Risinghurst

Risinghurst is a quiet outlying residential area of Oxford, England, situated just outside the Eastern Bypass road which forms part of the Oxford ring road. It is around a mile from the centre of Headington and convert|3|mi|km from Oxford city centre. It is part of the Risinghurst and Sandhills civil parish and is typical of housing estates built between the wars to house an increasingly prosperous working class who were moving into new urban centres - in this instance to take advantage of the burgeoning motor industry in Oxford. These estates offered decent housing, relatively sizeable gardens, a garage for a car and whilst Risinghurst isn't quite a 'garden city' a sense of rural tranquility. (The countryfication coming from the pebble-dash finish, the rough stone front wall, and a decent sized front garden where roses could - and often were - grown.) During the 1930s some 600 homes were built in sets of semi-detached units; two rows of shops were built on Downside Road and Green Road along with two pubs, a small library but neither a school nor, initially, a church. So not quite a self-contained community and one that by and large was defined by 'The Works' (Morris Motors and Pressed Steel) that offered a broad range of amenities for their employees.

History

The name Risinghurst 'rising ground towards the wooded hill' reflects the fact that Risinghurst was built on gently rising land running upwards towards Shotover Hill.

Through part of the Estate runs the route of the Silchester to Towcester Roman road; the Kilns itself is so-named because kilns were excavated here that are thought to date back to the Roman period. Romano-British occupation was discovered during clay-quarrying in the late-nineteenth century (these pits have now become lakes.) Finds recorded in 1898 include building stones, gravel floors, and pottery dated mostly to the 3rd and 4th centuries but including some 2nd-century Samian ware. The surface of a 'probable road' was also sectioned, lying parallel to the main road but over 100 yards (90+ metres) to the east; this consisted of a spread of stones about 20 feet (c.6 metres) wide and about a foot (c.30.5 cm) thick in the centre, tapering to 'almost nothing at the edges'. Coins recovered from the site and recorded by Harding in 1939 ranged from issues of Tiberius (AD14–37) to Honorius (AD395–423).

In the 17th century a small settlement grew up in what is now the SE corner of the Estate - the houses are still there. Brick and tile works were established (in the middle of the 19th century three were located off what we now know as Kiln Lane) and that remained in operation until the early part of the 20th century.

The rest of what is now Risinghurst was farmland. Magdalen Farm was located roughly where the top end of Stanway and Collingwood Roads now are. The northern half of 'Risinghurst' was one single large field; the southern half a series of smaller fields. On the site where Nielsen's HQ now sits was a house called Shotover Lodge in the mid 19thC but Forest Lodge by the turn of the 20th century.

Up until the late 18th century, the Oxford to London road ran over Shotover Hill. Then a turnpike was opened on a new route further north with upwards of 80 coaches making the trip to London daily. This is today's A40 that forms the northern boundary of Risinghurst. A turnpike milestone (Oxford 3 and London 51) from the 18th century can still be seen on the central reservation near the Thornhill Park and Ride. (Thornhill itself is both the name of the farm to the east of Risinghurst and the hill that rises towards Shotover.)

Bounding the western edge of Risinghurst is Green Road. Maps from the 19th century show that it was a road at that time and it is probably older; it's original name was Toot Hill Butts as the road ran through an ancient field of that name.

In the mid to late 1930s the bulk of the Estate was built. Most of the houses in Risinghurst are still these pebble-dashed semi-detached 1930s 3-bedroom residences, although there are newer houses behind Nielsen's UK headquarters that date from the 1970s, some smaller ex-council houses dating from the late 1980s and 18 houses built in 1997 on the site of a coppice. The Estate was built primarily to house the increasing number of workers then employed at Morris Motors (by 1937 Morris Motors was the largest motor manufacturer in Europe); until relatively recently most of the home-owners were still likely to be employed in the automotive industry.

