Nos. 32 and 33/33A: Good Habit Bakery & Café
Nos. 32 (the pale pink house on the right) and 33 (the wider house on the left) date from about 1800, but were extensively rebuilt in the 1970s. They are each Grade II listed (List Entry Nos. 1369417 and 1068561) and lie in St Giles' parish.
No. 33 was occupied from 1831 to 1884 by the Bridgwater family, and beside it was a narrow passage widening out to Bridgwater’s Yard, which was occupied by three separate businesses.
No. 32
At the time of the 1841 census, No. 32 was occupied by the elderly maltster William Burrows and his two servants.
In 1851 it was occupied by the baker & confectioner Charles Johnson, who lived over the shop with his wife and two young daughters, and a 14-year-old apprentice.
On 10 October 1853 the baker Mr Pusey obtained a twenty-year lease of the property from St John's College.
On 29 September 1855 in Jackson's Oxford Journal, the forthcoming auction of this property was advertised, with this description:
A DWELLING HOUSE, adjoining the above-mentioned [No. 31, sold at the same time], containing two sitting rooms, three bedrooms, water closet, kitchen, and scullery; capital front shop, with bake-house, twelve-bushel oven, and other conveniences, in the occupation of Mr. Pusey, baker, at a rental of £30 per annum.
The baker's shop was next run by James Vaughan of Osney Mills, and then by his widow Maria Vaughan.
On 17 November 1860 George Grace, baker & confectioner, announced that he was moving from 32 St Giles' Street to more commodious premises at No. 71, while George Slaughter (18), a servant baker, lived here alone. But directories continued to list Grace here at No. 32 as well until his death on 15 April 1870 at the age of 38, and his widow then took over the business. The 1871 census shows the baker Mrs Elizabeth Grace (37) living here with her young daughter, and her sister Mary Ann Hine, who assisted in the shop, plus two assistants and two servants (one described as a confectioner). In 1881 she was here again with her daughter and sister, plus two confectioner’s assistants, a young baker of 15, and their domestic servant. She was still living here at the time of the 1891 and 1901 censuses.
At the time of the 1911 census only a housekeeper was at home.
At the time of the 1921 census six rooms over the confectioner's shop here were occupied by Mrs Ethel Beatrice Smith (38) who described herself as a caterer & boarding house-keeper and employer on these premises. On census night two Exeter College undergraduates were boarding with her.
The 1939 Register shows the librarian Gwladys Marguerite Allchin and the retired manageress Hetty Florence Edith Jones living over the confectioner's shop here.
No. 33
By the time of the 1841 census No. 33 (which then included the part of the house later known as 33A) was occupied by the furniture broker William Bridgwater. The cook George Davy and the shoemaker John Slatter and his wife lived in other parts of the house (possibly the part later known as 33A).
On 15 November 1845 a forthcoming auction of this house was advertised thus in Jackson's Oxford Journal:
That very desirable FAMILY HOUSE, No. 33, St. Giles's, Oxford. The premises are modern built, with Bath stone front, and are inclosed with iron palisades, approached by a flight of steps, having on the ground floor a front lofty dining room, fitted up with handsome marble chimney piece, 18½ ft. by 15 ft.; a breakfast parlour or housekeeper's room, 14 ft. by 13 ft.; butler's pantry, and other conveniences, with bed room over, and back staircase to the same; two water closets, &c. On the first floor is a noble front drawing room, fitted up with elegant marble chimney piece, &c. 21 ft. by 18 ft.; and lofty bed chamber at the back, 14 ft. by 13 ft. On the second floor, two principal bed chambers and large dressing room. On the third floor, three comfortable bed chambers, having each a fire place. The domestic apartments, in the basement, are conveniently arranged, and consist of a capital front kitchen, 13 feet by 17 feet, with entrance from the area; back kitchen, excellent arched wine, beer, and coal cellars, &c. &c. the whole well supplied with water.
At the back of the premises a neat pleasure garden, a detached coach-house, stable, with loft, and man's sleeping room over, with back entrance to the same, and other offices. The whole has been recently fitted up at considerable expence, as is in every respect fit for occupation.
The premises are held by lease for the remainder of a term of 99 years, subject to a ground rent of 22l. per annum.—Land Tax redeemed.
