119: Ede & Ravenscroft
The property on the site of this house (excluding the shop at street level) and Nos. 117 and 118 to the east was known as Redcock's in 1419 when it was bought by Oxford City Council. The three shops are now owned by Lincoln College.
For details of the leaseholders of Nos. 118–119 High Street from 1580 to 1842, see H. E. Salter, Oxford City Properties (Oxford Historical Society, 1926), pp. 126–129.
No. 119 is a timber-framed building and was rebuilt by Charles Prince in 1703, but the windows on the first floor are Georgian. It is a Grade II listed building (List Entry No. 1145854). It was in the parish of All Saints until that church closed in 1971. It is now in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church.
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. No. 119 was then in the occupation of a Mrs King, and its frontage measured 4 yds 1 ft 7 in.
Thomas Taylor, printseller, took out a forty-year lease this shop in 1828, the rent being £1: 2s and two capons. At the time of the 1841 census he was described as a stamp distributor and lived here with his wife Elisabeth and son Thomas. The 1851 census shows all three still living here: Thomas (77) was described as a Magistrate and Distributor of Stamps and his son Thomas junior (40) as a landscape artist and Assistant Stamp Distributor. They now had one servant. Thomas Taylor senior died here at the age of 84 early in 1858.
The 1861 census shows his son Thomas Taylor junior (50) on his own here at No. 119 with two servants: he was now described as a stamp distributor. He was still here at the time of the 1871 census, but died here in December 1873 at the age of 63.
On 23 May 1874 Jackson's Oxford Journal reported that the leasehold premises at 119 High Street were for sale by private treaty, and it appears to have been bought by the proprietors of the Oxford Chronicle, as five months later on 24 October 1874 it reported that the publishing office of that newspaper had moved here, and that a large printing office was in the course of construction at the rear by Mr Selby, from the plans of Mr Shirley.
The Oxford Chronicle & Berks and Bucks Gazette was printed and published on these premises from 1874 to 1929. It had started life in 1837, when it was known as the Oxford City & County Chronicle: its printing office was at 127 High Street; and its publishing office was at 122 High Street (until it was demolished in 1867) and then at St Aldate’s. But its first purpose-built premises were at this shop: Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 28 October 1874 (p. 7c) reported that a large printing office was then under construction at the rear of No. 119, designed by Mr Shirley and built by Mr Selby; and soon afterwards the printing and publishing offices were amalgamated here. After 1914 the Oxford Chronicle retreated to the printing office behind, and it was amalgamated with the Oxford Times in 1929.
- Photograph of No. 119 when it was the Oxford Chronicle Company in c.1914
(with the Alert Typewriting Office upstairs)
At the time of the 1881 census the premises were let to the wine merchant Robert Joshua Holiday and his wife. They had two servants.
The 1891 census shows the college servant Thomas J. Hinton (37) living here with his wife and six children, plus their general servant and 14-year-old nursemaid.
No one appears to have been living on these premises at the time of the 1901 or 1911 censuses.
This has been a tailor's shop since 1914.
On 16 September 1988, the City of Oxford Council accepted an offer of £2,350,000 from Lincoln College for the freehold interest in Nos 117–-119 High Street
Occupiers of 119 High Street | |
1828–1873 |
Thomas Taylor, Bookseller (& Stamp Office by 1839) Thomas Taylor junior, Landscape artist (1839–1853), then Stamp Office |
1874–1914 |
Oxford Chronicle, Publishing Office: |
1914–1931 |
Frederick G. Mullins, Tailor (and at Nos. 117 and 118) Premises behind: Oxford Chronicle Co. Ltd, Printers (to 1929) |
1932–1995 |
Hall Bros Ltd, tailors |
1996–present |
Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd, Tailors |