In 1958 work started on the Eastern Bypass - a plan had been under discussion for 30 years and when Risinghurst was built, a gap was left between it and Headington Quarry so that a road could be constructed. Sadly, this dual carriageway cut off Risinghurst from Headington Quarry the latter, until then, had been seen as part of the same district by the residents. Now Risinghurst was very much an island with two major trunk roads running along two sides and open countryside along the rest. To make matters worse, in 1968 the turn into Risinghurst from the dual carriageway was blocked off causing anger among residents and letters to the local press such as follows:'Does the Oxford City Corporation really think that by closing the Risinghurst turn for cars, mopeds tec it will reduce accident figures for that stretch of road. In my view, cyclists and moped riders returning from the factories will be jostling to get through the ridicuously small gap. I don't think that many men, especially on mopeds, are going to continue up the Green Road Roundabout, and then on to the A40...' The OCC eventually relinguished.

John Snow in his book Oxford Observed published by John Murray in 1991 was able to write, '...and the aspiring gentility of Risinghurst with its trim rose bushes and weekly ritual of waxing the Rover.' Most would agree that this is now a dated view in that the aspiration was never quite reached. The 2001 Census showed that of 840 people in employment who lived in Risinghurst, 165 worked in healthcare/social work (no doubt due to the proximity of the John Radcliffe Hospital), 130 in real estate/renting/business activities, 121 in education, and only 105 in manufacturing.

The Green Road or Headington roundabout that lies on the north-eastern corner has become over the years a nationally known landmark, the County's worst accident black-spot and also a traffic-jam nightmare. In 2006, it was ripped-up and replaced at a cost of £2m by a new 'hamburger' design.

In the past, the Estate was bisected by the City Boundary. The part of the Estate within the Bullingdon Rural District Council (the 'County') enjoyed grass verges - lacking in the 'City' sector. The divide meant that children in the two administrative parts went to different schools - this led to little intermingling between families. Both parts also had their own playing fields to further add to the division. However in 1992, the whole of Risinghurst was brought into the City.

Of schools, there are none in Risinghurst. In the past, infants and primary aged children who lived in the 'County' attended Sandhills County Primary School. If they passed their 11+, they went to either Lord Williams's Grammar School in Thame, or Holton Park Girls Grammar School, Wheatley. If they failed, they went to the Harlow School in Marston. Those who lived in the 'City', went to primary schools in Headington Quarry; the secondary schools were either Bayswater or Littlemore Grammar School. Nowadays, the whole of Risinghurst is in the Sandhills Community Primary School and Wheatley Park catchment areas.

Political

Risinghurst is part of the Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council. The PC covers an area of some convert|800|acre|km2 that naturally encompasses Sandhills and Risinghurst but one that also stretches up over Shotover and down its southern slopes; and east towards Forest Hill. The Parish Council was formed in 1956, breaking out from the bigger Forest Hill and Shotover PC.

Within Oxfordshire City Council, Risinghurst is part of the Quarry and Risinghurst Ward and is represented by two councillors; at national level it forms part of the Oxford East parliamentary constituency.

Places and People of Interest

Risinghurst was home to the author C.S. Lewis, who lived in a house called The Kilns until his death in 1963. Behind the house is a large wild area, now a nature reserve, but then the garden and this wild area is said to have been both the inspiration for Narnia and possibly Tolkien's Midde Earth. 'Jack' Lewis and his brother Warnie purchased the house in 1930. This was before the Estate had been built and at that time The Kilns was surrounded by convert|8|acre|m2 of land. Warnie described it as follows: 'The house stands at the entrance to its own grounds at the northern foot of Shotover at the end of a narrow lane, which in turn opens off a very bad and little used road [now Kiln Lane] , giving as great privacy as can reasonably be looked for near a large town.'

After the Estate was built, The Kilns was given an address as being on Ringwood Road.

