Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Old Gaol, Abingdon

Work has started to identify any surviving archaeological features at the Old Gaol site in Abingdon.

This work is an important first step in the development of the site and will help determine when the development can proceed.

The work is being overseen by the County Archaeology Team at Oxfordshire County Council and being conducted by professionals paid for by Cranbourne Homes, which will be developing the site.

Archaeological explorations are a requirement of national planning policy and are usually done prior to planning permission being sought, as nationally important finds can stop development. Nothing of such importance has been found at the site so far.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in the next few months.

In January 2008, Cranbourne Homes was chosen by the Council to transform and revive the Old Gaol site in Abingdon.

The deal not only opens the site up to the public with plans for cafes and shops on the ground floor and unprecedented access to the riverside gardens, but also includes provision for 24 affordable homes at two other sites in the town and space at the Old Gaol site for the Abingdon Bridge youth support project, which currently occupies the site.

Cranbourne Homes is owned and run by father and son team Mick and Shaun Dominic. They already own Twickenham House in East St Helen Street, which is next to the Old Gaol, and plan to redevelop the entire site to allow public access from East St Helen Street right through to the riverside gardens.

The Old Gaol site will include 61 homes with underground parking provision, five to six shops and restaurants and an on-site manager. The scheme incorporates sustainable features including solar power, grey water recycling and “green” roofs.

More information about the plans can be found in the leaflet, map and information pack which can be downloaded from the right of the page. See also our Frequently asked questions about the Old Gaol.

More details about the site can also be found in the press releases listed below:

• Archaeological explorations start at Old Gaol site - 28 March 2008
• New life in Old Gaol - 22 January
• Details of the four shortlisted schemes - 22 January 2008
• Old Gaol future agreed - 10 December 2007
• Shortlist to develop Old Gaol agreed - 16 July 2007
• Eight bids in running for Old Gaol development - 4 June 2007
• Interest in Old Gaol - 26 February 2007
• Old Goal up for sale - 19 December 2006

Please also see the Development Brief and Planning Brief, which were issued as part of the information pack for potential developers when the Old Gaol was put on the market for development bids in February 2007. These two documents can both be downloaded from the right of the page. 

For more background information see our page on the Old Gaol feasibility study which was commissioned in 2004 to research the possibility of using the building for community use, including space for a cinema, theatre, museum and library, as well as commercial space.

For details of the history of the site see The history of the Old Gaol.