The formation of the current landscape of the Upper Thames Valley commenced about 10,000 years BC when the local ice cap on the Cotswolds melted. This released vast amounts of water which carried and deposited the layer of gravel which is now spread across the valley on top of its Oxford Clay base. These deposits have been partially eroded by the River Thames to form the first and second river terraces that occur in the countryside around Clanfield and Bampton.

As the temperature rose the tundra vegetation gave way to woodland about 8,000 years BC and by about 4,500 years BC the climax woodland of oak / hazel with lime had developed. About 4,000 years BC Neolithic man started to clear the woodland. This lead to a fully developed agricultural landscape by the start of the Iron Age in 650 BC. A varying mixture of arable and pasture has been maintained up to the present day.

There are 12 known Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) in or close to the area that has been proposed for possible gravel extraction in the Clanfield / Bampton area. These reflect the location of early settlements and the agricultural activities of earlier inhabitants. There may well be other unknown archaeological sites within the area.

By the time of the ‘Domesday’ register in 1086, 10 of the 11 members’ villages/towns in AGGROW were in existence and the prime activity was agriculture.  This probably explains the narrow, winding roads and the ancient system of brooks and ditches.

Visitors to the area are impressed by the historical atmosphere of the villages and the age of the buildings.  There are more than 200 listed buildings and structures amongst the 11 members and it is estimated that more than 150 of these are adjacent to the road.  If these roads were used for sand and gravel HGVs there would be every chance of severe damage through vibration as no roads have the foundations to withstand such a pounding and most of the listed houses were constructed on the plain earth.   Then there are the dry stone walls.