
69 Holywell Street dates from the sixteenth century, and was altered in c.1800. It was known as Tower Cottage, and is owned by New College.
It is a Grade II Listed Building (1047241), listed jointly with No. 68 to the right, with the following description:
No 68 (Formerly listed as No 68 and Tower Cottage) SP 5106 NE 6/243 12.1.54. SP 5106 NE 6/244 II GV 2. RCHM 223....
Formerly listed as Tower Cottage. House RCHM 222. C17 and altered in C18-19. Three-storeyed timber framing on a stone base with cellars. There is a moulded eaves cornice, parapet, Welsh slate roof and brick stacks. The ground floor has three Cl8-19 sash windows in wood frames with bracketed cills; there is no front doorway. In the first floor are 3 similar windows with moulded cornices and in the third floor are three windows similar to those in the ground floor but smaller.
Mrs Amelia Tyson Brazier lived here until her death in 1847, when the contents of her house were sold. The following advertisement in Jackson’s Oxford Journal for 16 October 1847 gives a good picture of how this house would have been furnished in the mid-nineteenth century:

69 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
Amelia Brazier (50), described as a purveyor, lived here with Frederick (25) and Charles (20). The Revd Jonathan Foley was also staying at the house, and there were two female servants.
1851
John Stevens (36),a butcher & grazier in partnership with his brother (see 19 Holywell Street), lived here with his wife Hannah (32) and his children J. Pinfold Stevens (2) and H. Avis Pinfold (1). They had a house servant and a nursemaid.
1861
Jane Williams (61), a fund and house proprietor, lived here with a lady’s maid, a housemaid, and a cook.
Nos. 68 and 69 are transposed in this census, and Miss Williams is incorrectly listed under 68
1871
Jane Williams (71) still lived here with two servants.
1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, & 1921
No listing: was now deemed to be part of New College.
Occupants of 69 Holywell Street listed in directories etc. |
|
1772 |
Revd Mr Hawkins |
1841–1847 |
Mrs Amelia Tyson Brazier (died 1847) |
1851–1857 |
John Stevens |
1861 |
Mrs E. Francis |
1871–1884 |
Miss Jane Williams (with James Cowley, butcher, mysteriously listed in 1875). Although Miss Williams is listed until 1884, it appears that the house was already attached to New College in 1881. |
1887–1899 |
”Rooms attached to New College” |
1914–1947 |
|
1949–1976 |
No separate listing: used by New College |
Today |
New College annexe |

