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The present No. 11 dates from about 1860, and is Grade II listed (List Entry No. 1047343). It is in St Michael-at-the-Northgate parish, and is owned by Oxford City Council.

In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. The house then standing on this site was in the occupation of a Mr Sandal, and its frontage measured 5 yards 1 foot 10 inches.

On 25 August 1838 the tailor & draper William  Wallington announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal he had moved here from 10 High Street, and the 1841 census shows Wallington at this house. By the time of the 1851 census the occupants of the house were his son of 19, William Wallington junior, who was described as a tailor and draper, and his 17-year-old brother who was his assistant, plus a servant and a lodger.

William Wallington went bankrupt, and Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 8 August 1857 he advertised a sale (by order of the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire) of his household furniture in 90 lots on that day at 11am. Then on 29 August 1857 another sale was advertised of his household furniture and stock-in-trade (mostly academic gowns) to be held on the premises two days later.

The 1861 census shows Thomas Harris, a librarian, bookseller, & stationer, living here over his shop with his wife Sophia and their six children, plus a servant and an undergraduate lodger.

On 13 March 1869 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised a forthcoming auction of this house and shop, by direction of the Executors under the will of the late Richard Cox, Esq.:

A recently-built HOUSE, well-situated for business, in Broad-street, opposite Balliol College, in the occupation of Mr. Harris, bookseller, comprising a good front shop, 2 sitting rooms, 6 bed rooms, dressing room, kitchen, scullery, and cellar, with yard and back entrance. Leasehold under the City for 540 years, from the 25th of March, 1858. Reserved Rent, 3s.

Joseph Thornton had opened his first bookshop in Magdalen Street in 1835, moving to 51 High Street in 1840, back to Magdalen Street in 1853 and to 10 Broad Street in 1863. At the end of 1869 he moved next door to this shop at 11 Broad Street, where he finally settled, and his bookshop remained here for 132 years until 2002.

At the time of the 1871 census Joseph Thornton was living over the shop with his sons John Henry Thornton and James Thornton, who assisted him in the business, and his second wife. By the time of the 1881 census his younger son James had moved to Park Town and was managing his own bookshop at 33 High Street. In 1890 Joseph Thornton retired to Southmoor Road, where he died the following year, and his elder son John Henry Thornton moved into 11 Broad Street with his family to manage the business. The 1891 census shows him living here at the age of 45 with his wife Clara, their three children, and a servant.

There was no one living over the shop at the time of the 1901 or 1911 censuses.