Grandpont, Oxford
Encyclopedia
Grandpont is a mainly residential area in south Oxford
. It is west of Abingdon Road
, and consists mainly of narrow streets that run at right-angles to the main road, with terraced late-Victorian
and Edwardian houses.
It also contains the Grandpont Nature Park — a riverside park managed by Oxford City Council
. The park covers 7.4 acres (3 ha) and was created in 1985 on the site of a gas works
that was demolished in 1960. The former railway bridge, used to carry coal from the main railway line across the River Thames
to the older gas works in St Ebbes
on the north bank, still stands, and is in use as a footbridge. A later bridge, Grandpont Bridge, provides a more direct pedestrian and cycle route across the river to St Ebbes.
, and rebuilt in the late 11th century by the first Norman
lord of Oxford, Robert D'Oyly I
, crossing the low-lying ground south of the City, still very liable to winter flooding from the nearby River Cherwell
.
In 1279 there were 62 houses in Grandpont. The suburb grew slowly in the following centuries, and extensive development did not take place until the 19th century. In 1844 the Great Western Railway
opened Oxford's first railway station in what is now Western Road, and that stimulated development.
Until 1889 Grandpont was in Berkshire, although it was a tithing of the parish of St Aldate's, Oxford
. The area was added to the municipal borough of Oxford and to Oxfordshire
in 1889. The Church of England parish church
of Saint Matthew, Grandpont was built in 1890, presumably as a chapel of ease
, and became a parish separate from St Aldate's in 1913.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. It is west of Abingdon Road
Abingdon Road
Abingdon Road is the main arterial road to the south of the city of Oxford, England. The road passes through the suburbs of Grandpont and New Hinksey...
, and consists mainly of narrow streets that run at right-angles to the main road, with terraced late-Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Edwardian houses.
It also contains the Grandpont Nature Park — a riverside park managed by Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
. The park covers 7.4 acres (3 ha) and was created in 1985 on the site of a gas works
Coal gasification
Coal gasification is the process of producing coal gas, a type of syngas–a mixture of carbon monoxide , hydrogen , carbon dioxide and water vapour –from coal...
that was demolished in 1960. The former railway bridge, used to carry coal from the main railway line across the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
to the older gas works in St Ebbes
St Ebbes
St Ebbes is a district of central Oxford, England, southwest of Carfax. St Ebbes Street runs south from the western end of Queen Street.The area takes its name from the parish church of St Ebbe's, dedicated to Saint Æbbe the Elder. The name was first recorded in about 1005, when the church and...
on the north bank, still stands, and is in use as a footbridge. A later bridge, Grandpont Bridge, provides a more direct pedestrian and cycle route across the river to St Ebbes.
History
The name of the area derives from the Grandpont, a medieval stone causeway now known to survive within the core of the modern Abingdon Road for a distance of at least 700 metres south of the city centre. The causeway may have been first built in the Anglo-Saxon eraHistory of Anglo-Saxon England
Anglo-Saxon England refers to the period of the history of that part of Britain, that became known as England, lasting from the end of Roman occupation and establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror...
, and rebuilt in the late 11th century by the first Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
lord of Oxford, Robert D'Oyly I
Robert D'Oyly (Oxford)
Robert D'Oyly was a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror on the Norman Conquest, his invasion of England. He died in 1091.-Background:Robert was the son of Walter D'Oyly and elder brother to Nigel D'Oyly...
, crossing the low-lying ground south of the City, still very liable to winter flooding from the nearby River Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
.
In 1279 there were 62 houses in Grandpont. The suburb grew slowly in the following centuries, and extensive development did not take place until the 19th century. In 1844 the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
opened Oxford's first railway station in what is now Western Road, and that stimulated development.
Until 1889 Grandpont was in Berkshire, although it was a tithing of the parish of St Aldate's, Oxford
St Aldate's, Oxford
St Aldate's is a street in central Oxford, England. It is named after Saint Aldate of whom little is known, although it has also been suggested that the name is a corruption of 'old gate', referring to the south gate in the former city walls. St Aldate's Church is on the west side of the street, in...
. The area was added to the municipal borough of Oxford and to Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
in 1889. The Church of England parish church
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of Saint Matthew, Grandpont was built in 1890, presumably as a chapel of ease
Chapel of ease
A chapel of ease is a church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently....
, and became a parish separate from St Aldate's in 1913.