Historical buildings, monuments and conservation areas in Oxfordshire have fallen into a bad state and are in need of repair.

Churches, castles and ruins are just some of the places in the county that Historic England say need saving.

Some sites have received grants to help with restoration projects and repairs such as the Rewley Road Swing Bridge in Oxford.

Here's a list of all of the places in Oxfordshire that have been listed as 'at risk' sites by Historic England.

Oxford

Church of St Thomas the Martyr, St Thomas Street

Oxford Mail: Church of St Thomas the Martyr. Pic by Ed NixChurch of St Thomas the Martyr. Pic by Ed Nix

Listed Building grade II

With a chancel dating back to the 12th Century and a nave, west tower and north tower dating back to the 15th-16th Century, this church's roof covering is in a poor condition and needs to be repaired.

It's structurally sound overall, but stonework is 'fair to poor'. The drain pipes are okay apart from one gutter. 

The church applied for a Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund grant but was unsuccessful. 

Rewley Road Swing bridge

Scheduled Monument

Rewley Road Swing Bridge is a disused railway swing bridge over Sheepwash Channel in west Oxford. The bridge was designed by Robert Stephenson and built in 1850-1 before later being reconstructed in 1890 and in 1906.

The bridge closed to passenger traffic in 1951 and to goods in 1984. After suffering from decay of the plating and paintwork, Historic England provided grant aid towards investigation work and the repair. Repair work started at the end of 2020 and is now almost complete.

Oxford Mail: Rewley Road Swing BridgeRewley Road Swing Bridge

Church Of The Holy Family, Blackbird Leys

Listed Building grade II

This innovative church was designed by Colin Shewring in 1964-5, with a timber hyperbolic paraboloid roof designed by the engineer Hugh Tottenham.

The timber boarded roof was originally covered in an aluminium sheet which was later replaced with a membrane, but this now leaks.

There are proposals to demolish the church and redevelop the site.

It is at immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric.

Oxford Mail: Church Of The Holy FamilyChurch Of The Holy Family

Well house, Wick Farmhouse, Barton

Listed Building grade II*

This well house dates back to the 17th Century and is in a poor condition and not in use. It has a square plan ashlar structure in Baroque style with stone benches lining walls.

The well is now filled in and Historic England has been in discussion with the owner regarding maintenance and conservation repairs.

The structure sits within a larger unused farmyard which forms part of larger planning discussions. Historic England understands that quotations for the work were obtained. 

Cherwell

Islip Roman villa, 300m east of Hillside Farm, Islip 

Scheduled Monument

This building has 'extensive significant problems'. It is privately owned.

Ruins of Hampton Gay Manor House, Hampton Gay and Poyle 

Scheduled Monument

This 16th Century manor house was burnt down in 1887. The ruins are in a very poor condition suffering from structural problems and with a lot of vegetation growth.

Historic England says a programme of consolidation works needs to be agreed and implemented and management as a ruin is needed.

Defence and ancillary structures at RAF Bicester, Bicester, Launton 

Scheduled Monument

These structures are the most complete and strongly representative example of an RAF airbase from the interwar expansion, built as a bomber station as part of the 1920s Home Defence Expansion Scheme.

The monuments sit on the former airbase taken over by Bicester Heritage which is part of Bicester Motion.

The monuments include the southern bomb stores and defensive structures which are at risk from decay and vegetation.

Bicester Heritage has worked with Historic England to address the issues. In 2016 and 2018 grant aided repairs to Scheduled airfield structures were completed. The Southern bomb stores condition and possible use are under consideration.

Oxford Mail: Bicester Heritage RAF Bicester site restoration. Pictured: Building 99 The Blast House after restoration.Bicester Heritage RAF Bicester site restoration. Pictured: Building 99 The Blast House after restoration.

Church of St Lawrence, Caversfield

Listed Building grade II*

Parts of this church were built in the 10th, 12th and 13th Century. Henry Woodyer, in 1874, rebuilt the aisles, restored the chancel and added the north vestry.

The nave and aisle roofs are very steep; covered in thin, stone slates. Water ingress is occurring and repairs are needed. An application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Places of Worship scheme in 2017 was unsuccessful.

RAF Upper Heyford, Upper Heyford

Conservation Area

There are plans to build a huge development with more than 1,000 homes, a primary school, social facilities and 'creative city' at this former US and RAF airbase, near Bicester.

Developers Dorchester Living will convert the Cold War base demolishing a hangar, bomb stores and hardened squadron HQ in the process.

It will have 1,175 homes, a primary school, social facilities and filming site dubbed a 'creative city'.

Oxford Mail: Some hangars will be demolished to build homesSome hangars will be demolished to build homes

The condition of the airbase is listed by Historic England as 'very bad' and detriorating.

