The retail and residential aspects of Christ's Lane have been designed by award-winning architect Panter Hudspith.

Working in York, Exeter, Oxford and Lincoln, the practice has viewed historic context as an exciting contemporary challenge. Respecting the aspirations of the past produces a freshness towards the future.

This approach has been applauded by both CABE – Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, and English Heritage in their Buildings in Context document, where they state that they believe "it is possible to create a building that is at once contextual and modern and of the highest architectural quality."

A new Christ’s Lane for the 21st century

The reinstatement of Christ's Lane as a pedestrian link between St Andrew's Street and Christ's Pieces reflects Panter Hudspith’s understanding of the city's history. Working in collaboration with artist Jane Watt, a new glass art wall will be installed along Christ’s Lane. Natural stone will be used on the elevations to St Andrew's Street and Christ’s Pieces, integrating the new development within the city. The St Andrew's Street façade steps to reveal a previously hidden bay window of Christ's College. The result is the creation of a new piece of the city grounded in its historic context.

Uncovering the past

Archaeological digs have been carried out as part of the construction of the development with fascinating results. The site has been occupied since the 11th or 12th century and was originally a location outside the city walls. More recent finds include a cooking range from a Victorian cellar that was filled in during the 1950s when the site was developed as Bradwell's Court.

A recent archaeological dig uncovered an intact Victorian cooking range
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Computer generated image showing forthcoming glass art wall by artist Jane Watt
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1 A recent archaeological dig uncovered an intact Victorian cooking range
2 Computer generated image showing forthcoming glass art wall by artist Jane Watt