35–36: Northlight
This timber-framed four-storey building dates from before 1600, but was refronted in the eighteenth century. The bay windows upstairs are sixteenth century. It formed two separate narrow houses until c.1870. It is a Grade II listed building (ref. 1485/353).
In 1772 a survey of every house in the city was taken in consequence of the Mileways Act of 1771. According to Salter, Nos. 35 & 36 were then in the occupation of a Mr Day, and their frontage measured 7 yards 1 feet 2 inches.
At the time of the 1851 census No. 35 (the left-hand side of the present shop) was occupied by Sarah Hill, a widow of 56, whose occupation is given as "painter". Three unmarried daughters lived with her (Sarah, Lucy, and Catherine) and her son Henry J. Hill, who was also her apprentice. In 1851 No. 36 (on the right) was occupied by Miss Lydia Green, aged 65, and her servant, and she was still there in 1861.
By the time of the 1881 census, this pair of narrow houses was combined into a single business premises downstairs, with George Hill, a painter and decorator, as the proprietor. Over No. 35 lived Charles George Hill, a 37-year-old decorative artist, with his wife, four children, and a general servant. Next door above No. 36 lived Sarah Hill, a spinster of 67, with her nephew (a portrait painter), niece, and domestic servant.
| Occupiers of 35 & 36 High Street | ||
| Date | 35 High Street | 36 High Street |
| 1839–1867 |
Sarah Hill |
The Misses Greene (1846), |
| 1871–1893 | George
Benjamin Hill Painter, glazier & decorator | |
| 1894–1917 | Peattie
& Axtell Sanitary plumbers, decorators &c. then, from 1895, John Peattie (later Peattie & Sons) Sanitary plumber, decorator &c. | |
| 1918–1920 | Edwin
Stewart Craig MA Lecturer at University College and Assistant Registrar | |
| 1921–1936 | Charles
Henry Thompson MA Fellow & tutor of Queen’s College & lecturer in mathematics, University College | |
| 1939–1943 | Harold
Foot Antique dealer | |
| 1945–1976 | C.
John Antique dealer | |
| 1976–2005 | Laurie Leigh Antiques/Restorers of keyboard instruments See Oxford Mail of 22 June 2005 |
|
| 2005– | Northlight | |