68 Holywell Street dates from the sixteenth century, and was altered in c.1800. It is owned by New College.
It is a Grade II Listed Building (1047241), jointly with No. 69 to the left, with the following description:
No 68 (Formerly listed as No 68 and Tower Cottage) SP 5106 NE 6/243 12.1.54. SP 5106 NE 6/244 II GV 2. RCHM 223.
Originally Cl7 but has been remodelled. Three-storeyed roughcast timber-framing on a stone base with cellars, an overhang at the first floor, moulded wood band at the second floor, a moulded wood eaves cornice and a parapet. The ground floor has a plain doorway and two casement windows in wood frames with a continuous moulded cornice above them. In the lst floor are two Cl9 sash windows in flush wood frames and in the second floor are three ancient two-light wood-framed casement windows.
Interior: RCHM p.182a. Includes some early Cl8 panelling and fireplaces.
For plans, section and elevations see Figure 16 and page 140. Antiq. Jnl. 27 (1947)....
This was the Boot Tavern from the eighteenth century until c.1904. It can be seen in the centre of the detail (right) taken from a painting by Matthison in the early twentieth century.
68 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
James Franklin (40), a porter, lived here with Ann (40) and John (15), Ann (15), Elizabeth (7), Jane (4), and Sarah (2).
1851
Elizabeth Smith (61), a widowed public house keeper, lived here at the Boot Public House with her daughter and assistant Marianne (25). They had two lodgers: John Hearne (40), an unmarried distant relative who was a Post Office messenger, and a foreman in a cabinet maker’s shop.
1861
Job Bushnell (62), a stonemason, lived here with his wife Martha (50) and his children Elizabeth (15), Sarah (14), William (11), and Clara (8); and his son-in-law James Holden, also a stonemason. There were also five lodgers: a stonemason, a carpenter, and two labourers (one with his wife).
Nos. 68 and 69 are transposed in this census, and Job Bushnell is incorrectly listed under 69
1871
Job Bushnell (72), still listed as a stonemason, continued to live here with his wife Martha (60), who was now a laundress, and his daughter Clara (17), who was a dressmaker, and his granddaughter Susan Wilkinson (11). A groom lodged with them.
1881
Thomas Thornton (54), a licensed victualler, lived at the “Boot Tavern” with his wife Elizabeth (50) and his granddaughter Florence (1). They had one servant (a cook).
1891
Walter W. Wicking (30) was the publican & cellarman who lived here at “The Boot”, which is wrongly numbered 67 instead of 68. His wife Eliza (31) and sister-in-law Emma Herbert (25) lived with him. (He died at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the age of 32 on 17 April 1892.)
1901
Joseph Haskins (49), a publican and plumber, lived here with his wife Grace (47) and his children Joseph (23), a house painter, Florence (21, a bookbinder), Frederick (17), a printer’s apprentice, Ada (11), and Arthur (8). They had a 79-year-old charwoman lodging with them.
1911
Walter Henry Beach (48), a plate powder manufacturer working on his own account, lived here with his wife Alice (44). Lodging with them was the architect John Egerton Thorpe (37).
1921
Walter Henry Beach (58), a retired decorator, lived here with his housekeeper Olive Hickman (25). Two students boarded with him in another part of the premises.
1939 Register
The painter & decorator Walter Beach and his housekeeper Olive Beac
Occupants of 68 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
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1772 |
Mr Clements (landlord of the Boot Tavern) |
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1794–1901 |
Boot Inn/Tavern/Public House, or just The Boot Some landlords: Closed in c.1904 and became a private house |
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1905–1949 |
Mrs Beach Walter Henry Beach |
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1952–1976 |
No separate listing: used by New College |
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Today |
New College annexe |
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