William Bridgwater still occupied this house at the time of the 1851 census, described as a furniture broker employing two men and two porters; Gardner’s Directory of 1852 also describes him as a Bath chair owner. He lived in the house with his wife Ann, his three daughters, and son William. He gave up the business at Michaelmas 1857, and the house was advertised to let in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 22 August 1857:
To Cabinet Makers, Upholsterers, General Furniture Dealers, Ironmongers, etc.
TO be LET, immediately,—The SHOP, large and convenient WARE ROOM, WORK SHOPS, &c., in St. Giles's-street, Oxford, occupied the last 26 years by William Bridgwater, who is now giving up business. This would be found an unusually advantageous opportunity for an enterprising man, as the commanding situation of the premises, and the well-established connection in the University, City, and adjoining Counties, would ensure a greatly extended trade. A Yard and Warehouses near may be continued, at a low rent, if desired.
On 3 July 1858 William Bridgwater announced his retirement, and his brother John Bridgwater took over his business at 33 St Giles' Street. He can be seen here at the time of the 1861 census with his wife Sarah and son John. In 1871, John (72) was described a a cabinet maker employing five men and lived here with lived here with his wife Sarah, his grandson Walter, his nephew, and a general servant.
At the time of the 1881 census John A. Bridgwater (42) was the upholsterer & cabinet maker here, living with his wife, four sons, two daughters, and a servant.
In 1891 the house furnisher George Blake (40) lived here over this shop with his wife, sister, nephew, and niece.
There is no listing for this house in the 1901, 1911, or 1921 censuses.
No. 33A
The left-hand section of No. 33 is first described as 33A in 1857, when Charles Taphouse moved here following a fire at his shop in Broad Street.
The 1861 census shows Thomas Newton, a dealer in china & glass, living at No. 33A with his wife and five young children. He was still there at the time of the 1871 census (with the house wrongly numbered 34). There is no listing for No. 33A in the 1881 census.
At the time of the 1891 census Alfred Thomas Walker, the glass & china dealer here, lived over his shop with his wife and three children. There is no listing for this house in censuses after that year.
The 1911 census shows the widow Clara Payne (50), described as a fruiterer, living here with her four children (two of whom assisted her in the shop) and her nephew George Honeybone. She is still listed as the greengrocer here in the 1939 Register and lived here with Irene Payne, who was engaged in household duties, and a commercial artist who presumably lodged with them. Mrs Payne was still here in 1921 described as a fruiterer & greengrocer and employer, with her son William (23), who was a widowed electrical fitter, and his two young children, and her daughter Matilda Webster (28), also widowed, and her two young children.
The three houses were occupied by a bank from 1977 to 2018.
In April 2019 a planning application by nearby Blackfriars was approved:
- “Change of use of a bank (Use Class A2) with ancillary residential unit on third floor to a mixed use comprising retail unit (Use Class A1) on the ground floor and monastic, university hall and administration spaces (Use Class Sui Generis) on the ground floor, first and second floors and student accommodation (Use Class Sui Generis) on the third floor. Associated external alterations including changes to windows and doors to the rear and northern side elevations, replacement timber sash windows throughout and 4no. air conditioning units to the rear” (19/00437/FUL)
The building work was completed by the end of 2019:
The ground floor retail unit 32, 33, & 33A St Giles has been vacant since 2019. In December 2025 a planning application from Blackfriars for a café called The Good Habit for the use of both their students and the general public (25/01972/FUL) was approved, and it is due to open on 1 September 2026.
Occupants of 32, 33, & 33A St Giles' Street listed in censuses and directories |
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Year |
32 St Giles |
33 St Giles |
33A St Giles |
1839 |
William E. Burrows |
William Bridgwater |
Part of shop |
1841–1846
|
Mrs Maria Vaughan |
||
1851
|
Charles Johnston |
||
1853–1855+ |
Mr Pusey |
Charles Taphouse |
|
| 1861–1864 |
George Grace |
Thomas Newton |
|
1889–1900 |
George Blake
& Co. |
Alfred Thomas Walker |
|
1901–1907 |
Payne |
||
1908–1913 |
Norman E. E. Minty |
||
1914–1926 |
Miss E. B. Green |
||
1927–1964 |
Dobson & Bing |
||
1967 |
Jaeger House |
||
1968 |
Vacant |
Vacant |
|
1969–1976 |
Vacant |
||
1977–1980s |
Child & Co (William & Glyn’s Bank Ltd) |
||
| By 1993– |
Royal Bank of Scotland |
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2019– 2026 |
Ground floor retail unit vacant |
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2026– |
Good Habit Bakery & Café (opening 1 September 2026) |
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