No. 16: Part of Oxford Tourist Information

No. 16 Broad Street (the tall narrow shop on the left) dates from the late eighteenth century. It is a Grade II listed building (List Entry No. 1047346), and is owned by Oxford City Council, It is in St Michael-at-the-Northgate parish
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. No. 16 was then in the occupation of a Mrs Clement, and its frontage measured 3 yards 1 feet 6 inches (by far the narrowest house in the street).
The 1841 census shows John Dewe, a stationer, living here with Edith and two young children, and another station, Richard Dewe, who may be his brother. John Dewe went bankrupt in 1843.
At the time of the 1851 census the building was occupied by Thomas Harris, bookseller and librarian, with his wife and baby son, a student lodger, and two servants. On 22 October 1853 he advertised that he ran a public library here with over 7,000 volumes.
On 9 August 1856 the premises were advertised as being to let, and were said to have been occupied by a bookseller & stationer for upwards of thirty years. Thomas Harris remained here for another five years.
At the time of the 1861 census No. 16 was occupied by Mrs Mary Wiggins and her three daughters Annie, Jenny, and Emily, all described as assistants in a Berlin warehouse.
On 9 June 1866 Jackson's Oxford Journal advertised the forthcoming auction of the “excellent Dwelling House and Premises” at 16 Broad Street, describing it as comprising the following:
A capital DWELLING HOUSE, containing front shop and back sitting room on the ground floor; two pleasant sitting rooms and four bed rooms on the upper floors; kitchen, scullery, and cellar in the basement; two store rooms and small court yard, situate No. 16 Broad-street, Oxford, and occupied by Mrs. Wiggins, at the yearly rent of £46. The House is in good repair, and, from its situation, will always command a choice of tenants.
The Property is held under lease from the City of Oxford, for 40 years, from 25th March, 1857, and the out-goings are — Reserved Rent, £1 2s. 6d., and Land Tax, £1 10s. 9d. annually.
Mrs Mary Wiggins was still here at the time of the 1871 census with her daughter Mary and one servant, and died here on 5 August 1877 at the age of 81, described as the widow of William Wiggins of Stadhampton. By the time of the 1881 census the head of the household was Miss Mary Wiggins, a “Berlin wool rep” with one female boarder and two servants. The 1891 census shows her running a small boarding house here, helped by two servants.
Miss Mary Wiggins died at the age of 71 in 1892, and George Frederick Wiggins, an auctioneer, then had the shop. The 1901 census shows him living here at the age of 59, described as an auctioneer and the Sheriff's Officer for the County, with his wife Elizabeth and four daughters, and a granddaughter.
At the time of the 1911 census the four-roomed living quarters at No. 16 were occupied by Frederick Giles (32), an auxiliary postman, and his wife and daughter, plus their boarder.
Photograph of 15 & 16 Broad Street in c.1988,\
when they were a branch of Lloyds Bank
|
Occupants of 16 Broad Street listed in directories |
|
1839 |
John & Richard Dewe,
Stationers, Booksellers, & Public Library |
1846 |
Elizabeth Dewe, Bookseller |
1852–1861 |
Thomas Harris, Bookseller, circulating library, stationer |
1861–1892 |
Mrs Mary Wiggins from 1861 and Miss Mary Wiggins from 1871 (Mr McIntyre, a florist, appears to have been here briefly in 1895) |
1896–1903 |
George F. Wiggins, Auctioneer |
1905–1914 |
William Stevens Carver, Accountant |
1915–1969 |
William Mark Bayliss (later Sons & Co), Chartered accountants |
1970–2001 |
Part of Lloyd’s Bank next door |
2003–2022 |
Cash & Go |
2023–2025 |
Part of Oxford Tourist Information at No. 15 to the right |
2026 |
Approved planning application to turn this into the Trailhead Café (25/02663/LBC) |