31 & 31A Holywell Street is a modernized early eighteenth-century house. It is owned by Wadham College.
It is a Grade II Listed Building (1369379), with the following description:
No 3l SP 5106 NE 6/198 12.1.54. II GV 2
House. RCHM 200. Early C18 and since modernised. Three-storeyed stuccoed timber-framing with two brick stacks. The ground floor has a three-light modern sash window and a single sash window. The front doorway has good early C18 fluted Ionic pilasters and an enriched scroll-bracketed hood; the panelled door has a rectangular fanlight. In the first and second floors are two double dash windows in plain flush wooden frames, those in the first floor having architraves, all with glazing bars.
The door to the left of this house presumably led to 31A. Brasenose College's stable was behind this house, and a coachman lived over the stable in 1851. At the time of the 1861 census No. 31A was let out to a laundress, but a coachman lived there again in 1891 and 1901.
Mrs Sarah Brazier, who lived at No. 31 at the time of the 1861 census, was the widow of the wine merchant Charles Tyson Brazier, who had a wine shop here in the 1840s.
By the end of 1861 there was a school in this building. Jackson’s Oxford Journal for 28 December 1861 has the following advertisement:
Establishment for Young Ladies
The Misses BRANSCOMBE and PAGE take the present opportunity of informing their friends and the public that they have removed to more commodious Premises at No. 31, HOLYWELL STREET, which will afford their Pupils the advantage of an exceedingly healthy locality, with a [p]lay-ground contiguous to the Parks. Great care is taken to impart a thorough English Education, and every attention is paid to the health, morals, and comfort of the Pupils.
Music, Instrumental and Vocal, taught in modern style; French, German, and Italian; Drawing and Painting, in water-colours. In the latter departments, they are assisted by talented Masters.
References kindly permitted to the Parents of Pupils, several of whom are of five and six years’ standing. — Prospectuses will be forwarded on application.
By 26 April 1862, Misses Branscombe and Page advertised this school as the “Vine House Establishment”.
It was then a university lodging house.
From 1914 it was occupied by individuals, including (Edward) Maurice Besley and Frederick Wolff Ogilvie in the 1920s.
31 and 31A Holywell Street in the censuses
1841
The 1841 census for Holywell does not give house numbers, but it is possible to deduce where people listed that year lived by examining directory entries between 1839 and 1842 and later censuses
Moses Brooks (40), a dairyman, lived here with Ann (35) and Ann Clara (15), Catherine (13), Clara (15), Frederick (11), Emily (9), Miriam (7), Louisa (5), Francis (3), Martha (1), and a one-month-old boy. Two young men and a girl lived with them.
1851
No. 31
Ann White (63), a widowed Gentlemen’s lodging-house keeper, lived here with two servants and two Oxford graduates.”Brasenose College Stable in No. 31 yard”
Michael Poulter (46), Gentleman Coachman, lived here with his wife Elizabeth (45) and their sons George (13) and William (10)
1861
Sarah E. Brazier (41), a widowed lodging-house keeper, lived here with her children Catherine (15), Florence (14), Esther (11), Charles (10), Emily (8), Albert (5), and John (2). She had one female servant.
1871
No. 31
Mrs Louise Hooper (58), a lodging-house keeper, lived here with her children Louisa (32) Thomas (30), who was a college cook, Julian (7), who was a clerk, and Harriet (18). They had no servants.No. 31A
Mrs Sarah Newman (55), a widowed laundress, lived here with her sons Thomas (20), George (18), and Henry (16), who were all college servants, and Charles (14), who was a shop boy, Edward (13), described as a helper, and Robert (10).
1881
No. 31: George Vincent (49), a college porter, lived here with his wife Jane (42) and his daughters Adelaide (16, a pupil teacher) and Louisa (13).
No. 31A: Sarah Newman (65), a retired laundress, with her son Henry (26), described as “formerly college bedmaker”, and Edward (23), who was a “common room man’s assistant”.
1891
No. 31:Jane Vincent (49), a widowed lodging-house keeper, lived here with her daughters Adelaide (26), who was an elementary certificated teacher, and Louisa (23).
No. 31A: William E. Greening (25), a coachman, lived here with his wife Selina (28) and their children William (2) and Muriel (ten months).
1901
No. 31: Jane Vincent (60), was still a lodging-house keeper here, living with her unmarried daughters Adelaide (36), who was still a teacher, and Louisa (33), who was engaged in home duties.
No. 31A: James Moss (42), a domestic coachman, lived here with his wife Emma (47).
1911
No listing.
1921
The householder Edward Maurice Besley and his wife were away, and their son Donald (5) was accompanied on census night by their nurse, cook, and general servant.
1939 Register
The physician Patrick C. Mallam was listed here with his wife Margaret and their servant.
Occupants of 31 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
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1772 |
Mr Rawlins |
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1841–1852 |
Moses Brooks, Dairyman Mrs Ann White, Gents’ Lodging house keeper, in 1851 census |
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To early 1861 |
Mrs Sarah E. Brazier, Lodging house keeper (Directory says Mrs Prior) |
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From December 1861 |
The Misses Branscombe & Page’s School for Young Ladies |
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1866–1876 |
Henry Hooper |
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1881–1905 |
George Vincent Mrs Jane Vincent (from 1884) |
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1914 |
Ernest William Ainley Walker, D.M. |
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1916–1920 |
Sir Thomas Raleigh |
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1921 |
Edward Maurice Besley |
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1926 |
Frederick Wolff Ogilvie |
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19278–1930 |
John G. Barrington-Ward, M.A. |
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1933–1935 |
Revd Geoffrey Francis Allen, M.A. |
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1936–1976 |
Patrick Mallam, M.D., M.R.C.P., |
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Today |
Part of Wadham College |
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