Contents and introduction

• Introduction
  1. Physical environment
• 2. History
  • The enclosure
  • Population
  • The 20th century
• 3. Local life and tradition
• 4. Built environment
  • Buildings of interest
  • Road development
  • Land and plot division
• 5. Appraisal and recommendations
  • Plots
  • Landscape
  • Boundary walls
  • Siting of buildings
  • building types
  • Construction elements
    • 1 Roofs
    • 2 Walls
    • 3 Windows
    • 4 Doors
    • 5 Facades
  • Garages
  • Traffic issues
  • Allotments
  • Magdalen Quarry
  • Repairs and extensions
    • 1 House extensions/additions
    • 2 Walls
    • 3 Roofs
    • 4 Windows
    • 5 Porches
    • 6 Infill development
• Conclusion
• List of illustrations
• Bibliography

Introduction 

The Town Planning concept of a conservation area was first introduced in 1967 with the Civic Amenities Act. Twenty five years on, it seems appropriate to try to assess how effective designation has been in safeguarding change within a tight physical and historical framework. A major assessment of recent concern has been made in 'Townscape in Trouble: conservation areas - the case for change', published by the English Historic Towns Forum. This Report points out the problem encountered by conservation areas. In spite of an increased public awareness of environmental issues - as a result of legislative back up - a piecemeal erosion of the intrinsic character of these areas of special architectural and historic interests is taking place, damaging the visual appearance of many historic towns, villages and places. The question is: how effective are Conservation Areas?

Management of a conservation area also addresses issues such as the way in which buildings, their uses, and communities evolve over time and how best to preserve the spirit of the place, preserving it not in aspic, but reinforced by the right type of change.

It is with this in mind that this booklet has been written to analyse the historical development of Headington Quarry (designated Conservation Area in 1971), to draw attention to its special character and how this continues to change under the pressure for development.

Recommendations are set out in the last chapter with the intention of making local residents, as well as the local authority, aware of the care needed to preserve and enhance the original village flavour of Headington Quarry.

Location map