MSc Historic Conservation: field trip to Oxford on 26 November 2024

On 26 November, students taking the Oxford Brookes MSc in Historic Conservation went on walkabout in the city centre with Oxford heritage consultant Nicholas Worlledge (and his delightful dog, Button). Our first visit was to Frewin Hall, an important medieval house that once belonged to the lost college of St Mary. It has been owned since the Reformation by Brasenose College and is currently being converted into student accommodation, including a ‘deep retrofit’ to improve its energy efficiency.

Frewin Hall - the ground floor parlour contains a fine Elizabethan plaster ceiling and oak panelling

Frewin Hall - the undercroft below is far older, belonging to a Norman house of c.1100

Discussing urban design and traffic management strategies on Broad Street

Market Street, where a re-modelling of Oxford’s historic but commercially struggling Covered Market (est. 1774) is proposed in order to enhance public visibility, improve accessibility and – it is hoped – revive trade.

New Street, where the post-war County Council offices are shortly expected to become redundant, providing the largest city-centre development opportunity since the rebuilding of the Westgate Centre (seen in the background) in the 2010s

And finally, in the 19^th-century ‘A’ wing of what was once Oxford Prison, and has since 2006 been the Malmaison Hotel. As Button demonstrates, well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Thanks to David Garrard for the report and photos. For more information on the MSc Historic Conservation, take a look at previous blog posts and our website.

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