Oxford History: The High

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In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. No. 134 was then in the occupation of a Mr Strange, and its frontage measured 6 yards 1 foot 4  inches.

The present No. 134 was described as newly built in 1783. It is a Grade II listed building (List Entry No. 1047262), and its present design won a heritage award for good shop design in a conservation area. It was in the parish of All Saints until that church closed in 1971. It is now in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate Church.

Richard Cox, a draper, had his business here from November 1783 to 1833, and there was a notice in Jackson’s Oxford Journal of 17 August 1790 announcing that Richard Cox & Co would be operating from newly-built premises on the site. Cox moved gradually over into banking, and went into partnership with James & Robert Morrell; but Cox (who had three times been Mayor of Oxford) engaged in corrupt practices and fled bankrupt to Calais in 1833.

At the time of the 1841 census 134 High Street was occupied by Sarah Cox (50),who was the wife of Richard Cox's son Richard Ferdinand Cox, and her daughter Louisa (25), and also Richard Cox's son Charles Cox (40), all described as independent and looked after by two servants. On 17 July 1841 Jackson's Oxford Journal announced that all the furniture. linen, china, carpets and rugs, fire irons, kitchen requisites, and a variety of other effects would be auctioned under a bill of sale at the premises.

The premises on the ground floor were Morrell’s Bank from 1833 until1851. On 1 March 1851 James Morrell announced that he would be relinquishing the business of his bank here a few weeks later on 25 March. Five days later the 1851 census shows Robert Haines, a banker’s clerk, living upstairs here with his wife Susan and their two children, plus a servant. The premises were advertised to let on 3 April 1852.

On 3 February 1855 in Jackson's Oxford Journal this house was advertised thus for sale:

TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT,—
THAT MOST DESIRABLE
FREEHOLD HOUSE & PREMISES
No. 134, HIGH STREET,
For many years known as
THE BANKING HOUSE of Messrs. MORRELL
And the Private Residence of Richard Cox, Esq.

The House is very substantially-built, well fitted up, and replete with every convenience, and the Rooms are commodious and well ventilated.

The Property being in the best part of Oxford, is well adapted for a Banking House, or for the Residence and Offices of a Professional Gentleman; and is equally suitable for a Private Residence for a family, and eligible for investment.

The owner of the business, John Parsons is listed here in directories in the 1860s. (This is not the John Parsons of the Old Bank, but the former tailor from 123 High Street.) Parsons did not live here (he had a fine house, “The Lawn”, on the Banbury Road), and at the time of the 1861 census the upstairs premises were occupied by Parsons’s shop manager Samuel Hester (45), described as a Commercial Clerk and Wine Merchant, and his wife Harriet and their three children, plus a servant. Samuel Hester went bankrupt later in 1861.

By the time of the 1871 census the upstairs living quarters were occupied by Christopher Park (48), formerly of 54 Cornmarket). a wine merchant employing three men, and his wife Julia and his daughter, plus one servant. He was still listed here in the 1881 census, and a barmaid lived with him and his wife, which suggests that the wine shop was already on its way to becoming a pub.

By 1889 No. 134 was known as the Market Vaults Hotel, and at the time of the 1891 census the publican was William A. Simms (51), who lived here with his wife Sophia and their daughter and five servants (two barmaids, a boots, a general servant, and a “general youth”).

The 1901 census shows the American-born innkeeper Mary Ann Allen living here with her two barmaid daughters and three barmen (her son-in-law and two servants).

The 1911 census shows Clement Arthur Spicer (47) as the licensed victualler here at the Market Vaults, and he lived in the eight rooms upstairs with his wife Martha, who assisted him in the business, his mother-in-law, and his four children, plus a mother's help.

Between 1920 and 1928 the Market Vaults Hotel was run by Alfred Shrubb, a former world-champion runner. Shrubb held a number of world records and championship titles during a remarkable athletics career between 1899 and 1915. For a few years he was regarded as the best distance runner in the world, and many still rate him as one of the top cross-country men of all time. His last active involvement in sport was during his time at the Market Vaults Hotel. As well as running this hotel he was an Oxford city councillor and was also the very first paid coach employed by Oxford University Athletics Club. In 1928 he emigrated to Canada with wife Ada and he died there in 1964.

In 1981 permission was granted to the Automobile Association to turn this shop into an office and combine it with No. 133 next door. In 1999 it separated and became a retail shop again.