Oxford History: The High

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108: Oxford Wine Cellar

108 High Street

No. 108 used to be a smaller shop in the middle of a terraced row, but when its immediate neighbours to the west, Nos. 109 and 110, were obliterated in 1873 to make room for King Edward Street, it was rebuilt as a large corner shop, designed by F. Codd. It has always been in the parish of St Mary-the-Virgin.

The former building on this site

The early occupants of the original house on this site can be identified from Balliol College deeds relating to the house next door that made way for the road, as it names the adjoining neighbours to the east. Thus the old No. 108, a tenement of Oriel College, was occupied as follows:

  • 28 June 1589: Garbrand Harkes
  • 31 December 1618: Mrs Garbrand
  • 31 December 1642 and 18 January 1667/8: Toby Garbrand alias Harkes
  • 14 October 1702, 14 October 1712: William Pufford, coffeeman
  • 12 November 1722: Widow Pufford
  • 10 December 1790: William Jones, silversmith
  • 11 January 1797: Blunt, breeches-maker
  • 21 July 1804: Widow Jones
  • 27 January 1820 and 31 January 1832: Thomas Slatter, tailor

By 1837 the premises were occupied by the ironmongers Edwards & Hewett, who also had No. 109 next door. On 18 April 1846 George Hewett, who now had sole management, announced in Jackson's Oxford Journal that he was renouncing the ironmongery business here in favour of Henry Floyd.

The 1851 census shows Henry Floyd, the ironmonger at the former shop on this site, living over his shop with his wife, two apprentices, and a general servant, as well as George Hewett, a land surveyor, listed as a separate household of one.

By 1861 William Floyd had taken over the business, and was described as the employer of 15 men.

In 1871 John Goundrey was the ironmonger here: he employed 13 men and four boys.On 1 June 1872 he was obviously making preparations to move out, as he advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal that all his stock for sale at greatly reduced prices.

The old shop was demolished in 1873, and Jackson's Oxford Journal reported on 11 October that year:

Mr. Codd, architect, of this City, has designed, and Mr. Selby has built, at the north-east corner of this street, a substantial house for Messrs. Hitchcock and Sons, chemists. It has a frontage of 22 feet in the High-street, and 71 feet in King Edward-street. The front elevation of the house is in the Italian style, with tuck-pointed white brick facing, and Bath stone dressings to the upper part; and to the lower part stone piers and ashlaring to the level of the shop facia, which is surmounted by an ornamental iron railing. The building is beautified in several ways, and in the carving are represented several heads of Sovereigns and other benefactors to Oriel College (the owners of the property), the most prominent of which is the head of King Edward, taken from a painting in the possession of the College. The whole of the carving has been executed in the most satisfactory manner by Mr. S. Grafton, of Park End-street, in this City. The internal arrangements, too, are complete in every respect, and care has been taken to ensure efficient light and ventilation. The house cost about 3000l., and is already opened.

The present building on this site

The first occupant of the new building in 1873 was the chemist Charles Garrard Hitchcock. This advertisement published in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 23 September 1876 shows that he also manufactured and sold soft drinks:

Hitchcock advertisement 23 Sep 1876

Hitchcock was living upstairs at the time of the 1881 census with his wife, two daughters, and two servants. In 1891 two chemist's assistants lived upstairs.

It remained a chemist shop for over a hundred years, and then in 1976 Oddbins moved in.

Occupiers of 108 High Street
Darker background indicates a former shop on the same site 

By 1837–1839

Edwards & Hewett, Ironmongers & Engineers (and at 109 High Street)

1846–1860

Henry Floyd, Ironmonger (with George Hewett, Land surveyor in 1851)

1861

William Floyd, Ironmonger

1863–1872

J. Goundrey, Ironmonger

1873–1905

Hitchcock & Sons [later & Co.], Chemists

1906–1937

Dolbear & Goodall, Chemists

1939–1975

Savory & Moore Ltd, Chemists

1976–2012

Oddbins

2012–2022

Sweaty Betty [moved to Westgate]

2023

Oxford Wine Cellar

©Stephanie Jenkins

Last updated: 10 November, 2023

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