This was the first section of New College's development outside the city wall on the south side of Holywell Street. Thirteen old houses (at 75–86 Holywell Street) were demolished to clear the site. (Another five houses, Nos.70–74, were soon demolished for the second phase to the right.
This range consists of four staircases designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and built in 1872–5 to the west of the college's back entrance. (The Robinson Tower visible on the far left of the above photograph was not built over that entrance until the late 1890s.)
This range is jointly Grade II listed (1300697) with the later New College Tower and range to the left. The relevant part of the description reads simply: “West block built 1875 to designs of Sir Gilbert Scott in Taynton and Milton stone (see The Builder XXX, 829).”
The following article appeared in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 12 October 1872:
In the event, the building work was slower than anticipated as it was held up a the strike of stonemasons in May 1873.
The edition of 24 December 1874 announced that three-quarters of the development was then ready for occupation, and that the rest would be ready for Christmas, and that the five houses to the west were already being demolished ready for the next phase.
William Spooner (later Warden of New College 1903–1924) was critical of the effect of the “inordinate height” of Scott’s buildings on Holywell Street::
[This New College range] cannot be regarded among his happier efforts; they are formal, ponderous and lacking in spirit. He was not indeed primarily responsible for their inordinate height making them so disproportionate to the quaint, pretty old street in which they stand. As originally designed by him they were a storey lower, but the first plans seemed lacking in dignity and impressiveness to the Fellows to whom they were submitted; while the addition of a storey was also recommended to some of them by their desire to keep the cost of each set of rooms within a moderate figure. The result however was decidedly unfortunate and the buildings remain a useful acquisition of which posterity will scarcely be proud.
The thirteen houses demolished to make way for this building
(Nos. 75 to 86 Holywell Street)
No. 75
This was advertised for sale by auction in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 18 February 1860:
Convenient DWELLING HOUSE, with good GARDEN, No. 75, HOLYWELL STREET, OXFORD …
The House comprises two sitting rooms, kitchen, back kitchen, fuel-house, seven bed rooms, some convenient closets, and two cellars. Adjoining the house is a good garden, with fine fruit trees, and enclosed by walls.
This Property is held by lease from Merton College for 40 years, from the 10th of October 1853, subject to a trifling reserved rent.
No. 76
Moses Simmons lived here in the 1840s.
Nos. 77 & 78
On 12 October 1844 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised a forthcoming auction of four houses in Holywell Street by direction of the Trustee acting under the Will of the late Mrs John James Coles, including:
TWO DWELLING HOUSES, Nos. 77 and 78, occupied by Mrs. Haldon and Mr. Lee, at the annual rent of 14l. 6s. eac.—This lot is held under Merton college, for 40 years, from April 5, 1839. Quit Rent 5s. and one couple of capons.
No. 79
This was where the Knowles building firm began life. Thomas Knowles advertised as follows in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 30 March 1799:
T. KNOWLES, MASON,
Who has many Years conducted the Business of Mr. S. TOWNESEND,
RETURNS his most sincere Thanks to the Gentlemen of the University for the many Favours already conferred, and flatters himself, with Assiduity, to merit their future Approbation; also wishes to acquaint his Friends and the Public in general, that he has opened a Yard near the Bottom of Holywell Street, where he means to carry on the above Business in its various Branches.–Orders will be thankfully received, and executed in the most expeditious and workmanlike Manner, with the best Materials, and on the most eligible Terms.
Monuments, Chimney Pieces, Tombs, and Gravestones of every Description, neatly finished.
The lease of this house and No. 83 below ended up in the hands of Mrs Sarah Knowles, and following her death, both houses were advertised for sale in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 14 November. No. 79 (together with its stonemason's yard, workshops, offices, stables, and sheds) was described thus:
Lot 2 — All that DWELLING HOUSE situate on the south side of and known as No. 79, Holywell-street, in the occupation of Mr. Brazier, containing on the ground floor large front parlour, with kitchen behind; on the first floor large front dining room, back sitting room, and bed room, with closets; on the second floor four bed rooms and two attics over; in the basement are capital arched wine and beer cellars , and wash-house and garden at the back; the whole well adapted for the residence of a large family; and also all the Yard adjoining, as now marked out, and occupied and used by Mr. Knowles, as a stone mason’s yard, together with the workshops, sheds, offices, and two-stall stable erected thereon, with a large gateway entrance thereto from Holywell-street.... Lot 2 [is held by Lease under Merton College] for a term of 40 years, from 5th of April, 1840, subject to an annual Quit Rent of 10s., and one bushel of good and sweet wheat.
