensive line of the early Oxford extended from the Clarendon Quadrangle – just north of the Bodleian Library – to Oriel College, potentially running beneath the Radcliffe Camera and University Church.
"But until now, there has been no further archaeological evidence to confirm this hypothesis.
“The discovery at Oriel College suggests that the original town of Oxford was considerably smaller than its later Medieval counterpart – with the eastern border aligning with the defensive ditch extending from the Bodleian Library to Oriel College.”
They added: “Moreover, the finding suggests that the town was square-shaped. That suggests the design of Oxford was influenced by earlier Roman towns.
"Oxford was one of many such defended towns built as a defensive network throughout the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex against the Vikings – its position on the Thames together with other locations on the river (such as Wallingford) enhanced the defensive role of this natural barrier.”
Oxford Archaeology is one of the largest independent archaeological and heritage practices in Europe, with more than 400 specialist staff working out of offices in Oxford, Lancaster and Cambridge.
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