A channel lined with stone slabs was found in a trench dug in Albert Park in 1917. The channel once took spring water to the nearby Conduit House. Some of the slabs were elaboarately carved pieces from a 15th century building. They probably came from Abingdon Abbey, possibly even from the abbey church which was demolished after 1538
Period Archives
35 East Saint Helen Street
AAAHS excavated in the rear of this property in 1993. Discoveries included traces of a 19th century stone-mason’s yard, 17th and 18th century rubbish pits, and a large rectangular stone-lined pit with an arch on one side. This may have been a soakaway or a cess-pit. It had been filled with demolition debris, including pieces from a stone chimney which may have been medieval. Medieval and Roman pottery was also found.
Winsmore Lane
An excavation by AAAHS in 1987-88, before Neave Court (now demolished) was built found medieval rubbish pits and wells. Much medieval pottery, including two glazed jugs, was found. A very small amount of Roman pottery was also found.
West St Helen Street
An excavation in 1971, during the building of the St Helen’s Court estate, found two late Iron Age or early Roman pits, a medieval ditch and a stone cellar.
Air Balloon, Ock Street
An excavation was carried out in 2003 when the Air Balloon public house was being redeveloped for housing. Rubbish pits, postholes and a possible ditch were found, with medieval pottery. The pottery dates to the 11th to 14th centuries, showing that people were living in this part of Ock Street, close to the Ock Bridge, at that time.
Bath Street
Excavations in the rear garden of a house in Bath Street between 1990 and 1998 found Roman ditches and five Roman cremation burials, two late Saxon ditches, and medieval and later features. Much pottery of different periods was also found.
Lombard Street (West St Helen Street)
An excavation on a vacant plot in 1972, before the Salvation Army Citadel was built, found an Iron Age posthole, an Iron Age pit containing horse skulls, a Roman ditch, foundations of a medieval building, medieval and later rubbish pits and a deep build-up of soil in a former garden.
57 East St Helen Street
A new soakaway was excavated by archaeologists. The work found that nearly 2 metres of soil had built up over the surface of the natural gravel since Roman times. A rubbish pit or cess pit was also found, along with Roman, medieval and later pottery.
32 East St Helen Street
Salvage excavations during the construction of a swimming pool found remains of stone walls and a lane, a rubbish pit which was probably medieval, and a Roman pit.
St Helen’s Mews
Salvage excavations when St Helen’s Mews was being built found an Iron Age ditch or gully, Roman and medieval rubbish pits, and the walls of a stone cellar, next to East Saint Helen Street. Rubbish pits and other features were seen elsewhere on the site.