No. 80
This was advertised for sale by auction (along with No. 81) by the executors of Mr Bailey in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 18 October 1856:
Lot 1.—A valuable HOUSE, No. 80, Holywell-street, with spacious entrance from the street, four sitting rooms, seven bed rooms, kitchen, scullery, two cellars, and garden.—This lot is held by lease from Merton College, for 40 years, from 5th April 1853, subject to a a trifling reserved rent.
No. 81
This was advertised for sale by auction (along with No. 801) by the executors of Mr Bailey in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 18 October 1856:
Lot 2.—A very convenient and compact newly-built HOUSE, No. 81, in the occupation of Mr. Fraser, and contains three sitting rooms, four bed rooms, water closet, kitchen, cellar, and larder. There is a garden at the back and detached wash-house.—This lot is held by lease from Merton College, for 40 years, from 10th October, 1854, subject to a very small reserved rent.
No. 82
This was advertised for sale in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 20 November 1847:
Peremptory sale of a leasehold dwelling house, No. 82 Holywell Street Oxford
… All that DWELLING HOUSE and PREMISES, known as No. 82. Holywell-street, Oxford, containing a parlour and kitchen on the ground floor, and four bed rooms over, a small yard at the back, and a pump of excellent water. The Property is held by Lease under Merton College, Oxford, for a term of 40 years, from 5th of April, 1836, subject to an annual Quit Rent of 1s. 3d., and one peck of good and sweet wheat, or the value thereof.
No. 83
The lease of this house and No. 79 above ended up in the hands of Mrs Sarah Knowles, and following her death, both houses were advertised for sale in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 14 November. No. 83 was described thus:
Lot 1. — All that DWELLING HOUSE, situate on the south side of and known as No. 83, Holywell-street, now unoccupied, containing large cellar in the basement, two sitting rooms on the ground floor, and four bed rooms over, with wash-house, garden, stone mason’s yard, and scaffolding shed thereto belonging, extending a depth from Holywell-street of 132 feet, and adjoining the grounds and other property of New college, on the south east.... Lot 1 is held by Lease under Merton College, Oxford, for a term of 40 years, from 5th of April, 1837, subject to an annual Quit Rent of 3s. and one bushel of good and sweet barley malt
Nos. 84 & 85
On 12 October 1844 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised a forthcoming auction of four houses in Holywell Street by direction of the Trustee acting under the Will of the late Mrs John James Coles, including:
TWO DWELLING HOUSES, Nos. 84 and 85, one occupied by Mr. Curtis, at the annual rent of 17l. and the other by Mr. Green, at the annual rent of 13l.—This lot is held under Merton College for 40 years, from the 65th of April, 1838. Quit rent 1s. 6d. and half a bushel of malt.
75–86 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
No. 75
Ann Knowles (50) lived here with her son Edward (15): both are described as plumbers & glaziers. They had five lodgers and one female servant.No. 76
Moses Simmons (60), independent, lived here with Jane (60) and three lodgers.No. 77
Ann Halden (40), a college servant, lived here with Ann (14) and Mary Ann (11).No. 78
John Lee (40), a college servant, lived here with Harriet (34) and William (2) and George (four months.No. 79
Elizabeth Hornsby (85) lived here with Mary Ann (40), who was a school teacher, and James & Hannah Chapman and their children.No. 80
John Bailey (35), a servant at Magdalen Hall, lived here with Martha (30), Charlotte (13), Elizabeth (11), Sarah (9), and Esther (3), and four lodgers.No. 81
…No. 82
John Gill (60), a cook, lived here with a lodger and her daughter.No. 83
Sarah Knowles (80), independent, lived here with one female servant.No. 84
…No. 85
John Green (45), a groom, lived here with Elizabeth (45) and John (10).No. 86
Rebecca Curtis (25), a laundress, lived here with what appear to be two lodgers.
