Alfred Street is a street running between the

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

to the north and the junction with

Blue Boar Street Blue Boar Street is a narrow historic street running between St Aldate's to the west and the southern end of Alfred Street to the east, in central Oxford, England. It is located just north of Christ Church, Oxford, Christ Church. At the weste ...

and

Bear Lane Bear Lane is a short historic street in central Oxford, England. The lane is located just north of Christ Church. It runs between the junction of Blue Boar Street and Alfred Street to the west, and King Edward Street and the north of Oriel Sq ...

at the southern end, in central

Oxford, England Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...

.Alfred Street, Oxford
UK. To the south is Christ Church, one of

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...

's historic colleges. The Bear is an historic

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

located on the west side of Alfred Street at the southern end. A unique feature is a large collection of ties displayed on its walls and ceiling.

History

Alfred Street was named Venella Sancti Edwardi in 1220. The name was taken from St Edward's Church, which was on the west side of the street, but was destroyed around 1500. In the 16th century, the street was known as Vine Hall Street. This name derived from Vine Hall, located near the rear of Christ Church. In the 17th–18th centuries, the name

was used, after the Bear inn in the street. Nowadays, this name is used for the lane from the southern end of Alfred Street to the east. The origin of the current name, which has been used since at least the middle of the 19th century, is not known, but may mean

King Alfred Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who ...

, the purported founder of

University College, Oxford University College (in full The College of the Great Hall of the University of Oxford, colloquially referred to as "Univ") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It has a claim to being the oldest college of the unive ...

for many years. During the 19th century, it was host to the Oxford Gymnasium, designed by William Wilkinson and built in 1859 for Archibald MacLaren, an early physical education pioneer. The gymnasium was used by

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was a British textile designer, poet, artist, novelist, architectural conservationist, printer, translator and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He ...

and other prominent Oxford residents of the day. The building was later converted to a press by the

Holywell Press Holywell Press Ltd is a family printing and publishing company based in Oxford, England. The firm was established in 1890 by Harry Burrows and Jack Doe. A major customer has been the University of Oxford, including publication of the university ...

and is now Blue Boar Court. A real tennis court used to be located off Alfred Street. Other real tennis courts in Oxford were located off

Oriel Square Oriel Square, formerly known as Canterbury Square,Hibbert, Christopher, ''The Encyclopedia of Oxford''. London: Pan Macmillan, 1988, pp. 295–296. . is a square in central Oxford, England, located south of the High Street. The name was changed ...

and (still extant) off

Merton Street Merton Street is a historic and picturesque cobbled street in central Oxford, England.

. In 1916, St Columba's United Reformed Church was built in the street following the Gothic style. It was designed by T. Phillips Figgis. A new front and lobby were added in 1960, designed by Brian Smith.

Pusey Street Pusey Street links the wide thoroughfare of St Giles' Street (opposite St John's College) to the east with St John Street to the west in the St John Street area of central Oxford, England. Pusey Street, formerly called Alfred Street, was ...

, also in central Oxford to the north, was formerly called Alfred Street, but was renamed to avoid confusion in the 1920s.

References

Bibliography

* Streets in Oxford Defunct real tennis venues {{England-road-stub

History

See also

References

Bibliography