These three houses at 96, 97, and 98 Holywell Street date from the eighteenth century. Along with Nos. 99 and 100 to the east, they are owned by Merton College, who were Lords of the Manor of Holywell.
These three houses form a Grade II Listed Building (1104897) with the following description:
Nos 96 to 98 (consec) SP 5106 SE 9/236 12.1.54. II GV 2.
Houses. One building. C18 three-storeyed roughcast timber-framing on a stuccoed base with cellars. There is a moulded wood eaves cornice, a double modern brown tiled hipped roof and brick stacks. The ground floor has three-light sash windows, with shutters, over which is a continuous moulded band. In the first and second floors are sash windows in moulded wood frames,with glazing bars.
On 19y 1827 the Merton College lease for stables whose street frontage exactly matches that recorded for what appears to be Nos. 96/97in the Survey of Oxford was advertised as follows:
Two large STABLES with spacious yard, opposite to the last lot (No. 3], in Holywell-street aforesaid, now in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Wyatt, a yearly tenant; having a fronage in the street of 56¼ ft. in length.
On 10 May 1856 a forthcoming auction of the three houses at Nos. 96, 97, & 98 Holywell Street was advertised in Jackson’s Oxford Journal. The houses were all held under a 40-year lease from Merton College for a term of 40 years from 5 April 1842, subject to a yearly reserved rent of £1, and were described as follows:
Lot 3.—A very desirable HOUSE (No. 96), in the occupation of Mr. Brain, containing dining, drawing, and breakfast rooms, four bed rooms, kitchen, and scullery; coal, wine, and beer cellars.
Lot 4.—No. 97, adjoining Lot 3, and similar, excepting having one additional bed room [said to be occupied by Mr Brain in the advanced notice of the auction]
Lot 5.—No. 98, adjoining Lot 4, in the occupation of Mr. Cheeseman, comprising a similar number of rooms to Lot 3.
Above: Nos. 96, 97, & 98 Holywell Street
at the beginning of the twentieth century
No. 96 (on the right)
This was a private house occupied in the nineteenth century by members of the gentry. By 1881 this was home to Catherine Lloyd (daughter of Charles Lloyd, Bishop of Oxford): see more information on her on the page about her family grave in St Sepulchre's Cemetery. She had previously lived at No. 63 and had witnessed the start of the destruction of houses that end by New College; now the college demolished houses right up to the house next door to her at No. 95. She was appalled at what was being done: see “Outrage in Holywell Street”.
No. 97 (in the middle)
This may have been a pub for a short time, as its occupant, William Francis Thurland, was described as a victualler when he was adjudged bankrupt on 21 May 1870. This occasioned a “peremptory sale” of the house, which is described thus in the auction advertisement:
Lot 2. — No. 97, Holywell-street, a substantial and well-built Dwelling House, containing spacious entrance hall, two parlours, kitchen and scullery on the ground floor, drawing room and five bed rooms on first and second floors, extensive cellarage in the basement, small yard at the back, w.c., and other conveniences. It is held by Lease under Merton College, Oxford, for a term of 40 years, from the 5th of April, 1856, subject to a Reserved Rent of 6s. 8d. per annum, and 6d. for an acquittance.
Jonathan Lowndes and the printing office of Jackson's Oxford Journal moved here from No. 98 next door at the end of September 1847, and remained here until the end of December 1850 before moving to the newspaper's third address in Holywell (No. 100).
No. 98 (on the left)
This was the home of Jonathan Lowndes, the co-publisher of Jackson’s Oxford Journal. He may have lived here as early as 1820, as he and his wife Hannah had their daughter Esther Augusta baptised at Holywell Church on 9 February that year, followed by Emma on 23 January 1822, Cecilia Grace Catherine on 24 February 1824, Helen Mary on 20 September 1826, Edwin on 11 February 1829, Alfred Samuel on 25 December 1831, and Ann Noble on 29 June 1834. In the week following the publication of the newspaper on 25 September 1847, Lowndes moved to No. 97 next door
96–98 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. 96
The Revd John Radcliffe (50), Clerk, lived here with Mary (40). Also in the household were Thomas Atkinson (10), William Adams (8), Michael Bond (10), and two female servants.No. 97
Angel Lockey (65), independent, with what appear to be his wife and six grown-up children, plus a servantNo. 98
Jonathan Lowndes (51), the printer of Jackson’s Oxford Journal, lived here with his wife Hannah (45), his daughters Cecilia (17), and Helen (14), and Ann (70), who was likely to be his mother.
1851
No. 96
John Radcliffe (65), the Chaplain of Merton College, lived here with his widowed sister-in-law Mary Radcliffe (55). They had a cook and a housemaid.No. 97
William Thurland (33), the cook & manciple at New College, lived here with his wife Adelaide (31) and their daughter Jane (1). They had two servants.No. 98
Thomas Munday (47), butler of Magdalen College, lived here with his wife Fanny (47) and their sons Thomas (21), who was a student, and John (20), who was a butler’s assistant, and their daughters Eliza (14), Maria (12), and Fanny (7). They had one servant.
1861
No. 96
Henry J. Turrill (35), a clergyman without cure of souls, lived here with his wife Honor (27), plus a cook and a housemaid.No. 97
William Francis Thurland (43), the Manciple of New College, still lived here with his wife Adelaide (41) and his children Jane (11), William (9), Sophia (7), and Alice (11 months). They had one domestic servant.No. 98
James Reeves (42), a college servant born in Hampshire, lived here with his wife Anne, his daughter Anne (7), and a female servant.