1851
No. 75
Joseph Bryan (37), a servant at University College, lived here with his wife Sarah (36) and their children Robert (4), Mary (3), Joseph (1), and John (4 months). They had a student lodger, and one servant.No. 76
Mary Slatter (62), a widowed grocer and general shopkeeper, lived here with her daughter Clara (20).No. 77
Robert Osborn (44), a plumber, lived here with his wife Jemima (52).No. 78
John Watkins (43), a college servant, lived here with his wife Mary (42) and their daughter Sarah (7).No. 79
Edward Knowles (36), a mason employing six men, lived here with his wife Margaret (30) and their children Thomas (10), Edward (9), James 97), Mary (6), Charles (4), Margaret (3), and Walter (1). They had one servant.Listed between 79 and 80 (presumably part of 79)
William H. Charsley (31), an unmarried Classical teacher, lived here with his sisters Catherine (32) and Matilda (28), and his cousin Clara (7).No. 80
John Bailey (51), a college servant, lived here with his wife Patty (46) and their daughters Elizabeth (21), Sarah (18), and Esther (13). They had two student lodgers.No. 81
Ann Williams (86), a widowed proprietor of houses, lived here with her granddaughter Ann Hatton (34). They had one servant.No. 82
Thomas Fairfax (46), a college servant, lived here with his wife Mary (43) and their niece Letitia Morgan (18), who was a dressmaker. They had one servant.No. 83
Henry Meadowcroft (38), a college servant, lived here with his wife Sarah (37), who was a laundress, and their children John (12) and Henry (2). Also living in the house was his brother-in-law Arthur Harper (30), who was a journeyman baker, and his wife Elizabeth (36).No. 84
John Ring (40), a college gardener, lived here with his wife Christiana (39) and their children Harriet (16), who was a dressmaker, and Charlotte (13). They had four lodgers: Henry Parker (16), who was a college butler’s son and himself an assistant butler, and his siblings William (14), George (13), and Elizabeth (15).No. 85
John Green (52), a groom at New College, still lived here with his wife Elizabeth (52) and their son John (20), who was an assistant groom .No. 86
Sarah Hilsden (60), a widowed straw-worker & sempstress, lived here with her son William (26), a market labourer or porter, and her daughter Katherine (18), who followed the same trade as her mother.
1861
No. 75
William Hughes (42), a stationer & college servant, lived here with his wife Harriet (44) and his children Elizabeth (19), Catherine (18), William (16, an apprentice grocer), and Marianne (14).No. 76
Mary Slatter (73), a widowed milk seller, lived here with her unmarried sister Susannah Dowse (3), who was a college servant; her widowed sister Sarah Turner (65), who was a dressmaker; and her widowed daughter-in-law (?stepdaughter) Mary Ann Tanner (37). They have two lodgers: an annuitant and a hairdresser.No. 77
Jemima Osborn (a widow of 62) lived here with her lodger Caroline Blay (20). Both are described as house proprietors.No. 78
John Watkins (53), a college servant, lived here with his wife Mary (51) and his daughter Sarah (17).No. 79
Henry Audley (a widower of 33), the Curate of St Mary the Virgin, lived here with his children Ann (6), Alice (4), John (3), and a nurse and a general servant.No. 80
William Carter (29), a college servant, lived here with his wife Elizabeth (31) and his children Arthur (5), William (2), Ann (2), and John (1 month), as well as his grandmother, Hannah Carter (99).No. 81
William J. Merritt (45), a college servant, lived here with his wife Elizabeth (45), his niece Bessie Garlic (13), and one house servant.No. 82
Thomas Fairfax (55), a college servant, lived here with his wife Mary (52). They have a boarder and a 15-year-old servant girl.No. 83
Henry J. Meadowcroft (48), a college servant, lived here with his wife Sarah (47) who was a laundress, and their sons John (26) and Henry (13) who were college servants and their daughter Elizabeth (9). They had a house servant.No. 84
John Ring (50), a college servant (porter), lived here with his wife Christiana (49) and their daughter Charlotte (23).No. 85
William Castle (59), a college porter, lived here with his wife Mary (42) and their boarder (a gentleman’s valet)No. 86
James Chapman (21), a tripe dresser, lived here with his wife Mahala (29) and their children Agnes (1) and Mahala (2 months).