In 1969 The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust bought the lake and woodland behind the Kilns. The Trust describes the woods as follows: 'The steeply rising woodland includes beech, birch, alder, sycamore and larch. Dotted around the reserve are large sandstone boulders known as doggers on the slopes in the trees. The pond is full of aquatic plants and many toads migrate here to spawn in spring, when the garden is also full of birdsong. Moorhens and coots regularly nest here and other visitors include herons, kingfishers and warblers. Giant horsetail grows at the margins of a stream which flows in from the east and there are spectacular displays of dragonflies and damselflies in summer.'

At some time in the late 20th century, brick kilns and a drying barn that were also on the Lewis's property were demolished. More of his land was sold for housing and the orchard that once belonged to the house now contains seven large houses (and the lane leading through the orchard to the house is now known as Lewis Close.)

The California-based C.S. Lewis Foundation bought The Kilns itself in the 1980s for £130,000 and has restored it (they claim but this is disputed) to its original 1930s appearance. A bid to gain listed status for the house was rejected in February 2002.

These woods are part of the old Royal Forest of Shotover and Shotover itself is situated on the steep hill beyond the nature reserve. At its peak lies Shotover Country Park, which is home to a variety of wildlife and is, in part, designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Shotover is one of the higher limestone hills that ring Oxford and the top of the hill offers views of Oxfordshire, although Oxford itself is hard to see. Perhaps not surprisingly, over 300,000 people visit Shotover each year.

The convert|900|acre|km2 estate of Shotover House runs up to the edge of Risinghurst. The house and garden were built c1718 for a friend of two famous empiricists, John Locke and Robert Boyle. The garden design is French-influenced, with a straight canal and it has the earliest example of a Gothic revival folly and an octagonal temple designed by William Kent in the 1730s. Whilst not part of Risinghurst itself, it is worth noting that Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Miller, GCVO, DSO, MC, Crown Equerry and Master of the Queen's Horses from 1961-87 lived in Shotover House for most of his life. He died on May 17, 2006, aged 87. During the Second World War a POW camp was located in the grounds.

The leading ad-man Graham Thomas lived as a child at 25 Stanway Road from the mid 1950s through until the mid '70s.

Ride frontman Mark Gardener lived as a child at 52 Ringwood Road during the 1970s.

The south-eastern corner of the estate is bounded by playing fields: an interesting mix of maintained sports pitches, streams, ponds and wilderness; they have been the home of Risinghurst Cricket Club, and a haven for children.

But prehaps the most famous of people is Kieran Howard and his friend, though relitivly unknown Daniel is already A hopefull for London 2012 in Swimming and Kieran is already on his way to becomming a millionaire with his own websist offering site designs.

Crime

Risinghurst has been relatively crime-free but in 2003, Phillipa Shephard, a 33-year-old mother, was shot to death with a shotgun in Kiln Lane. She was killed by her husband Shane Marklew, also 33, following an argument. Mr Marklew then turned the gun on himself.

Businesses and services

The centre of Risinghurst is home to The Ampleforth, the local public house, built in 1938 by Ind Coope. Originally, it had three separate bars and a small off-license as well as a function room. Close by is Risinghurst's Post Office, which contains a convenience store. Until the 1960s, a Co-Op could be found; and White's Grocery Store (sometimes branded a Spar), was a long-term fixture - as was White's car hire. Opposite the Ampleforth were the two telephone boxes that served the Estate in the era when few homes had their own phone.

The Ampleforth Arms pub has interesting connections. Anyone familiar with the monks' cloisters at Ampleforh Abbey in north Yorkshire will recognize the woodwork and other interior features as similar to the decoration in the Abbey. It seems that the foreman involved in the building of the Abbey was from Oxford and on his return built both the Ampleforth Arms and the Somerset House in Marston Road.