1871
No. 96
Ann Louisa M. Chase (72), a widowed gentlewoman, lived here with her unmarried daughter Mary (45). They had two servants (a cook and a housemaid).No. 97
Richard Carter (69), a lodging-house keeper, lived here with his daughter M. A. Carter (35).No. 98
James Reeves (54), a college servant, still lived here with his wife Ann (48) and his daughter Anne (17). An 11-year-old boy boarded with them, and they had one servant and two lodgers.
1881
No. 96
Miss Catharine E. L. Lloyd (50), a fundholder, lived here on her own with two servants (a cook and a housemaid).
(She formerly lived at No. 63.)No. 97
Miss Mary A. A. Carter (39), a lodging-house keeper, lived here with one general servant.No. 98
William Chester (54), a lodging-house keeper and waiter,lived here with his wife Esther (52) and a lodger (a brewer’s clerk). They had a 13-year-old servant girl.
1891
No. 96
Catherine Eliza Lloyd (66) still lived here on her own with two servants.No. 97
James Baller (28), a classical & mathematical tutor & lecturer, lived here alone with two servants (a housekeeper and housemaid).No. 98
Thomas R. Haycroft (36), a grocer's assistant, lived here with his wife Agnes (38) and his children Agnes (12), Alice (11), and Thomas (7). They had a 15-year-old servant girl.
1901
No. 96
William Knibbs (32), a college cook, lived here with his wife Clara (36), who was a lodging-house keeper, and his daughter Margaret (8). They had a 15-year-old servant girl.No. 97
Frederick Hunt (38), a gas company collector, lived here with his wife Emily (40), who was a lodging-house keeper, and his children Edith (11), Norah (8), Frederick (5), and Gilbert (4). They had a 14-year-old servant girl.Arthur P. Brown (37), an assistant in a cycle business, lived here with his wife Edith (38), who was a lodging-house keeper, and his children Audrey (10), Arthur (8), and Douglas (6). They had one general servant.
1911
No. 96
William George Cook Knibbs (43), a college cook, still lived here with his wife Clara Jessie (49) and his daughter Margaret Clara (18). As before they had a 15-year-old servant girl.No. 97
Charles Hodges (31), a college chef, lived here with his wife Violet Cecily (30), who was a lodging-house keeper. They had one domestic servant, and just one student boarding with them: John Henry Eugen Vanderstegen Millington-Drake (22).No. 98
Arthur Percival Brown (49) still lived here, but was now running his own cycle business. His wife Edith Mary (48) was still a lodging-house keeper, helped by their daughter Audrey (20). Their son Cecil (18) was now a college library assistant, and Douglas (16) was an apprentice cabinet maker.
1921
No. 96
Mrs Molly Wilder (45), a visitor to the UK, was living here with her daughters Helen (24) and Peggy (17) and their servant, with three other American visitors, two of whom were also surnamed Wilder.No. 97
Charles Hodges (41), now himself described as a lodging-house keeper, still lived here with his wife Violet Cecily (40), who was a lodging-house keeper, and five lodgers.No. 98
Henry Thomas Jewell (50), described as a lodging house keeper, lived here with his wife Matilda (50), described as her husband's assistant. Five people were staying here on census night.
1939 Register
No. 96
Winnifred Carns, a housekeeper, is listed here with two members of her family, what appear to be seven lodgers.No. 97
The widow Emilie Pantin is listed here with another widow (who was incapacitated) and a cook and a housemaid.No. 98
The widowed lodging-house keeper Violet Hall was listed here with seven lodgers.
Occupants of 96–98 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
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No. 98 (left) |
No. 97 (centre) |
No. 96 (right) |
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1772 |
Mr Davis |
Mr Isham |
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1841 |
Jonathan Lowndes |
Thomas Maskew Jonathan Lowndes |
Rev John Radcliffe (Died here aged 70 on 21 February 1852) |
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1847 |
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1851 |
Thomas Munday, |
William F. Thurland |
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1856 |
Mr Cheeseman |
Mr Brain |
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1861 |
James Reeves |
Revd Henry J. Turrell |
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1866–1870 |
Mrs Ann Louisa M. Chase (died mid-1876) |
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1871–1876 |
Richard Carter Miss Mary Carter by 1881 |
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1881–1884 |
William Chester |
Miss Lloyd |
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1887 |
Revd S. C. F. Angel-Smith |
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1889 |
No listing |
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1891–1896 |
Thomas Robert Haycroft |
Mrs Partridge |
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1899 |
Arthur Percival Brown |
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1901–1905 |
Frederick Hunt |
William George Knibbs, cook |
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1911–1914 |
Charles Hodge |
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1921 |
Henry Jewell (1921) Mrs M. Jewell |
No listing |
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1926 |
Godfrey Elton |
Adrian Spear Mott |
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1928 |
Miss Dorothy M. Dover |
James W. Munro, |
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1930–1935 |
Sir Frederick Maurice Powicke
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1936–1938 |
Mrs V. C. Hall |
No listing |
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1940–1945 |
Mrs V. C. Hall |
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1949–1954 |
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1956–1962 |
Richard Pares, C.B.E., M.A. |
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1964–1967 |
John Black |
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1970 |
No listing |
Peter Hoy |
No listing |
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1972 |
V. C. Hall |
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1973–1976 |
Vijay Joshi |
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Today |
Private house |
Private house |
Private house |
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