69–70: Pens Plus
These are the eighth and ninth in the terrace of eleven houses and shops belonging to Magdalen College that is attached to the back of Magdalen Gate house. This terrace was rebuilt subsequent to the widening of Magdalen Bridge that took place in 1772–8. The row was in St Peter-in-the East parish until that parish was united with St Cross parish in 1957.
Nos. 69 and 70 are the two halves of this building, whose brick façade with stone dressings was rendered and re-windowed in 1932. See photograph taken by Michael Bunney in 1931 “before spoliation” in Malcolm Graham, “Bunney and Pearce's forgotten 1930s survey”, Oxoniensia 84 (2019), 96. It has a modern stuccoed front, but there is an eighteenth-century staircase and panelling inside. The building is Grade II listed (List Entry No. 1115468).
According to H. E. Salter, at the time of the Survey of Oxford in 1772, before the widening of Magdalen Bridge and the rebuilding of this area, the former two houses/shops on this site were occupied by Mr Watson (a grocer) and Mr Homes.
They were both owned by James Dormer, the grocer at No. 69, when they were put up for auction on 22 July 1851 following his bankruptcy. The two houses were described as follows in the auction advertisement in Jackson's Oxford Journal on 5 July 1851:
All those extensive PREMISES, nearly opposite Magdalen College, having a front towards the street of 51 feet, and extending in depth 174 feet.
Lot 1.—The spacious PREMISES, No. 69, occupied by Mr. Dormer, where an extensive grocery business has been carried on for a number of years. The house comprises a good front shop, back parlour, drawing room, five bed rooms, and large cellar, and there is a side entrance for a horse. There are also detached two kitchens with bed rooms over, large warehouses and stable, with yard and garden, forming an excellent premises for the present business or any other requiring large space.
Lot 2.—The HOUSE, No. 70, now occupied by Mr. Blake; containing three sitting rooms, four bed rooms, cellar, court yard, and detached kitchen and scullery with rooms over. Part of the adjoining house will be added to this lot, so as to enlarge the front sitting room, and an addition will be made to the offices.
No. 69 was a shop and No. 70 a house until 1901, when they were joined as one shop. The photograph below (Historic England BUN01/01/093) shows the shop with a sign saying H. Kelson & Son (the tailor here from 1932 to 1938, so the date given by Historic England is wrong:
In 1932 they were split into two shops, but rejoined as one in c.1990. Nos. 69 & 70 are now owned by Magdalen College and are sublet to Stanford University (with the ground-floor area sublet as independent retail space).
No. 69
The grocer & cheesemonger James Dormer had this shop by 1839. At the time of the 1841 census the grocer James Dormer was living over his shop here with his wife Bellona and their three young children, plus a shopman and two servants. He was still here with his wife in 1851, and they now had seven children and three servants, and also living with them were an assistant grocer and a lodger (a solicitor’s widow) with her own servant. Later that year Dormer went bankrupt and moved to London, and this shop was sold.
By the time of the 1861 census the grocer Charles Laker (39) lived over his shop at No. 69: he was a widower with one daughter and his sister was his housekeeper. Laker was still here at the time of the 1881 and 1891 censuses.
The 1901 census shows Walter Edward Andrews (44), the proprietor of the china shop downstairs, living over No. 69 with his wife and five children. In 1911 he occupied the fourteen rooms over both Nos. 69 & 70 with his wife and their son, plus a boarder. In 1921 they had five boarders living with them and another three forming a separate household.
Photograph of 69 High Street in 1949, when it was Russell, Butler & Marks
No. 70
At the time of the 1841 census the college servant Thomas Walker lived here with his wife Elizabeth and their young daughter Georgina, plus two lodgers and two servants.
The 1851 census shows Richard P. Blake (57), the Common Room man of University College, living here with his wife Mary and their servant.
On 27 March 1858 the following advertisement appeared in Jackson's Oxford Journal:
HIGH STREET, OXFORD.
TO be LET,— A genteel PRIVATE RESIDENCE (No. 70) , containing seven sitting and bed rooms, good water closet on the one pair, wash-house, coal-house, and loft over, and other conveniences. Rent moderate
Catherine Whiting, a 33-year-old widow, lived here at the time of the 1861 census with her four-year-old daughter, her sister, and her elderly father.
No. 70 appears to have been unoccupied in 1871.
By the time of the 1881 census the journeyman tailor Roger Simmons (51) lived here with his wife and three children, and his niece.
In 1891 Hannah Quarterman kept a lodging house here, probably aided by her two daughters.
Photograph dating from c.1900 showing 70 High Street
The premises were unoccupied at the time of the 1901 census.
In 1911 and 1921 the 14 rooms above both No. 69 & 70 were occupied jointly as shown above under No. 69.
Occupiers of 69 & 70 High Street |
||
Date |
69 High Street |
70 High Street |
By 1839–1851 |
James Dormer |
Private house with various tenants: |
1851–1899 |
Charles Laker |
|
1901–1931 |
Walter E. Andrews & Son, China & glass dealers |
|
1932–1938 |
H. Kelson & Son. Tailors,
|
P. W. Powell, Antique dealer (1932 only) Eamonson & Stanton Oxford Health Food Stores (from 1935) |
1939–1945 |
R. J. Bartlett |
|
1947–1958 |
Scottish Amicable Building Society |
Oxford Health Food Stores |
1947–1966 |
Russell Butler & Marks |
|
1968–1980+ |
Miell & Co. |
R. C. Phillips Ltd, Pen distributors |
By 1993–present |
Pens Plus Upstairs since 1984: Part of Stanford House (accommodation for Stanford University) | |
