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.
Period Archives
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.
Stert Street
An excavation was carried out on a vacant plot in Stert Street, now the Job Centre, in 1975 and 1976. Remains of medieval and post-medieval buildings, and pits and a well of the same date, were found, along with much pottery. Other finds included the skeleton of an infant, Roman pottery and coins, and an ice-skate made from the bone of a horse.
Checker Walk
West Central Redevelopment Area
Oxford Archaeology excavated on the site of the Regal Cinema and Southern Electricity Board depot, in advance of redevelopment.
Discoveries included the ditches of the Iron Age oppidum, a medieval building, a small cemetery which may be medieval, and remains of medieval and later occupation of the area.
Old Gaol
The remains of a Roman temple, possibly preceded by an Iron Age shrine, were found in excavations before the Old Gaol flats were built.
Ditches which may be medieval property boundaries, and medieval pits and later structures, were also found.
Vineyard excavations
A small excavation was carried out in in 1970 the back garden of a house awaiting demolition.
A rubbish pit containing a large amount of 18th century china, and pottery was found, including a plate with the name ‘H. Day’ inscribed on it.
