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Holywell Street is a street in central
Oxford
Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town.
The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
, England.
It runs east–west with
Broad Street to the west and
Longwall Street
View north along Longwall Street
Longwall Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It runs for about 300 metres along the western flank of Magdalen College. A high, imposing 15th century stone wall separates the college from the street a ...
to the east. About halfway along,
Mansfield Road adjoins to the north.
New College dominates the south side of the street. At the western end of the street is the
King's Arms public house on the north corner, a favourite with
Oxford University
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
students, and the
Indian Institute (now the home of
The James Martin 21st Century School) to the south. On the north side is the
Holywell Music Room,
an historic
chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...
venue built in 1742. Opposite a small cul-de-sac, Bath Place, leads via a small winding footpath to the historic
Turf Tavern public house close to the old city wall. The wall remains, in places, and follows the course of Holywell Street to the south, partly through New College. The buildings on the corner of Holywell Street and
Mansfield Road, along with the
Alternative Tuck Shop, are owned by
Harris Manchester College, and are used as student accommodation.
People
The
clockmaker
A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and/or repairs clocks. Since almost all clocks are now factory-made, most modern clockmakers only repair clocks. Modern clockmakers may be employed by jewellers, antique shops, and places devoted strictly t ...
s
Joseph Knibb (1640–1711) and
John Knibb (1650–1722) traded from a tenement on the south side of Holywell Street that they rented from
Merton College. Joseph moved to London in 1670 but John Knibb stayed in Oxford for the rest of his life and was
Mayor of Oxford in 1697 and 1710.
The composer
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti.
Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
(1685–1759) performed at the Holywell Music Room.
Jane Burden (1839–1914), the muse of the
Pre-Raphaelites and subject of many of their pictures, lived in a cottage in St Helen's Passage, at the back of Bath Place off Holywell Street. At the time of her birth, her father, Robert Burden, was a
stable
A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed.
Styles
There are many different types of stables in use tod ...
man and lived here with his wife, Ann (née Maizey, Jane's mother). The site is now marked with a
blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...
. At the time of Jane Burden's marriage to
William Morris
William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditiona ...
at
St Michael's Church, Oxford, on 26 April 1859, her father was described as a
groom
A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed.
When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man and Groomsman, ...
in stables at 65 Holywell Street.
The academic and author
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlinson ...
lived at 99 Holywell Street between 1950 and 1953, between residences in
Manor Road and
Sandfield Road,
Headington.
[ Gilsdorf lists together two residences of Tolkien's. See ]
Gallery
File:New College Oxford 20040124.jpg, The front of New College on the south side of Holywell Street.
File:King's Arms, Oxford.JPG, The King's Arms at the west end of Holywell Street.
File:Harris Manchester College, Oxford – Holywell Street.jpg, The front of Harris Manchester College on the north side of Holywell Street
File:Hollywell Street entrance to Bath Place Oxford.jpg, The entrance to Bath Place from Holywell Street, leading to the Turf Tavern.
File:Holywell Music Room.png, Holywell Music Room
References
External links
Holywell Street to Botanic GardensStreet location from Google maps
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Streets in Oxford
New College, Oxford
J. R. R. Tolkien