131: Payne & Son
The original shop here dated from the fifteenth century, but although the present No. 131 may have an eighteenth-century core it has been largely rebuilt.
The building is owned by The Queen's College and is Grade II listed (List Entry No. 1047261). It was in the parish of All Saints until that church closed in 1971, and is now in the parish of St Michael-at-the-Northgate.
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771, and this building was then in the occupation of a Mrs Puffet, and its frontage measured 4 yards 2 feet 8 inches.
In the 1830s Miss Cousins had a drapery shop here.
On 23 February 1839 W. C. and I. G. Last opened a linen drapery & silk mercery here, announcing that they had “a good assortment of new and elegant Prints, Shawls, Gros de Naples, Irish Linens and Sheetings, Hosiery, Haberdashery, Long Cloths, Calicoes, Bed Ticks, Flannels, Ladies' and Children's Shoes in great variety, Ribbons, Gloves, Muslin Collars and Habit Shirts, Flowers, &c. &c.”
The freehold of these premises was auctioned soon after they were occupied by the new firm, and the advertisement in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 13 July 1839 described it as follow:
All that excellent commodious FREEHOLD BUSINESS HOUSE and PREMISES, situated in the best part of the High-street, Oxford, opposite the Market, in the occupation of Messrs. Last (late Cousins), drapers &c.; comprising an excellent double-fronted bow-windowed shop, and large show room behind; handsome drawing room, 21 ft. by 14 ft.; a dining-room, 21 ft. by 13 ft, at the back; and an airy bed room, 18 ft. long, on the one pair of stairs; front sitting room, 21 ft. by 14 ft. on the two pair of stairs; a commodious room at the back, 21 ft. by 13 ft. and one bed chamber, 18 ft. long; on the three pair of stairs, three bed rooms and an attic, leading out on a pleasant and convenient flat leaded roof; large front under-ground kitchen and back ditto, light cellaring, paved court yard, wash-house, pump of good water, and other conveniences.
On 24 May 1841 the household furniture and effects of Messrs Last were auctioned under a Deed of Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors.
On 17 June 1843 the premises were advertised to let, and were described as follows:
An excellent House, with a very good double-fronted SHOP, fitted with counters, drawers, shelves, gas, &c. The Premises are neat in appearance, have a private entrance, are in good repair, fit for immediate occupation, and the situation for trade is not surpassed by any in the city of Oxford.
Less than four months later on 9 September 1843 the cabinet maker Charles A. Green announced that he had moved to this shop.
Then on 26 June 1847 the watch & clock maker, silversmith, and jeweller Joseph Steele announced that he had moved here. (He had formerly occupied 19 and 95 High Street.)
Steele only remained here three years, and on 5 October 1850 J. & F. Withers, chemists & druggists, announced that they had moved here from No. 4 across the road. On 1 January 1851 there was a further announcement that their partnership between John and Frederick Withers had been dissolved and would be carried on solely by John Withers. At the time of the 1851 census taken a few months later John Withers was living upstairs here with his wife Mary Anne and his younger brother Frederick, plus a servant. He went bankrupt in 1854 and died aged 32 on 24 October 1855.
Henry Parker was then a chemist here for a short period, but he decided to leave Oxford, and on 6 September 1856 a forthcoming auction was advertised of his furniture. including nearly new mahogany-top counters, nests of labelled drawers, scales & weights, and 180 stopper bottles.
On 7 October 1856 James Sheard, a watchmaker and jeweller, moved his business here, and the 1861 census shows him at the age of 34 living upstairs with his wife Emma and their four children plus two servants. He was still here at the time of the 1871 census, when he was described as a goldsmith, and in 1881, when his son Henry Vaughan Sheard (23) was also described as a jeweller.
On 26 January 1889 James Sheard advertised that he had resolved to retire from business, and that he had sold all his stock to Mr G. S. Payne.
Payne & Son (since 1888)
In 1888 George Septimus Payne of Payne & Son (founded in 1790 in Wallingford by John Payne of London) bought Alderman Sheard’s business, and the firm is still there. The firm is now run by the seventh and eighth generations of Paynes:
- Indie Oxford Interview: Payne & Son (19 April 2018)
Payne & Son erected this statue of a dog guarding a large clock-face in its mouth over the shop front (right). The clock bears the words “PAYNE SILVERSMITH”
The passage below this sign leads to the Chequers Inn behind.
People upstairs in the censuses of 1891, 1901, 1911, and 1921
Unlike their predecessors, the Paynes did not live over the shop, and between 1890 and 1911 the upstairs rooms of No. 131 were occupied as follows:
(1) Conservative Club (1890–1893)
The Conservative Club (city) is listed here in directories from 1890 to 1893 and the secretary is named as Cyril Vincent. At the time of the 1891 census the steward of the Conservative Club, Thomas Taylor (43), lived here with his wife Alice and their two nieces, and the jeweller's assistant Albert E. Smith was lodging with them.
(2) Cafés (1901 to 1910)
- 1901–1903: The Atholl luncheon and tea rooms run by Miss Martineau. The 1901 census shows the tea room manageress & cookery teacher Miss Beatrice C. Martineau (34) living upstairs with a housemaid, a housekeeper & waitress, a waitress & cook, a waitress & cookery teacher, and a kitchenmaid.
- 1904 only: Refreshment Rooms (Mrs Pemberton)
- 1905–1910: The Japanese Café Co tea rooms (Misses Stow and Parkin from 1906; Mrs Stow Rogers in 1908; Christopher Gardiner 1909–1910)
(3) “New Tory Club” (1911)
The 1911 census shows nine rooms above Payne's occupied by the steward and stewardess of the “New Tory Club”, namely Joseph Cousins (35) and his wife Alice. This was a university club.
(4) Residential occupation only (1921)
The 1921 census shows the linen draper and employer Ingram Hubbard (30) living in three rooms ver No. 131 with his wife Mabel.
Below: Payne & Son in 1911 (Historic England HT13875):
In May 2023 The Queen's College was granted planning permission to demolish and rebuild part of the rear timber structure (23/00413/LBC)..
Occupiers of 131 High Street |
|
By 1836 to 1839 |
Miss Cousins, Ladies' fashions |
1839–1841 |
W. C. & J. G. Last, Linen drapers & Silk mercers |
1843–1847 | Charles A. Green, Cabinet maker |
1847 |
Joseph Steele, Clockmaker |
1850–1854 | John & Frederick Withers, Chemists & druggists (from Oct 1850 to Jan 1851) |
1854–1856 |
Henry Parker, Chemist |
1856–1888 |
James Sheard, Watchmaker & jeweller |
1888–present |
Payne & Son,
Goldsmiths |
