No. 49: Eagle & Child pub
This building dates from the sixteenth century and is Grade II listed (List Entry No. 1047147). It lies in St Giles' parish.
The Eagle & Child pub (currently closed for major improvements) is popularly known as the “Bird & the Baby”. Wellington Place runs along the north side of the building, and Eagle & Child Passage runs through the pub itself on the south side.
This has a pub since 1650. It belonged to University College from the sixteenth century until 2003, when it was put up for sale (together with the two adjoining shops to the south, Nos. 50 & 51 and a maisonette) at a total guide price of £1.2million. It was bought by St John’s College (who also own the Lamb & Flag on the other side of the road), and they stated that when Mitchell & Butler’s lease expired, they would take over the management, and would possibly use the profits to provide student bursaries. The annual income from the pub at the time of purchase was £91,000.
In October 2023 it was announced that the Ellison Institute of Technology had purchased the Eagle & Child from St John's College and that it would be renovated by Norman Foster. The Institute intends to use it as study space, while retaining the pub, which will incorporate a new restaurant. Extensive renovations are still taking place in 2026.
- Oxford Clarion: “The 'Bird and Baby' grows up: inside the new Eagle & Child”
The first record of the pub’s present name is in 1684, when Richard Platt was granted a licence to hang out a sign depicting the coronet with an eagle and child that appears on the crest of the Earl of Derby. The pub was a popular haunt of the diarist Anthony Wood in the seventeenth century.
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. The house that forms the north end of this pub was then in the occupation of Mr Hart (with a frontage of 3 yards 1 feet 6 inches) and the house that forms the south end in the occupation of Mr Green senior (with a frontage of 3 yards 2 feet 6 inches).
The Eagle & Child was a modest beer house (rather than an inn like the Lamb & Flag across the road), and landlords in the nineteenth century usually had a second occupation, probably leaving much of the work of running the beerhouse to their wives.
From the 1930s to the 1960s the Inklings (including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien) met in the “Rabbit Room” at the back of this pub.
Planning applications
Two approved plans by previous owner St John's College that were abandoned:
- 2019: “Demolition of part ground and first floor rear extensions and internal openings and doorways. Extension and alterations to form enlarged public house restaurant on the ground floor to the rear of 49-51 St Giles, conversion and change of use of first and second floors to form hotel bedroom accommodation above 49-51 St Giles and change of use of 50 St Giles from Cafe/Delicatessen to Hotel reception. New services to be installed in the basement and alterations to fenestration and signage” (19/01457/LBC). The pub subsequently closed in March 2020 and no tenant was found.
- 2023: “Demolition of part ground and first floor rear extensions and internal openings and doorways. Erection of a part single- part two-storey rear extension and infill extension for use as restaurant. Restoration and alterations to height of boundary wall. Removal of 1no. door to south elevation. Insertion of fire door to north elevation. Internal alterations and repairs to upper floors. Alterations to landscaping and provision of bin stores” (23/01746/LBC). This was approved in October 2023, together with a separate plan relating to the rear extension (23/01745/FUL) in November 2023.
Approved plans by current owner Ellison Oxford Ltd in 2025 (work currently taking place):
- “External conservation repairs to elevations and roofs. Works to include: Repairs to timber roof structure, re-roofing, formation of access hatches to roof valleys and installation of roof insulation. Replacement of roof lanterns. Upgrading of rainwater goods, gutters and lead flashings. Re-rendering of external walls to the Eagle and Child; Application of lime-based sheltercoat to Nos 50 and 51. Repairs to limestone and brickwork. Repairs to fenestration. Alterations to fenestration's and signage” (24/02496/LBC)
- “Change of use of upper floors of 49-51 for private meeting space (Sui Generis). Part demolition of existing two-storey rear extensions. Demolition of boundary wall. Erection of a single-storey rear extension. Alterations to fenestration, roof and render. Installation of insulation” (25/01078/FUL).
Landlords in the censuses
1841 census: William Tew lived here with his wife Elizabeth and a family surnamed Jones.
1851, 1861, & 1871 censuses: in 1851 the dairyman Thomas Rogers Kerwood was the landlord and lived here with his wife, three children, and a 14-year-old girl servant. He died in 1855 and in 1861 his widow Ann Kerwood ran the dairy and beerhouse on her own, probably helped by her 21-year-old daughter Emily as well as the resident dairymaid. She was still here with her daughter in 1871, described as a publican & dairymaid.
1881 census: John Buckland Earl, who was primarily a tailor, lived here with his wife Rebecca and his grandson, who was an apprentice decorator.
1891 census: Arthur Holliday (49) lived here with his wife Harriett and their servant, and a farmer called Charles Sanders, a widower of 51, lived in another part of the pub. with his mother and two sons. Holliday was described in the census as a licensed victualler, but was listed in directories as a dog specialist.
1901 census: John Kempson (64) was the beerhouse keeper and lived here with his wife Kate. In 1911 his widow Kate Kempson (63), described as a beer retailer under Hall's Brewery, lived here with her stepson.
1921 census: the publican Charles Frederick Blagrove (35) was living at this pub with his wife Florence (32), described as a publican's assistant, and their daughter Rhoda (6). Charles & Florence can also be seen here in the 1939 Register. Charles Blagrove died in 1948, and Mrs Blagrove continued as landlady until 1956.
There are some good photographs and drawings showing the layout of the pub's site in the Design and access statement/Heritage impact assessment PDF under the Documents tab of approved planning application 25/01058/FUL
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Occupants of the Eagle & Child,
49 St Giles’ Street |
|
1826–1836 |
Jonathan Brown |
1839–1846 |
William Tew, Beer retailer |
1851–1872 |
Thomas Kerwood,
Dairyman and Beer retailer (by 1851, to his death in 1855) |
1875–1884 |
John Buckland Earl |
1887–1890 |
Charles Launchbury, Beer retailer |
1891–1895 |
Arthur Holliday, Dog specialist |
1896–1911 |
John Kempson,
Beer retailer (1896–1908) |
1912–1916 |
John Dallimore, Beer retailer |
1918–1956 |
Charles F. Blagrove,
Beer retailer (1918 until his death in 1948) |
1956–present |
Eagle & Child Public
House Currently closed for refurbishment by the Ellison Institute of Technology |