1871
No. 75
William Shepherd (52), a stationer, lived here with his wife Harriet (56) and his dressmaker daughters Elizabeth (28), Catherine (27), and Marianne (26).No. 76
Mary Slatter (83), now running a grocer's shop, lived here with her sisters Sarah Turner (75), Susannah Powse (71), and her niece Mary Ann Turner. They had one servant, Percy Calcutt (22), who probably worked in the grocer's shop.No. 77
Jemima Osborn (72) still lived here, but was now on her own.No. 78
Elizabeth Ayriss (27), the wife of the householder, lived here with her four-month-old son John and one boarder.No. 79
Edward Bellamy (39), a bookbinder, lived here with his Wife Caroline (39) and their children Caroline (16), Edward (12), Arthur (10), Christopher (8), Rowland (6), and Edith (4). They had one servant.No. 80
Elizabeth Webb (40), a married lodging-house keeper, lived here with her seven children: the first six were surnamed Carter – Arthur (15), William (13), Amy (12), John (10), Ernest (8), and Julia (7) – and the last was Frederick Webb (2). She had two lodgers.No. 81
William Merritt (56), a college servant, still lived here with his wife Elizabeth (56), and his s niece Bessie Garlick (24).No. 82
Austin Etheridge (37), a college librarian, lived here with his wife Eliza (3) and one servant.No. 83
Thomas R. Knowles (30), a builder, lived here with his wife Mary Ann (31) and their children Alice (3), Edith (2), and Thomas (four months). A 12-year-old girl lodged with them, and they had one servant.No. 84
John Ring (60), a college servant, still lived here with his wife Christiana (58) and their daughter Charlotte (31).No. 85
William Castle (69), a college porter, still lived here. His wife was not at home, and he had a groom lodging with him.No. 86
James Chapman (66), a tripe dresser, lived here with his wife Hannah (60) and their children Hannah (34), Martha (26), and their grandchildren Agnes (11) and Frederick (5).
These twelve houses were demolished shortly after the 1871 census.
The occupants of the twelve houses at 75–86 Holywell Street that had to be demolished to make way for this massive first block are listed below in three separate sections:
Occupants of 75–78 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
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No. 78 |
No. 77 |
No. 76 |
No. 75 |
|
1772 |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
1839–1846 |
No listing |
Robert Osborn J. Osborn (1861) Mrs Osborne |
Moses Simmonds |
Edward Knowles Ann Knowles |
1851 |
John Watkins |
M. Slatter Mrs Slatter |
Joseph Bryan |
|
1861 |
William Charles Shepperd |
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1866 |
Mrs Key |
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1871 |
James Ayris |
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1872 |
No listing. These are part of the group of twelve houses demolished in 1872 to make way for the first phase of Scott’s new buildings for the Holywell Quad of New College |
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Nos. 76–78 today |
New College New Buildings |
|||
Occupants of 79–82 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
||||
No. 82 |
No. 81 |
No. 80 |
No. 79 |
|
1772 |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
1846 |
John Gill |
No listing |
John Bailey |
Knowles & Son Thomas Knowles Edward Knowles Knowles & Son, builders (from 1866) With the Revd Henry Anstey, Vice Principal of St Mary Hall (1866) With Edward Bellamy (1871) |
1851 |
Thomas Fairfax Mrs Fairfax |
Mrs Ann Williams |
||
1861–1866 |
William Merritt |
William Carter Mrs Carter |
||
1871 |
Mrs Etheridge |
Mrs Webb A. Pariscot de Cassell |
||
1872 |
No listing. These are part of the group of twelve houses demolished in 1872
to make way |
|||
Nos. 79–82 today |
New College New Buildings west |
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Occupants of 83–86 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
|||||
No. 86 |
No. 85 |
No. 84 |
No 83 |
||
1772 |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
Frontage: |
|
1839 |
No listing |
No listing |
No listing |
Robert Fowler |
|
1846 |
No listing |
John Green
|
John Ring
|
Mrs Sarah Knowles |
|
1851 |
Mrs Sarah Hilsden |
Henry J. |
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1861–1866 |
James Chapman J. Chapman |
William Castle |
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1871 |
Thomas R. Knowles |
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1872 |
No listing. These are part of the group of twelve houses demolished in 1872
to make way |
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Nos. 83–86 today |
New College New Buildings east |
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