No. 35: RN & RM, Army, & RAF Careers
Nos. 35 is in the middle of a terrace of three houses (34, 35, and 36 St Giles’ Street). They are jointly Grade II listed (List Reference No. 1047141) and They lie in St Giles' parish. The block is nine bays wide and three storeys high, with attics and basements.
The Oxford builder Daniel Evans designed and built this house and its two adjoining neighbours in 1828/9 on a large plot of land leased for 99 years from the Oxford surgeon John Bull. Evans let this house out to private tenants.
At the time of the 1841 census No. 35 was occupied by Ann Hay (aged c.85), her five servants, and two other independent ladies, Charlotte and Elizabeth Bathurst.
On 29 November 1845 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised the sale of this house:
That very desirable FAMILY HOUSE, No. 35, St. Giles's, Oxford. The premises are modern built, with Bath stone front, and area 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, each having a fire place. The domestic apartments, in the basement, are conveniently arranged, and consist of capital front kitchen, 18 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.
In 1851 this house was occupied by Mrs Catherine Grayson (54), the widow of Anthony Grayson, the former Principal of St Edmund Hall. She was described as having an “independent income from various sources”; she lived here with her 25-year-old daughter, also called Catherine, and four servants. Mrs Grayson died here on 20 October 1860.
The following advertisement describing 35 St Giles appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal on 15 December 1860:
By 1866 the four unmarried sisters of David Vavasor Durell, Chairman of the Oxford Canal Company, were living here at No. 35. The 1871 census shows Anne (78), Jane (77), Mary (75), and Margaret (62) living here with a nursing sister and four servants (a cook, footman, lady's maid, and house maid). Jane died just a month after that census, followed by Mary (1872), Anne (1873), and Margaret (1880): see their grave.
The house was listed as unoccupied in the 1881 census, and then from 1882 to 1887 it was occupied by Joseph Prestwich, the Professor of Geology who has a city plaque on the street named after him for improving the drainage of New Botley.
The surgeon Julius O. Sankey had No. 35 in 1890, but on 29 November that year it was advertised to let. Only the cook and housemaid were at home at the time of the 1891 census.
From 1891 to 1899 it was let Ann Rogers (the widow of Thorold Rogers) and her daughter Annie. In September 2020 a blue plaque was erected on this house to commemorate Annie Rogers, who became the first female don at the University of Oxford.
A Mrs Duffield lived here from 1901 to 1907, but at the time of the 1901 census only the household's cook was at home.
The physician and surgeon Richard Harvey Sankey lived here from 1908 to 1926. The 1911 census shows him as a single man of 36, living here with his unmarried sister Kate (41) and their two servants. He was still here in 1921, now with his wife Audrey and two young sons, plus a cook and housemaid.
In 1926 No. 35 ceased to be a private house and was converted into offices. In 1933 the group of three houses at 34–36 St Giles was sold by Exeter College to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oxford, but they only made use of No. 36. In 1936 this house became the Berks & Bucks Recruiting Zone, the forerunner of the Army, RAF, Royal Navy, and Royal Marine Information Office that it is today.
Occupants of 35 St Giles’ Street listed in censuses and directories |
|
1841–1860 |
Mrs Catherine Grayson |
1866–1880 |
The Misses Durell |
1882–1887 |
Joseph Prestwich, Professor of Geology |
1890 |
Julius O. Sankey, Surgeon |
1891–1899 |
Mrs Rogers |
1901–1907 |
Mrs Duffield |
1908–1926 |
Richard Sankey, Physician & Surgeon |
1928–1930 |
Post Office Engineering Department |
1936–1971 |
Oxford, Berks & Bucks
Recruiting Zone (1939) |
1972–present |
Army Information Office |