The Ampleforth Arms sits on the corner of Collinwood Road and Downside Road and was Jack and Warnie's local. A 2003 on-line review was as follows: 'Ampleforth Arms, Collingwood Road, Risinghurst. A large, street corner pub on the Risinghurst estate, and fairly typical of estate pubs everywhere. It is split into three room, bar, lounge and pool table room, with standard, slightly tatty, pub tables, chair and benches. Fairly decent atmosphere and obviously the centre of the local community, but quiet just after opening time on a Sunday. Locals and barman all very friendly. Large range of spirits, lots of bar snacks (don't know about main meals) and a small outside drinking patio at the roadside. The beer was Greene King IPA with guests of Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Wadworth 6X. The Spitfire was very lively and took several tops up to get it to a reasonable pint, but was good and reasonably priced. Overall, a fairly decent pub, the only one on the estate (and therefore likely to be busy in evenings) but very adequate. May 2003.'

On the edge of Risinghurst is the UK headquarters of Nielsen, the global market research company who have been here since the early 1960s.

Perhaps surprisingly, in another part of Risinghurst, a harpsichord factory can be found: Robert Goble & Son are one of the most distinguished makers of harpsichord, clavicord and spinets They can be found at Greatstones, a large house located further up the lane that leads off the Kilns. Robert Goble (1903-1991) started manufacturing recorders and harpsichords here during the late 1940s when he moved to Greatstones from Haslemere. By 1954, they dropped the manufacture of recorders and concentrated on harpsichords becoming an internationally known name.

On the Headington Roundabout corner of the Estate is a second row of shops and a McDonalds - this used to be the Shotover Arms built in 1931 as another Ind Coope pub. A large Tudoresque-style building with black timbering, it was converted into a hotel in 1957 when the western and northern by-passes were built. It had several bars - all open to the public - and a large off-licence. What is now a Carphone Warehouse store was originally a filling station. A dentist can also be found close by but so far as is known, there was never a doctors' surgery.

At the end of Kiln Lane and the back of Shelley Close are a number of light engineering units.

In terms of public transport, the Estate had been served for decades by the Number 2 bus route that originally ran from Risinghurst, through Oxford (The High and Cornmarket) to Summertown and Kidlington. In 2005, this was terminated as traffic problems were causing severe disruption to the timetable. Now the 8A runs to the centre of Oxford.

Religion

There is one church: the [http://www.urccollinwood.org.uk Collinwood Road United Reformed Church] . The congregation first came together during the Second World War, meeting at various locations in the district under the wing of the Temple Cowley Congregational Church. In 1945 they signed a covenant which formed Collinwood Congregational Church and, in September 1949, the first church building - an Orlitt prefabricated concrete structure - was opened. Over 200 people attended the ceremony as the Rev John Philips unlocked the door and participated in the service led by the Rev A R Vine. The following day, the first Children's Service took place.

In 1951, the Rev Tom Stiff was appointed to the pastorate. He and his wife Peggy lived in a caravan until the manse was completed in 1953. He retired in the 1986 but remained a member of the church, and in 2001 celebrated 50 years association with Collinwood Road.

The original church building is now used a hall. The current church itself was built in the latter half of the 1950s and is a simple but effective expression of church architecture. A second church hall was built in the 1980s.

In 1972 the Church became part of the United Reformed Church (a union of Congregationalists, Presbyterians and later Churches of Christ) which is the now the main representative of the Reformed tradition in England. The current minister is the Revd Dick Wolff.

The Church provides a number of services to the community, including a weekly lunch-club for the elderly and a coffee lounge which is open for anyone to drop for conversation, coffee, tea and biscuits on weekday mornings. It also provides space for Scout and Guide Association groups. (Since the early 1960s, the 16th Oxford Cubs and Scouts have met at the Church.)

The building is currently shared with three other congregations: the Korean Presbyterian Church, the Punjabi speaking Asian Evangelical Church, and a Portuguese speaking (largely Brazilian) Assemblies of God church.

External links

* [http://www.risinghurstsandhillspc.org.uk/ Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council website]
* [http://www.shotover-house.info/ An unnofficial Shotover House website]
* [http://risinghurst.blogspot.com/ Jock Coats's Risinghurst Blog]
* [http://www.gobleharpsichords.co.uk/ Goble Harpsichords]
* [http://www.urccollinwood.org.uk/ United Reformed Church]