The High, Oxford: No 62

No. 62: Magdalen College house

62 High Street

This is the first in the terrace of eleven houses and shops belonging to Magdalen College that is attached to the back of Magdalen Gate house. This terrace was rebuilt subsequent to the widening of Magdalen Bridge that took place in 1772–8.

It is Grade II listed (list entry 1320418). It was in St Peter-in-the East parish until that parish was united with St Cross parish in 1957.

The Survey of Oxford was taken in 1772 before this house was rebuilt, and according to H. E. Salter the house that was approximately on this site was then occupied by a Mrs Welman and had a frontage of 9 yds 1 ft 0 in.

The 1841 census suggests that the seedsman Nathaniel Penson may have lived here at that time with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter, plus a servant. Penson died at his High Street home at the age of 60 on 25 May 1843.

At the time of the 1851 census the present No. 62 was occupied by Archibald Impey (25), a student at New Inn Hall, and his wife Barbara, and his mother, plus two servants.

The 1861 census shows No. 62 was occupied by Charles Fisher (50), the Manciple of Exeter College, and his wife Emma and their daughter, plus two house servants; he was still there in 1871.

At the time of the 1881 census the widowed gentlewoman Lydia Larden (63) lived here with her spinster daughter and a domestic servant.

From 1885 to 1890 No. 62 was a doctor's surgery, and a dentist's from 1892 to 1935. The house was unoccupied at the time of the 1891 census.

From 1892 the dentist Frederick William Hill had his premises here and the 1901 census shows Rosalie Hill (40) here with three servants. Hill was at home here at the time of the 1911 census with his wife and their three servants, and it is recorded that they occupied twelve rooms.

The 1921 Register shows the dental surgeon Arthur George Grant Plumley (47) living here with his sister Gertrude plus a dental attendant and a servant.

In the mid-1930s the house appears to have been divided into two flats numbered 62A and 62B. The classical scholar E. R. Dodds lived at 62A from 1937 to 1947.

People who have occupied 62 High Street
1840s	Mrs Catherine Hudson (1846)
1852	Archibald Impey, Esq
1866–1876	Charles Fisher
1877	George Talbot
1880–1883	Mrs Lardener or Larden
1884	Mrs Webber
1885–1890	William Collier, MD Physician
1892–1905	Frederick W. Hill DMD Harvard University Dentist
1906–1921	Frederick W. Hill DMD Harvard University Dentist
1923–1935	Arthur George Grant Plumley, MB, MRVS, LRCP, LDS, Dental surgeon
1936	Maurice B. Nolan University lodging house
1937–1947	62A: Erik Robertson Dodds, MA Student of Christ Church & Regius Professor of Greek 62B: Miss C. Hole & Miss J. Enterton at 62B in 1939–1940 Thomas J. Dunbabin, M.A. in 1941 David Worswick in 1943–1947
1949–1967	62A: George David Norman Worswick, M.A. Fellow & Tutor in Economics, Magdalen College 62B: David Halewood in 1949 Humphrey Bowen in 1954 D. G. Sargant in 1958–1960 Claude Kacser in 1952 Angus D. Macintyre, M.A., D.Phil. in 1964–1966 Hugh F. Denman in 1967
1968–1976	62A: Cecil K. Watkins (1968 only, no occupant listed from 1970 to 1976)) 62B: Hugh F. Denham (1968–1976)
By 1984–today	Magdalen College lodgings

Oxford History: The High

No. 62: Magdalen College house

People who have occupied 62 High Street