Ilbury Camp hillfort, Deddington

Scheduled Monument

This has multiple private owners and the condition is 'generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems' It is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

Grimsbury, Banbury 

Conservation Area

The area's condition is listed as 'very bad' and is 'deteriorating significantly'.

West Oxfordshire

Linear earthworks east of Callow Hill Roman villa forming part of the north Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch, Glympton

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

145m section of the north Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch situated 200m west of Grimsdyke Farm, Kiddington with Asterleigh

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Pump Copse earthwork, Kiddington with Asterleigh

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Medieval settlement and church of Asterleigh, Kiddington with Asterleigh

Scheduled Monument

Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems

Church of St Nicholas, Kiddington Park, Kiddington with Asterleigh - West Oxfordshire

Listed Building grade II*

A mostly 14th Century church with a 12th Century core, restored in 1879.

It was built using coursed limestone rubble with stone slates. Roofs have been repaired under the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme, however there remains outstanding repair works elsewhere in the building.

Waterman's Lodge bowl barrow, one of a pair of Bronze Age barrows on the western edge of Wychwood Forest, Cornbury and Wychwood

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems' and is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

Pair of bowl barrows immediately south of Blindwell Wood

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems' and is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

Rectangular enclosures 1100yds (1010m) north west of Mount Owen Farm, Lew

Scheduled Monument

Extensive significant problems

Vale of White Horse

Church of St Mary, Buckland

Listed Building grade I

This church was built in early 12th Century and rebuilt with late 18th Century windows. It has coursed limestone rubble, limestone ashlar walling; stone slate roofs, except to nave and chancel; limestone ashlar flue.

The limestone stone slate roofs to the north and south transept have been repaired, but stonework repairs are needed at high level on the tower.

Castle mound at Fitzharris, Abingdon on Thames 

Scheduled Monument

Generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems

Milton Manor House, High Street, Milton

Listed Building grade I

This manor house was built circa 1670. A kitchen and brewhouse range was added circa 1776.

The north and south wings, and stable and carriage house roofs are in a poor condition and the cornice to the main block is in very poor condition.

Historic England says the condition of the timberwork to the windows is also 'cause for great concern'. Discussions between Historic England and the owners led to a grant being offered to prioritise the repairs, but this was not enacted.

Settlement site south east of church, Appleford-on-Thames / Long Wittenham

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems' and is vulnerable to unlicensed metal detecting.

Yew Down round barrow 950m south west of Butterbush Reservoir, Lockinge 

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Two round barrows 520m and 550m north of Lower Chance Farm

Scheduled Monument

Historic England said its condition is 'generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems' and is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

South Oxfordshire

Dike Hills, Dorchester

Scheduled Monument

This has 'extensive significant problems' and is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

Church of All Saints, Church Street, North Moreton

Listed Building grade I

This church is made of mainly flint and sandstone, with tiled roofs to the nave and chancel, and a sheet roof to the south aisle.

It was built in the mostly mid-13th and 14th Centuries but altered in the 15th Century and restored in the 19th Century. The tower and chantry chapel have had works carried out to them.

Two National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England Repair Grants for Places of Worship projects have been completed, but works are still needed to the south aisle roof.

The outstanding early 14th Century St Nicholas stained glass window is in need of urgent repair to the glazing and stonework and funds need to be raised for this work.

Defences to the Saxon town [within Bull and Kine Croft], Wallingford 

Scheduled Monument

It is 'generally unsatisfactory with major localised problems' and is owned by the local authority.

Remains of St Nicholas's College, Wallingford Castle, Wallingford 

Scheduled Monument

The site has suffered from heritage crime and part of it is fenced off. Structures are also in need of consolidation and a sustainable management plan.

Historic England is working with the owners to see the site conserved, explained and maintained. Owners have commissioned survey work and have formed a heritage action group.

Historic England has offered a two-stage grant for the repair and consolidation of the chapel remains.

North Stoke henge and ring ditch site, Crowmarsh / South Stoke

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Camp on Bozedown, Goring Heath / Whitchurch-on-Thames

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Fernhouse, archway, gateway and walls, Mapledurham 

Listed Building grade II*

The Fern house is roofless and in need of repair. The condition of the walls and gateway varies and there have been discussions regarding possible use and repair, including a proposal for reuse with heat provided by bio-mass heating.

No works have physically been undertaken.

Grim's Ditch; portion from Mongewell Park Lodge to S of Nuffield church

Scheduled Monument

This has 'extensive significant problems' and is vulnerable to animal burrowing.

Long barrow 340m north west of Cooks Cottages, Warborough 

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

Romano-British settlement 520m north west of Cooks Cottages, Warborough 

Scheduled Monument

It has 'extensive significant problems'.

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