20: Black Sheep Galleries
The group of five shops numbered 19–23 High Street dates from the late eighteenth century, and the upstairs rooms were converted to Brasenose College accommodation around 1930.
No. 20 (on the right of the building shown) is Grade II listed (ref. 1485/321).
The 1851 census shows Joseph B. Hillier (25), described as a "Draper (firm of 2)" living over this shop with three draper’s assistants and two servants. From 1853 he is listed in directories as a partner of J. C. Thorp; but in Jackson's Oxford Journal of 21 April 1855 Thorp announced he was discontinuing his business here to devote his entire attention to his Broad Street business, and A.H. Folker from London took over the premises.
By the time of the 1881 census, the accommodation above the shop was rented out to a gardener and his wife and son.
The jewellers Rowell & Son became established in Oxford in 1797, and originally operated from 36 Broad Street. They moved to this shop in 1861, where they remained for 24 years before moving on to larger premises at 115 High Street in 1885.
| Occupiers of 20 High Street | |
| 1839 | Butler & Margetts Printsellers |
| 1846 | Henry Hodgkinson Chemist |
| By 1852–1855 | John Charles Thorp & Co. (Thorp & Hillier in 1853) Hatter & gentlemen’s mercer |
| 1855 | A. H. Folker Hosier, glover, hatter, shirt-maker & outfitter |
| 1861–1884 | Richard Rowell Later Rowell & Son, and Rowell & Co., and (for 1884 only) Rowell & Harris Watch makers, jewellers, & opticians |
| 1887–1897 | William
Innes Printseller, carver, gilder, & picture-frame maker |
| 1898–1914 | Shepperd
Brothers Robe makers [plus No. 21] |
| 1915–1921 | Oxford University Co-operative Society Limited |
| 1921–2007 | Leslie Davey, later Leslie Davey & West, Jewellers |
| 2008–present | Black Sheep Galleries |