No. 20: Part of St John’s College
The present house at No. 20 St Giles’ Street dates from the early nineteenth century and is a Grade II listed building (List Entry No. 1063708). It lies in St Giles' parish.
At the time of the 1772 Survey of Oxford, Mr Goddard occupied the former house on this site, and its frontage was recorded as 21 yards, 1 foot, and 5 inches.
At the time of the 1841 census, this present house was occupied by William Palmer, an independent gentleman aged about 60, and his married son the Revd William Patrick Palmer (born 1803); also in the household were the Misses Helen and Emma Hill, who are likely to have been related to the Revd Palmer's mother, Helen, who was the daughter of J. Gratrix Hill of Fieldtown, County Westmeath. All were born in Ireland. They had three servants (including Daniel Savin, whose son Alfred Savin became a fossil-hunter). The Palmers had previously lived in Beaumont Street when Mrs Helen Palmer had died on 18 January 1836. The Revd Palmer's daughter Helen Sophia Palmer, who was baptised at St Giles' Church on 26 August 1840, was probably born at 20 St Giles' Street, where she died on 10 July 1843 at the age of three. The Revd Palmer was described as being “of St Giles's, in this city” when his wife gave birth to her second daughter at 11 Gloucester Place, Portland Square, London on 7 March 1844, and he is listed as the occupant of this house in Hunt's Directory for 1846.
The following advertisement of a forthcoming auction of 20 St Giles' Street appeared in the Oxford University and City Herald on 8 July 1848:
A FIRST CLASS FAMILY RESIDENCE,
With extensive PLEASURE and KITCHEN GARDENS, planted with the choicest Trees and Shrubs, and now in the greatest perfection; calculated for the immediate occupation of a Family of the highest respectability, and situate on the east side of, and near St. Giles's Church, Oxford.
Now in the occupation of the Proprietor, W. Palmer, Esq.TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
By Messrs. T. Mallam and Son,At the Star Hotel, Oxford, on Wednesday, the 19th day of July, at Three o'clock,
All that commodious and substantial FAMILY HOUSE and PREMISES, the interior and exterior of which are in most complete order, and ready for immediate occupation — containing on the entrance storey a very handsome stone-floor hall, leading to a bow-windowed front breakfast parlour, 24 feet by 16½ feet, which communicates by folding-doors, with a dining-room of the same dimensions fitted up to correspond; a front kitchen, 19 feet by 14 feet 9 inches, butler's pantry, scullery, water-closet, and other conveniences, extremely well arranged. A handsome stone stair case leading to the first storey, comprising a noble bow-windowed drawing room, 24 feet by 16½ feet, with entrance ante-space 19 feet by 7 feet 6 inches, divided by pilasters, three lofty and spacious principal bed chambers, a water-closet, landing, &c. On the second storey, three large bed rooms and three servants ditto, with back staircase thereto.
The Basement Storey is very capacious, and fitted up to be used as Domestic Offices, if thought advisable, and consists of a Kitchen, 19ft. by 14ft., with Pantry and Scullery adjoining; Four large arched Wine, Beer, and Coal Cellars; Servants' entrance from the street; enclosed Court Yard, &c., &c.
At the back of the whole are very extensive Pleasure and Kitchen Gardens; a Carriage entrance from the street, and a back entrance from the Parks.
The Premises are leasehold, under St John's College, for a term of Forty years, from Lady Day 1837....
The Elegant Household Furniture may be taken at a valuation, and Two Small Houses adjoining, if required.
Only two servants were at home in No. 20 at the time of the 1851 census, but William Palmer may still have been in residence, as he is listed here in Gardner's Directory for 1852.
On 23 January 1858 the house was advertised to let.
The 1861 census shows the fundholder Mrs Caroline Avis White (65), the widow of the barrister William White, living here alone with her five servants (a cook, lady’s maid, footman, housemaid, and kitchenmaid). She was still here in 1871 with seven servants, now including a butler. She died here at the age of 83 on 3 March 1879, and the forthcoming auction of her furniture was advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 8 November that year.
The Vicar of St Mary Magdalen Church, the Revd Henry Aubrey Harvey, was living here by 1880. The 1881 census shows him here with his wife Blanche and their four servants (a cook, housemaid, footman, and lady’s maid). The date of this photograph of the house (Historic England CC56/00726) is unknown, but is likely to have been while the Revd Harvey was in residence:
On 3 May 1890 the Revd Harvey was presumably intended to go away for a few months, as he inserted the following advertisement in Jackson's Oxford Journal:
AN Excellent HOUSE to be LET (Furnished), for May, June, and July, containing 5 sitting rooms, 6 bed rooms, 3 dressing rooms, besides servants' rooms; capital Garden: good Premises.—Address Rev. H. A. Harvey, 20, St. Giles', Oxford.
In 1891 only the butler and three other servants were at home on census night. At the time of the 1901 census the Revd Harvey was at home with his wife and their four servants. He died here on 26 January 1910.
David George Hogarth, the Keeper of the Ashmolean, lived at No. 20 from 1911 to his death on 6 November 1927. The 1911 census shows his wife Laura Violet Hogarth (46) at home in this 21-roomed house (wrongly numbered 21) with her son and his governess and four servants. In 1921 both David and Laura Hogarth were at home with their son William (19), who was an undergraduate at Balliol College, and their three servants.
In about 1929 Frederick Greig Hobson started his doctor's surgery here. The 1939 Register shows him living here with his wife Audrey and their son, another medical practitioner called William McMenemey, plus two servants. He remained here until about 1956.
No. 20 remained a private house until 1958, when it became part of Queen Elizabeth House (primarily based at Black Hall, next door to the north at No. 21).
In 2005 St John’s College took over No. 20 over for its own use, and renovated it together with No. 21 to provide more academic facilities.
Occupants of 20 St Giles’ Street listed in censuses and directories |
|
1837–1852 |
William Palmer |
1860–1879 |
Mrs William White (Caroline Avis White), died 3 March 1879) |
1880–1910 |
Rev. Henry Auber Harvey |
1911–1927 |
David George Hogarth |
1929–1956 |
Frederick Greig Hobson |
1958–2005 |
Part of Queen Elizabeth House |
2005–present |
Part of St John’s College |