High Wall, Pullens Lane
© Arpad Turmezei
© Arpad Turmezei
High Wall was built in about 1910 for Miss Katharine J. D. Feilden (1864–1954) by Walter Cave.
The engraving over the front door (right) shows Miss Feilden’s initials (KF), the date 1910, and the coat of arms of the Feilden family (a silver shield with three gold lozenges on a blue fess).
The house is built in narrow red brick and Clipsham stone in a setting of terraces, fountains, pergola and temple with a strong Italian influence: Pevsner describes it as "a very handsome big house in C17 style". The extensive grounds comprise, glade, rocky stream and a round shelter in Headington Stone amongst groups of mature ornamental and native trees, with yew predominating.
The garden of High Wall was laid out as a series of formal terraces and enclosed gardens, with beautiful tree groupings and a glade with a rock garden and a stream. English Heritage registered High Wall in 1999 as a Grade II garden.
© Arpad Turmezei
Miss Feilden came from a military family, and during the First World War she allowed High Wall to be used for officer casualties.
Left: Soldiers recuperating on the terrace of High Wall, c.1918
During the Second World War Miss Feilden again relinquished High Wall, this time for use as a Joint War Organization Auxiliary Hospital. She never moved back, remaining in Jean Cottage in the grounds until her death in 1954.
The widow of Miss Feilden’s brother Percy, the Hon. Mrs Feilden, moved into High Wall in 1946 and lived there until her death on 21 July 1959.
Robert Maxwell rented the house for Pergamon Press social functions from 1960 until about 1971, although it was also let out to M. M. James from 1967 to 1969.
© Arpad Turmezei
In 1971 High Wall was purchased by Dr Brian Beynon Lloyd, Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford and the first Director of Oxford Polytechnic. Dr Lloyd (pictured left on his 85th birthday) was also Chairman of the Health Education Council and Director of the International Nutrition Foundation. As Chairman of the HEC he strenuously campaigned to raise public awareness of the dangers of smoking, for which he received the CBE in 1983.
The house in 2007 is still owned by Dr Lloyd and his family.
The 1921 OS map (right) shows the original huge extent of High Wall. Even the gardener’s house (Jean Cottage at the top left) is a substantial building: it is now accessed from Harberton Mead.
High Wall had a paddock of about two and a half acres to the west, and this is now occupied by the houses of Pullen’s Field
Restored pergola and pavilion, High Wall, 2007, © Arpad Turmezei