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Nos. 53–54 St Giles was built as a single house, probably in the sixteenth century, but was subdivided into two houses from about 1772 to 1866. It is now part of Regent’s Park College, which is behind this building facing Pusey Street.

The front of this building is original, but the bays are eighteenth century. It is Grade II* listed (List Entry No. 1369439) and lies in St Giles' parish.

There is a passageway to the north of the right-hand house running down into what used to be Drewett’s Yard, which contained six terraced cottages. The cast-iron street sign for that yard survives in poor condition over the entrance.

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Nos. 53 & 54 as two dwelling houses (c.1772 to 1866)

No. 53

In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. The frontage measurement of No. 53 was given as 4 yards 0 feet 9 inches, and it was then occupied by Mr Walton.

The 1851 census shows Francis Berry, a widowed tinplate worker and brazier aged 40, living at No. 53 with his four schoolgirl daughters and a servant. In the next ten years he had married again, had another three daughters, and lost a second wife, and the 1861 census shows him here with six of his daughters. He was still here with five daughters in 1871. He died in this house at the age of 81 on 5 May 1888.

No. 54

In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. The frontage measurement of No. 54 was given as 4 yards 0 feet 9 inches, and it was then occupied by Mrs Gingill or Gingell. This is almost certainly Elizabeth Gingell, whose husband Jacob had been buried in St Giles's churchyard on 23 December 1767. She was buried with him on 22 November 1781.

At the time of the 1851 census the landed proprietor Thomas Jeffs Busby (70) lived here with his wife Elizabeth and their servant. He died here at the age of 78 on 2 March 1856 and his widow died here on 24 December in the same year .

The lease of No. 54 was advertised as coming up for auction on 6 May 1862:

The DWELLING HOUSE, No. 54, St. Giles's-street, late in the occupation of Mrs. Busby, containing three good front rooms, two back rooms, cellar, and side entrance.

In 1861 No. 54 was occupied by the butcher William Andrews and his wife and baby daughter.

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Nos. 53 & 54 combined as one shop

In about 1866 Francis Berry at No. 53 expanded into the house next door at 54, and since then the premises have been one property again. At the time of the 1871 census Berry, a widower of 60, was listed here with his four daughters. Regents Park College believes that Berry used the large sixteenth-century fireplace in the house as the site for his tinsmith’s hearth or brazier, as evidenced by the heat damage to its carved ashlar stone

In 1881 he was still described as a tinplate worker employing one man and one boy at the age of 70, and was living here with three of his daughters. In that year the premises were also occupied by Charles Hill (72) and his wife Emma (63), who was a portrait painter.

Berry died here at the age of 81 in 1888, and the accommodation above Nos. 53 & 54 was unoccupied at the time of the 1891 census.

 

On 16 January 1892 John Lisemore who had a glass, china, and hardware store at 64 & 65 George Street announced that he had opened a branch establishment at Nos. 53 & 54, and his family continued to run the business here until c.1930.

The photograph on the right shows John Lisemore's shop in about 1905.

 

The Lisemore'slet out the upstairs accommodation, and the 1901 census shows Joseph Bates (86), a retired florist, living here with his wife Kezia (87) and their daughter Mary Ann (49), also described as a florist.

The 1911 census shows Thomas Peach Gilkes (71), a retired plumber & decorator, living here with his two daughters. They were still here in 1921.

The premises were then occupied by the jeweller Roland Bradley Bennett from about 1932 to 1954: photograph of the shop in 1949. Again he let out the accommodation upstairs, and the 1939 Register shows Leonard Herbert Brockington, a minister of religion and tutor in a theological college, living here with his wife Florence.

Drewitt's Yard behind this building was partially demolished in c.1939 when Regent's Park College was constructed in Pusey Street (fomerly Alfred Street), and the side passage behind was cut off from Nos. 53 & 54 and now provides side access to No. 52.

In 1956 Nos. 53 & 54 St Giles's Street were purchased by Regent's Park College, and the Revd W. Morris, its senor tutor and bursar, lived here.

A planning applications by Regent's Park College relating to alterations to this bulding was approved in 2024: 24/01693/FUL + 24/01694/LBC, and the Heritage Impact Statement under the Documents tabs gives more information about this building and provides photographs of the interior. In 2025 an application was submitted for change of use from college accommodation (Use Class C2) to Offices (Use Class E) (25/03110/LBC), but this has been withdrawn.