Oxford History: The High

 

At the time of the Survey of Oxford of 1772, Nos. 104 & 105 were jointly occupied by Mrs Horseman.

 

An Oriel College plan of 1814 (right) shows that C. J. Sadler at No. 104 next door also had this shop at No. 105.

 

At the time of the 1841 census Frederick Bessant, the bootmaker here, lived on the premises with his servant and two lodgers. By 1851 he was living here with his wife and two young children, a servant, and a student lodger, and he was still listed here in the1861 and 1871 censuses.

The 1881 census shows Richard Chaundy, who had his hairdresser and newsagent's shop here, living on the premises with his wife Susannah, four of their children, and a domestic servant. He died at the age of 55 in 1888, and at the time of the 1891 census his widow Susannah lived here with two of their children and kept a university lodging house here. She was still living privately at the premises at the time of the 1901 census, and remained here until 1905.

From 1906 to 1934 this was a tailor's shop. At the time of the 1911 census Mrs Mary Anne Euphemia Skinner was a lodging-house keeper in the rooms above this shop at No. 104 and those above No. 105.

The 1921 census shows the merchant tailor Walter James Carter (69) living over his shp with his wife Eliza and their two grown-up children.

The dyers Achille Serre were here from 1935 to 1971:

• Photograph of 105 High Street in 1949, when it was occupied by the dyers Achille Serre Ltd