Oxford History: The High

Home

---

TOUR
THE HIGH

---

Views

History

Quotations

Contact/Search

For details of the leaseholders of the premises roughly on the site of this shop (which was in the middle of the East Gate) from 1628 to 1772, see H. E. Salter, Oxford City Properties (Oxford Historical Society, 1926), pp. 310–11. Along with the building to the east, it is now owned by Magdalen College.

No. 57 stands on the site of the former Trinity Chapel. It is sandwiched between a modern brick-built block to the west and a fine late Georgian house to the east. It used to be separated from its neighbour to the west by Eastgate Court.

It was in St Peter-in-the East parish until that parish was united with St Cross parish in 1957.

In 1771, when the Paving Commissioners commanded the house to be taken down, the city council sold it to Richard Rouse.

In the 1830s the house was owned by Thomas Wilkins, butler of Magdalen College, who rebuilt it. He lived here until his death at the age of 56 on 21 January 1839, and it was then sold. The following advertisement that appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 16 March that year gives a good description of the interior:

VALUABLE FREEHOLD HOUSE,
NO. 57, HIGH-STREET, OXFORD.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY W. FISHER

On Monday the First of April, 1839, at Seven in the evening, at the Mitre Inn, Oxford, by order of the Trustees under the Will of the late Mr. Thomas Wilkins,– A very valuable FREEHOLD DWELLING HOUSE and extensive Office; containing in the basement a kitchen, capacious coal, wine and beer cellars; on the ground floor, two parlours, kitchen (fitted with superior cooking apparatus), a brew-house, convenient closets, pantries, &c.; on each of the one and two-pair of stairs floors are an excellent front sitting room, three bed rooms, and a water closet: three pair of stairs, 1 large bed room and a water closet.

The premises have within a few years been very substantially erected by the late proprietor, are now in most complete repair, and offer a good opportunity for an investment of capital. The exterior of the house is highly respectable, and the interior handsomely fitted up with marble chimney pieces, plaster cornices, &c. and in every way suited for immediate occupation as a private residence. The whole of the rooms are so disposed that they may be let into lodgings, replete with ever comfort, and would thus produce a large annual income.

The house was listed as unoccupied at the time of the 1841 census.

On 11 March 1848 57 High Street was advertised to let, and was described as “A very comfortable HOUSE and PREMISES, being No. 57, High-street, Oxford, well arranged, and suitable for a family of ladies”.

The 1851 census shows the fundholder Julia Maitland (40) living here with her stepdaughter Henrietta Thomas (13) and her daughter Caroline Maitland (7), plus three female servants.

On 26 August 1854 this freehold house was advertised for sale by private contract, and was described as “containing good kitchen and offices in the basement, and eight rooms above, with every convenience”.

In about 1861 a brick-built Victorian building to the rear was taken over as additional boarding accommodation for Magdalen College School (which already had the Georgian house next door: see Nos. 58–59). There is confusion about the numbering of the High Street at this point: in directories the buildings formerly numbered 57 & 58 suddenly became Nos. 56 & 57.

The 1871 census shows Henry Bacon junior (23), the nephew of the proprietor, here at 57 High Street with one servant. At the time of the 1881 census the tobacconist Henry Bacon (54) was living over 57 High Street with his wife Maria and his nephew, plus one servant. They were all still here in 1891.

When Magdalen College School moved to new premises on the other side of the High near Cowley Place in 1894, Albert William Brazier took over both the front and rear buildings at No. 57 for his furnishing business, which survived until 1936. The 1901 census shows Brazier (42) living over the shop with his wife Harriett. They were still here at the time of the 1911 census, now with their own servant.

From 1937 to 1954 William N. Huggins was the house furnisher here, and the 1939 Register lists him as the occupant with his wife Eda and two children.

The building continued to be known as “Braziers” even after the ownership changed; and in 1980s the Brazier family took the shop over again. When they finally left in 1997, the two upper floors of the rear building were adopted by Magdalen College for student accommodation, with access through the Longwall Street entrance.