Nos. 9–10: Oxford Campus Stores

Nos. 9 & 10 Broad Street must have originally been two very narrow houses, but in 1863 they were extensively altered by William Wilkinson. A new storey was added, as well as a new red-brick and timber-framed front.
The first occupant of this revamped shop was Joseph Thornton, who started his well-known bookshop here before moving next door in 1870.
In 1874 the premises were enlarged by Frederick Codd to accommodate the famous photographer Henry Taunt: new waiting and dressing rooms, mounting rooms, and a gallery were built at a cost to Taunt of £1,000 (see Oxford University Herald, 24 October 1863)
Henry Taunt leased this shop from Alderman Carr from 1874 to 1894, and also ran a picture-framing manufactory in Boxall’s Yard behind this shop. The 1881 census shows him living upstairs with his wife Miriam: he is described as an employer of eleven men, four women, and two boys. The drawing below, taken from a Taunt advertisement, shows what the shop looked like around that time.


At the end of 1894 Taunt’s lease ran out and he was forced to leave these premises: he moved to the High Street.
From 1962 to 1996 this was Howes Model Shop
Pictures from English Heritage:
The area behind the present Nos. 7, 8, and 9 was a market garden from at least 1830 to 1846, belonging to the nurseryman T. Fairbairn.
Occupants of 9 and 10 Broad Street listed in directories |
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1866–1869 |
Joseph Thornton, Secondhand book dealer |
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1871–1872 |
Last & Castell, Milliners |
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1875–1894 |
Henry Taunt, Photographers, carvers, & gilders |
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1896–1906 |
Coxeter & Sons Ltd, Cycle makers: Makers of the Abingdon cycle |
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1907–1917 |
Edwin C. Armstead, Cycle maker |
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1918–1939 |
Layton & Son, Cycle agents |
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1941–1960 |
Howes Cycles Ltd |
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1962–c.1996 |
Howes Model Shop |
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c.1996–present |
Oxford Campus Stores |
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