Rose Hill: an Oxford suburb of surprising contrasts and great historical interest
Rose Hill is generally known as a 20th-century outer suburb of Oxford, yet this area was first settled in the Early Iron Age. The site attracted well-to-do residents in the late 1700s, its elevated position giving it “one of the most beautiful [views] in the world” over the towers and spires of the city. A maze of narrow lanes through this old settlement – which includes Oxford’s earliest surviving Methodist chapel – leads to large 1930s housing estates, some built by private developers and some by the City Council. The latter feature carefully-designed homes for tenants displaced from the inner city, laid out on generous plots and with wide streets and ample communal space. Now the suburb also houses an award-winning community centre and some perhaps surprising green spaces.
“As always you presented an erudite talk, about an area that most of us knew very little about. The creation of the estates and the rather more enlightened view of town planning that they represent made for a fascinating presentation.” Mary Vizoso, Stanford in the Vale & District Local History Society, April 2022.
A guided walk on this subject is also available.
Contact me on 01865 242760 or liz@lizwoolley.co.uk to book this talk.