39 Cornmarket Street: Timpson's
No. 39 probably has an ancient core under its nineteenth-century front. It is Grade II (list entry 1047327). It has always been in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church.
This narrow house was occupied by Mr Roberts in 1772, when a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. The width of its frontage was recorded as being 3 yards, 0 ft. and 4 in.
Shoemakers called Goodwyn had these premises from c.1817. On 14 October 1837 Miss Elizabeth Goodwyn announced that she was holding a sale of her stock to make room for the refitting of the shop.
At the time of the 1841 census John Graham (25), a bookbinder, lived here with his wife Anne and their two children, plus a 14-year-old servant girl.
By 1880 Robert Taylor Hobbs was a tailor here, but on 5 March 1881 Jackson's Oxford Journal reported that all his stock in trade would be sold on that day on the premises under distress for rent.
George Bland, an umbrella manufacturer, had this shop from 1890 to 1932.
The estate agent E. Gordon Hudson was here from 1935 to 1962.
This advertisement in Kelly's Directory for 1938 (right) shows that his business was involved in all the new estates springing up in the suburbs and environs of Oxford.
By 1983 this shop was a Heel Bar (photograph), and it remains a shoe repair business.
Occupants of 39 Cornmarket Street listed in directories etc. |
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c.1817–1836+ |
Henry Goodwyn, shoemaker (his suicide reported in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 22 February 1823) |
|
1839 |
William Wise, Boot and shoe maker |
|
1841 |
John Graham, Bookbinder |
|
1846 |
Thomas Lord, Straw hat maker |
|
1851–1852 |
Silas Butler, Baker & Pastry cook |
|
1861 |
William Randall Mattherson, Robe maker |
|
1867 |
E. Brailsford, Confectioner |
|
1871–2 |
Lewis Solomon, City & county toy & fancy bazaar |
|
1880–1881 |
R. T. Hobbs, Tailor, robe, & breeches maker |
|
1890–1932 |
George Bland, Umbrella manufacturer (George E. Bland from 1911) |
|
1935–1962 |
E. Gordon Hudson,
Estate agent |
|
1964–1966 |
No listing |
|
1968–1976 |
Finlays Ltd,Tobacconists |
|
By 1983 to late 1980s |
Heel Bar |
|
1996–present |
Timpson Shoe Repairs |
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39 Cornmarket Street in the censuses
1841
John Graham (25), a bookbinder, lived here with Anne (26) and Anne (2) and William (three months). They had a female servant aged 14.
1851
Silas Butler (31), a baker & pastry cook, lived over this shop with his wife Eliza (28) and son John Wesley Butler (5). His 16-year-old apprentice, Thomas Gomm, lived with the family, and they had a lodger: Louisa Giles (24), described as the wife of a college servant, and her daughter Julia (10 months).
1861
William Randall Mattherson (28), a robe maker, lived here with his wife Elizabeth (32) and his daughter Elizabeth, and his step-children Fanny and William Gardiner (aged 12 and 6). They had a 14-year-old female house servant.
1871
Lewis Solomon (18), the son of the successful jeweller of the same name at 29 Cornmarket, lived here over his shop with his 15-year-old brother Joseph (15), who was his assistant.
1881
Listed as “uninhabited”, probably part of the tailor’s shop downstairs.
1891
Listed as uninhabited: probably part of the umbrella shop downstairs.
1901
Listed as uninhabited but in occupation: probably part of the umbrella shop downstairs.
1911
No listing.