The Shakespeare Hotel at No. 54 (present building)

In 1864/5 three large buildings, designed by William Wilkinson and built by Thomas Wyatt, replaced the five businesses in Cornmarket that had been destroyed by fire. No. 54, the Shakespeare Hotel, was described thus in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 15 October 1864:

The adjoining premises of Mr Wyatt—which it is understood will bear the name of the Shakspere Hotel—are of white stone and are very lofty, being five storeys in height. The bay windows and decorations give it a very elegant appearance.

On 14 October 1865 it reported that the building was nearly complete, and added:

It is a lofty and elegant building, in the classical style, the front being of Bath stone. It comprises spacious wine vaults, a large coffee room, ladies' ditto, assembly and auction rooms, market room, hot and cold baths, and a range of well-ventilated rooms. Mr. T. Wyatt (one of the proprietors) was the architect, and the masonry was executed by Mr. G. Yateman, of Handborough.

On 13 March 1869 E. Smith put a notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal to say he had come to an arrangement with Wyatt, who was discontinuing to run the hotel, to let all of the "splendid Rooms" at 54 Cornmarket Street as University lodgings, and added that there were Turkish baths on the premises, and good stabling with loose boxes and lock-up coach houses.

By 9 July 1870, when the following advertisement appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal, Thomas Wyatt was dead. (He may be the architect Thomas Wyatt, late of the City of Oxford, who died at Brixton on 2 February 1870.)

SHAKESPEARE HOTEL, OXFORD. Important FREEHOLD PROPERTY, In the centre of Corn Market Street.

MR. JOHN FISHER has received instructions from the Representatives of the late Mr. Thos Wyatt to SELL by AUCTION, at the Committee Room, Town Hall, Oxford, on Tuesday the 2nd day of August, at Two o'clock in the afternoon,—This valuable PROPERTY, which was designed for and has been used as a first-class Hotel, having a frontage to the street of 30ft. by a depth of 167 feet, extending to Shoe-lane, with a right of way to New Inn Hall-street, fitted up with all modern and improved conveniences, and containing handsome entrance hall, spacious front shop, 5 large reception rooms, 15 sleeping apartments, 5 water closets, extensive cellarage, and domestic offices, together with Turkish and water baths.

All the rooms are lofty and well ventilated, and the principal rooms are decorated with great taste.

The Turkish baths comprise 2 cooling, tepid, and hot rooms, lavatory, &c., and are constructed so as to ensure perfect ventilation and economy in the consumption of fuel. The water bath rooms are fitted with enamelled baths and apparatus.

The whole has been recently built in the most substantial manner. The front elevation is of Bath stone, with large handsome bay windows, forming an important architectural feature. Early possession may be had.

The hotel failed to sell at the auction, and on 6 August 1870 it was advertised for sale or letting on lease by private contract.

An ironmonger called James Berridge had taken over the premises by 1870, and on 17 February 1870 he was summoned to the city court for “an infringement o the Local Board Bye Laws by leaving open the flaps covering the entrance to the cellars beneath his shop”. He was fined 5s. and 10s. 6d. costs. He died just six months later at the beginning of September at the age of 39, and on 26 November 1870 all his stock-and-trade as well as a large quantity of wines and spirits were advertised “on the premises (late the Shakespeare Hotel)”.

The following advertisement appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 8 June 1872:

NO. 54 CORN MARKET STREET, OXFORD.
TO be LET,—The Upper Part of this commodious and tastefully decorated House, suitable either for lodgings or offices and residence, comprising 14 large and capitally-arranged sitting and bed rooms, together with good kitchen and other extensive offices in the basement.

In 1874 Charles Dolling advertised the University Turkish and warm water baths on these premises: there was a Sudatorium and a Frigidarium, and mercurial, sulphur, and iodine vapour baths were always ready. Gentlemen could use the baths every day, but ladies only on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am to 2pm.

The forthcoming auction of this freehold property was advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 18 November 1876:

Corn Market Street, Oxford

Important, extensive, and very valuable FREEHOLD PROPERTY, situate in the best part of the City of Oxford, being No. 54, Corn Market-street (formerly the “Shakespeare Hotel,” with the licence still retained), now partly occupied by Mr. G. N. Bartram; a further portion held by Mr. Charles Dolling, the Proprietor of the well-known Turkish Baths; and the remainder recently in the occupation of the Oxford City Rifle Corps and the Oxford County Court, but now unoccupied;

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, By JONAS PAXTON, SON, & CASTLE, At the Roebuck Hotel, Oxford, on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1876, at Four for Five o'clock.

The Premises comprise a commanding front shop on the ground floor, 12 feet high, with a frontage of 22 feet, and 50 feet long, and with spacious cellar, coal vault, and w.c. in the basement, let on lease to Mr. Bartram at £110 per annum; the Turkish Baths, with cooling room, waiting room, two warm bath rooms, medicated bath room, sitting room, two bed rooms and plunge bath, with back entrance to the property, held under a yearly tenancy by Mr. Chas. Dolling, at £80 a year; a spacious entrance hall, with stone staircase (w.c. on landing), Registrar's room and office, Bailiff's room, 7 bed rooms, and 4 servants' apartments, with 3 cellars and 2 kitchens, recently tenanted by the Oxford City Rifle Corps and the Oxford County Courts, at £50 and £76 annually.

The whole of the Property was built by the late Mr. T. Wyatt in a most substantial manner, for his own occupation as an Hotel. The front to the street is entirely of stone, with handsome bay windows to all the rooms on the first and second floors, and the interior is elegantly and conveniently fitted up. The Land Tax has been redeemed, and the grates, bells, and ordinary fixtures will be included in the purchase.

It was reported on 23 December 1876 that Mr. A. Sotham had bought No. 54 at the auction for £6,800.

It was a bank from 1877 to 2025.