North Hinksey Conduit House

About

North Hinksey Conduit House is a surviving part of the early piped water supply that brought spring water into central Oxford. Built in about 1617, it protected the collecting well for a system promoted by the lawyer Otho Nicholson and connected to the Carfax Conduit. The small limestone building resembles a miniature fortified house, with gabled buttresses, narrow openings and Nicholson's arms above its doorway. Carefully cut graffiti records visitors from the late seventeenth century onwards. Reviewers often describe it as a brief architectural stop, but current access is limited to pre-scheduled guided tours arranged through Oxford Preservation Trust. Confirm an available tour before setting out rather than relying on older accounts of casual visits. English Heritage describes a ten-minute walk from the road along the Harcourt Hill approach. The site has uneven surfaces and deep-water hazards. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Historic SiteDog friendlyDogs on leads

Check today’s timesFrom English Heritage's calendar

See notice

Open for pre-scheduled guided tours only. Visit the Oxford Preservation Trust website for further details .

From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.

Opening times may change at short notice.

Only pre-scheduled guided tours, with dates published by Oxford Preservation Trust. English Heritage states the site is closed October to April. No next tour date was confirmed on 22 September 2026; do not travel without a confirmed booking.

Pre-scheduled guided tours only, arranged through Oxford Preservation Trust. English Heritage describes about ten minutes on foot from the road; uneven surfaces and deep-water hazards are identified.

Photo: Conduit House Harcourt Hill Geograph-2162812-by-Des-Blenkinsopp. Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conduit_House_Harcourt_Hill_Geograph-2162812-by-Des-Blenkinsopp.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.

Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome, subject to the scheduled-tour access arrangements.

Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome, subject to the scheduled-tour access arrangements. Normal admission or the advertised opening arrangements apply.

Leads: Keep dogs on leads.

PricingFreeFree for all visitors

Free entry for everyone

Entry

Free for everyone

Pricing details

Free for everyone, independently of membership. Any opening restrictions, parking or transport charges apply separately.

ParkingNo car park

Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.

Parking details

No visitor car park is confirmed. The pin marks the Harcourt Hill pedestrian approach, not a parking space. Arrange a scheduled tour and follow the organiser's arrival instructions.

Harcourt Hill approach checked against official road directions and labelled aerial mapping; excludes the A34 and the building-centre pin. Pedestrian access only after arranging a tour.