Rose Hill: an Oxford suburb of surprising contrasts and great historical interest
A walk around Rose Hill, generally known as a 20th-century outer suburb of Oxford, though 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.
“I am so pleased to better understand the history of Rose Hill, and that so much of that history survives. An incredibly interesting place.” Stephen Dawson, Operations and Development Manager, Oxford Preservation Trust, October 2021
An illustrated talk on this subject is also available.
Contact me on 01865 242760 or liz@lizwoolley.co.uk to book this walk.