Oxpens Road
Encyclopedia
Oxpens Road is a road in central Oxford
, England
, linking west and south Oxford. It is named after the marshy area of Oxpens, next to one of the branches of the River Thames
in Oxford.
, forming the major junction of the Botley Road
, Park End Street
and Hythe Bridge Street
near the Saïd Business School
and Oxford railway station
(to the west of the city centre). To the southeast it becomes Thames Street, just north of the River Thames
, and meets the junction with the south end of St Aldates
near Christ Church Meadow (to the south of the city centre). It forms part of an inner ring road
for the southwest part of the centre of Oxford.
Halfway along is the Oxford Ice Rink
, a distinctive 1984 building by Nicholas Grimshaw
, which is the home of the Oxford City Stars
ice hockey team. One of the campuses of the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
is located here on the north side. The road crosses the southern end of the Castle Mill Stream
just before it reaches the River Thames. Oxpens Road also provides access to major car parks for the centre of Oxford, including the Westgate Shopping Centre
.
by the river.
The locality was one of the poorer quarters of central Oxford. In the 1950s and 1960s there was large-scale clearance of the area, known as The Oxpens. Many residents were moved to Blackbird Leys
, an estate consisting largely of council housing on the outskirts of southeast Oxford and close to the Morris Motor Company
in Cowley
, which provided employment. The area around Oxpens was almost entirely redeveloped during the second half of the 20th century.
Close to Oxpens Road on St Thomas Street was the Morrells Brewery (aka The Lion Brewery), near the Castle Mill Stream, which closed in 1998.
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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, linking west and south Oxford. It is named after the marshy area of Oxpens, next to one of the branches of 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,...
in Oxford.
Locale
To the northwest, Oxpens Road becomes Hollybush Row, meeting at Frideswide SquareFrideswide Square
Frideswide Square is a square to the west of central Oxford, England. The square is named after the patron saint of Oxford, St Frideswide.The "square" is actually triangular in shape. Immediately to the north, the modern Saïd Business School of Oxford University dominates the square, established in...
, forming the major junction of the Botley Road
Botley Road
Botley Road is the main arterial road into Oxford, England from the west. It stretches between Botley, on the Oxford Ring Road to the west of the city, and Frideswide Square at the junction with Oxford railway station, close to central Oxford....
, Park End Street
Park End Street
Park End Street is a street in central Oxford, England, to the west of the centre of the city, close to the railway station at its western end.-Location:...
and Hythe Bridge Street
Hythe Bridge Street
Hythe Bridge Street is in the west of central Oxford, England, forming part of the A4144 road.- Location :The street links Frideswide Square and then Botley Road to the east and Worcester Street at the western end leading north, at the junction with George Street...
near the Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School
Saïd Business School is the business school of the University of Oxford in England, located on the north side of Frideswide Square on the former site of Oxford Rewley Road railway station. It is the University's centre of learning for graduate and undergraduate students in business, management...
and Oxford railway station
Oxford railway station
Oxford railway station is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about west of the city centre, northwest of Frideswide Square and the eastern end of Botley Road, and on the line linking with . It is also on the line for trains between and Hereford via...
(to the west of the city centre). To the southeast it becomes Thames Street, just north of 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,...
, and meets the junction with the south end of St Aldates
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...
near Christ Church Meadow (to the south of the city centre). It forms part of an inner ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
for the southwest part of the centre of Oxford.
Halfway along is the Oxford Ice Rink
Oxford Ice Rink
Oxford Ice Rink is a 56 × 26m ice rink located on Oxpens Road in Oxford, England. It is a ten-minute walk from Oxford city centre and railway station....
, a distinctive 1984 building by Nicholas Grimshaw
Nicholas Grimshaw
Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, CBE is a prominent English architect, particularly noted for several modernist buildings, including London's Waterloo International railway station and the Eden Project in Cornwall...
, which is the home of the Oxford City Stars
Oxford City Stars
The Oxford City Stars are an ice hockey team based in Oxford, England. They currently play in the English National League, South. A second team was formed in the summer of 2010 and they compete in the English National League South Division 2.-1984-1999:...
ice hockey team. One of the campuses of the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Oxford and Cherwell Valley College
Oxford & Cherwell Valley College is a multi-campus college in Oxfordshire, England. It was created in 2003 as "Oxford & Cherwell College" - a result of the merger between Oxford College of Further Education, North Oxfordshire College in Banbury and Rycotewood College in Thame...
is located here on the north side. The road crosses the southern end of the Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream is a backwater of the River Thames in the west of Oxford, England. It is 5.5 km long.-Course:The stream leaves the main course of the Thames at the south end of Port Meadow, immediately upstream of Medley Footbridge. It then flows under the Cherwell Valley railway line and turns...
just before it reaches the River Thames. Oxpens Road also provides access to major car parks for the centre of Oxford, including the Westgate Shopping Centre
Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford
Westgate Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in central Oxford, England.- Overview :Westgate is located at the west end of Queen Street, where the west gate of the city of Oxford used to be situated. A car park, including a multistory section, is attached to the shopping centre, with access from...
.
History
Before 1850, Oxpens Road was known as Nun's Walk. This area used to be the location of a gasworksGasworks
A gasworks or gas house is a factory for the manufacture of gas. The use of natural gas has made many redundant in the developed world, however they are often still used for storage.- Early gasworks :...
by the river.
The locality was one of the poorer quarters of central Oxford. In the 1950s and 1960s there was large-scale clearance of the area, known as The Oxpens. Many residents were moved to Blackbird Leys
Blackbird Leys
Blackbird Leys is a civil parish and ward in Oxford, England, and is one of the largest council estates in Europe. According to the 2001 census, the ward had a population of 5,803. Unlike most parts of the City of Oxford, the area has a civil parish. The parish was created in 1990. Its 2001 parish...
, an estate consisting largely of council housing on the outskirts of southeast Oxford and close to the Morris Motor Company
Morris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
in Cowley
Cowley, Oxford
Cowley in Oxford, England, is a residential and industrial area that forms a small conurbation within greater Oxford. Cowley's neighbours are central Oxford to the northwest, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys to the south, New Headington to the north and the villages of Horspath and Garsington across...
, which provided employment. The area around Oxpens was almost entirely redeveloped during the second half of the 20th century.
Close to Oxpens Road on St Thomas Street was the Morrells Brewery (aka The Lion Brewery), near the Castle Mill Stream, which closed in 1998.