Oxford History: The High

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The group of five shops numbered 19–23 High Street dates from the late eighteenth century. The upstairs rooms were converted into accommodation for Brasenose College in about 1930. They were in the parish of All Saints until that church closed in 1971. They are now in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church.

Nos. 19 & 20 are in this building on the far left of the group, which is Grade II listed (List Entry No. 1369358).

According to H. E. Salter the building was divided into two dwellings as early as the Survey of Oxford of 1772, although less evenly. Mr Cox lived at No. 19 on the left which had a frontage of exactly 4 yards, while Mr Robinson lived at No. 20 on the right, which had a frontage of 7 yards and 3 inches.

No. 19

In about 1831 the watch & clock maker Joseph Steele took over this shop, but in February 1841 he moved his shop across the road to 95 High Street. Steele remained in partnership with the next proprietor Henry Hands, however, and was still living upstairs with his apprentice at the time of the 1841 census. On 5 June 1847 Steele announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that he had dissolved his partnership with Hands and that his entire stock at No. 19 was up for sale.

At the time of the 1851 census, Henry Hands (27), the jeweller & watchmaker at these premises, lived over the shop with his wife Anne and their baby son, plus two servants.

The premises were described as “shop only” in the 1861 census , and there was no one living accommodation upstairs in 1871 either.

On 18 November 1871 the Misses French announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that they were opening a new millinery shop and showrooms here at 19 High Street, where they promised the latest fashions in bonnets, hats, head-dresses, and other fancy articles. The 1881 census shows Mary Smith French (43), Sarah French (41), and Laura Elizabeth French (37), three spinsters born in Iffley, living upstairs and working here as milliners and dressmakers. In the 1891, 1901, and 1911 censuses the youngest sister Laura was living here alone and managing the shop. She was an agent for Messrs Pullars Dye & Cleaning Works, who took over the shop in 1918.

The 1921 census shows Miss Evelyn Ellen Clarke (29), the manageress at Dyer's Cleaners, living here with her widowed mother.

No. 20

Until May 1840 Butler & Margetts, printsellers, had this shop. On 9 May 1840 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised an auction of the stock in trade of Thomas Butler, who had announced that he was leaving Oxford. This included “handsome chimney glasses, valuable paintings, water-coloured drawings, line engravings, and a large collection of illustrated books, and other works of art”. The shop appears to be vacant at the time of the 1841 census.

The 1851 census shows Joseph B. Hillier (25), described as a “Draper (firm of 2)” living over this shop with three draper’s assistants and two servants. From 1853 he is listed in directories as a partner of J. C. Thorp; but in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 21 April 1855 Thorp announced he was discontinuing his business here to devote his entire attention to his Broad Street business, and A. H. Folker from London took over the premises.

The jewellers Rowell & Son became established in Oxford in 1797, and originally operated from 36 Broad Street. On 4 October 1756 Richard Rouse Rowell announced that he was moving to these premises at 20 High Street two days later. At the time of the 1861 census Rowell (52), described as a watch and clock maker employing four men and one boy, was living here with his second wife Elizabeth and his shop assistant, plus a house servant and an errand boy. He was still here in 1871 when he was a widower, living with his assistant and nephew Thomas Rowell.

By the time of the 1881 census, the accommodation above the Rowells' shop was rented out to a gardener called Frederick Slaughter and his wife and son. Richard Rouse Rowell died at the age of 75 on 1 April 1884, and in 1885 the Rowell firm moved to larger premises at 115 High Street.

The 1891 census shows no one living at No. 20.

By the time of the 1901 census the accommodation above No. 20 had been linked to that above No. 21 next door to form a lodging house, run by Thomas Taylor (52), who lived here with his wife, daughter, housemaid niece, a kitchenmaid, and page.

The 1911 census shows David Rowe (32) and his wife occupying the eighteen rooms above 20 and 21 High Street and continuing to run a boarding house there.

In 1921 the Scottish architect James Constable Leed and his wife Bertha and their son occupied three rooms over No. 20, and twelve undergraduates occupied five separate households ranging from two to four rooms.