22: Scrivens Optician
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. 22, this shorter building with a dormer window on the right of the group, is a Grade II listed building (ref. 1485/333).
The 1851 census shows Thomas Randall, the hatter & hosier here, living over the shop with his wife and son, and one servant.
Similarly in 1881 the Swedish tailor, Isaac Olaf Winstedt, was living over the shop with his wife, two sons, father-in-law, and a servant.
| Occupiers of 22 High Street | |
| 1839–1864 | Thomas Randall Hatter & hosier |
| 1864–1875 | Prior & Co. Hatters & tailors |
| 1876 | Molyneux & Allnutt Hosiers & shirt makers |
| 1880–1887 | J. Winstedt Tailor, robe maker, hatter, hosier, & men’s mercer |
| 1888–1907 | J.
Bassett Hairdresser & stationer (From 1905) Miss Bassett, University lodging house |
| 1908 | H. F. William Germer Hairdresser Miss Bassett, University lodging house |
| 1909–1915 | Colin Lunn Cigar merchant Mrs Florence Hill, then Miss Mullett, University lodging house |
| 1921–1925 | Rudkin & Wicks Hairdressers |
| 1926 | The
Dark Blue Toilet Saloon Ladies’ & gentlemen’s hairdressers & chiropodists |
| 1928–1929 | Mrs
Katherine A. Higgs Hairdresser |
| 1930–1952 | Angelo D. Del Nevo Ladies’ hairdresser |
| 1954–1960 | Oxford Stationery Co. Ltd. (1954–1956) R. C. Phillips, Stationer (1958–1960) |
| 1962–1995 | Leicester Permanent Building Society, renamed Alliance & Leicester by 1993 |
| 1998 | Vacant |
| 1999–2003 | Melson Wingate Optician |
| 2003–present | Scrivens Opticians (incorporating Melson Wingate) |