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University of Oxford
School of Geography and the Environment

 School of Geography and the Environment

Research: Arid Environmental Systems: Soft Wall Capping Research Project

Soft Wall Capping: Contacts

The soft wall capping research project is being carried out by the School of Geography and the Environment in association with English Heritage.

The main project team comprise:

  • Heather Viles, Oxford University
  • Chris Wood, English Heritage
  • Alan Cathersides, English Heritage
  • Colin Burns, Consultant Master Mason


Prof. Heather Viles
Reader in Geomorphology
Oxford Rock Breakdown Laboratory
School of Geography and the Environment
South Parks Road
Oxford, OX1 3QY


We are indebted to the support of a large number of people, including:

  • Pia Windland, Former Research Technician, School of Geography and the Environment - who has carried out most of the laboratory work.
  • Zoe Lee, School of Geography and the Environment - who has carried out most of field and laboratory work of the phase II in 2008-2009.
  • Daniel Mace, School of Geography and the Environment - who collated most of the photographs and did initial data analysis.
  • Mark Page, School of Geography and the Environment - who has carried out most of the field and laboratory work of the phase II in 2009-2010.
  • Chris Stearn, School of Geography and the Environment - who carried out much of the dowel survey work at Hailes Abbey.
  • Tom Stevens, Laboratory Technician, School of Geography and the Environment - who assisted with dowel surveys and did most of the data analysis.
  • Mary Thornbush, School of Geography and the Environment - who provided the content for these webpages and contributed to both managing the project and producing the outputs.