Rock Edge Rolls thro American Garden via Early Oxford Archaeology

 

When I moved to Oxford from Wales I wanted to be near greenery that connected me to a childhood past.  The budget did not stretch to a chic property overlooking one of the prominent parks however I did notice that there were some neighbourhood conservation areas in progress that held some promise (although even when viewing the muddy grassland was full of old tin cans and take away boxes!).  That was 20 years ago and the conservation space above (and below) now looks like a worthy place to spend some tranquil time.

 

 

An information sheet has picked out the fact that this is built on a Jurassic line.  Beakers relating to a nomadic tribe that predates the Celts have also been found here as well as on some of the University’s park land.  The ceramic connection also links up to the fact that when the Romans later used Oxford to fire their pots in giant kilns a lot of ceramics were found where the Churchill Hospital is now built.  The history of this hospital building deserves a mention in reconstructing the story of our modern neighbourhood conservation site above.

 

The Churchill Hospital in Oxford was built during the WW2 conflict by and for the American veterans who served here. Even today it’s architecture holds true to a typical army layout and it remains one of the key hospitals in the city with world renowned research taking place nearby in newly built departments.  The Historic commemoration of what has gone before is held beautifully in the calm, tranquil American garden of the hospital with the flags and sculpture shown below which offers a new vision of the hospital building.

After England’s December rainy season, walking away I am treading on soil that barely holds my weight. I think of the layers of jurassic soil underground that stretch much further than the Roman pottery kilns that archaeologists have so far preserved.  So many lost worlds, hidden discoveries and unwritten stories lie underground.  I wonder how deep we truly need to dig to find the treasure in our lives and neighbourhoods.  For Christmas I will ask for a sharp, sturdy and super spade to keep digging.  Here’s to happy hunting!

 

Enjoy more posts showing a new horizon here

14 thoughts on “Rock Edge Rolls thro American Garden via Early Oxford Archaeology”

  1. The Churchill Hospital in Oxford sounds like it housed many stories back in the day. Did you get to see those pots? From what I’m guessing they must have been pretty massive back in the day to do what they needed to do. Love the images of the fallen leaves on the ground. So true that each day we tread on earth and who knows who have walked the path we are walking on and what actually lies beneath the ground…and also around us. There is always so much to discover when we look back in history 🙂

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    • Lovely to hear from you my friend ! Since I posted, I read that Roman’s would have used their ceramics as disposable items ! So I guess this explains partly why there are not too many lying around. There are a few in the local museum and there is a reconstruction of the klln too. You are right they were massive things.

      Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday and looking forward to following more insights on your blog for 2017!

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  4. Wow, what a historically rich place! No wonder you wanted to live around this area. It is serene and peaceful too ! I would love to live around such place as well that gives you something new to discover every single day ! Very exciting 🙂

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  8. That is quite title for this post Lita. Sound like a doctoral thesis. 30 years ago spadework meant chatting up girls in my enviroment. Enjoy spading even if you ghave to dig!

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