Magdalen College School former building
Magdalen College School was situated in Magdalen College itself from 1480 until it acquired its present site between Cowley Place and the Iffley Road in 1928.
Originally it was situated in the grammar hall, pictured left; in 1828 it moved to the disused buildings of Hertford College; and in 1851 it moved into a new schoolroom that is now the college library.
In the middle of the nineteenth century the boarders moved into the Georgian house now numbered 58–59 High Street.
The report of the Schools Inquiry Commission which visited in 1866 reads:
The buildings have been much enlarged and improved of late. The schoolroom is the well known building which stands at the east angle formed by Long Wall Street and the High Street. It is a fine structure, … but unfortunately it has no classroom, which is a serious drawback to any school. The playground (which is only moderate) extends back along the east side of Long Wall Street, and the north side of the school. All the remainder of the buildings, including the master’s house, dormitories, infirmary, chapel, &c., are on the other side of Long Wall Street, in the west angle formed by that street and High Street. Standing on such a site they are, of course, somewhat cramped for room; but except for this defect, and that they are divided down the middle by Long Wall Street, which is a serious inconvenience and must be an injury to discipline, the premises are fairly satisfactory.
The boarders left the High Street in 1894 when a new boarding house, again intended for the Master as well as the boys, was built on the other side of the road on the west side of Cowley Place.
As can be seen from the 1881 census below, everyone (except the day-boys) lived in this building, from the Master of the School (Harmer Ogle) down to the school’s matron, the 76-year-old cook, and a 13-year-old boy servant.
| Magdalen College School, Oxford Occupants of boarding house at 58/59 High Street at time of April 1881 census |
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| Name | Rel. | Marital Status | Age | Sex | Occupation | Place of birth |
| Harmer C. OGLE | Head | Unmarried | 38 | M | Clergyman without cure & Fellow of Magdalen College | Orpington, Kent |
| Helen P. OGLE | Sister | Unmarried | 36 | F | – | Twickenham, Middlesex |
| Camilla C. OGLE | Sister | Unmarried | 35 | F | – | Twickenham, Middlesex |
| Eric Richard WARD | Boarder | Unmarried | 18 | M | Scholar | Bristol, Glos |
| Raymond Cooper BAKER | Boarder | Unmarried | 17 | M | Scholar | Edgbaston, Warks |
| L. Evan PARKHURST | Boarder | Unmarried | 16 | M | Scholar | Pontymont?, Mon. |
| H. A. E. SAWYER | Boarder | Unmarried | 16 | M | Scholar | Tunbridge Wells, Kent |
| Henry S. ALNUTT | Boarder | Unmarried | 17 | M | Scholar | Beaconsfield, Bucks |
| A. R. T. EALES | Boarder | Unmarried | 16 | M | Scholar | London |
| A. F. B. SNEATON | Boarder | Unmarried | 17 | M | Scholar | Hannington, Wiltshire |
| R. G. W. SNEATON | Boarder | Unmarried | 16 | M | Scholar | Hannington, Wiltshire |
| William KIRKBY | Boarder | Unmarried | 17 | M | Scholar | London |
| H. C. STEWART | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | London |
| E. G. MacKIE | Boarder | Unmarried | 14 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Eastan, Glos. |
| E. O. DAVIES | Boarder | Unmarried | 16 | M | Scholar | Dolgellau, Merioneth |
| J. V. L. THOMPSON | Boarder | Unmarried | 15 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Recar, Yorkshire |
| E. E. WILKINSON | Boarder | Unmarried | 14 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | London |
| Harris WAIN | Boarder | Unmarried | 14 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Brynmawr, Brecknock |
| Harry FOOTNER | Boarder | Unmarried | 15 | M | Scholar | Andover, Hampshire |
| C. F. W DANN | Boarder | Unmarried | 15 | M | Scholar | Wednesbury, Staffs |
| H. R. NUTTALL | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Sherborne, Oxfordshire |
| B. K. WILSON | Boarder | Unmarried | 12 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Fulton, Norfolk |
| H. G. PHILPOTT | Boarder | Unmarried | 14 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Chewton Mendip, Som |
| Howan GREEN | Boarder | Unmarried | 14 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Weare, Somerset |
| C. A. CURGENBER | Boarder | Unmarried | 12 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll (Ch. Serv.) | Lyme Regis, Dorset |
| C. R. A. NEWBY | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Mears Ashby, Northants |
| H. D. BAKER | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Canada |
| V. A. L. PASEAU | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Scholar | London |
| A. C. DYNEHAM | Boarder | Unmarried | 13 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Exeter, Devon |
| H. M. RAE | Boarder | Unmarried | 12 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Cheltenham, Glos |
| Gilbert DRAGE | Boarder | Unmarried | 10 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | India |
| F. W. BIDWELL | Boarder | Unmarried | 9 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Brinkley, Cambs |
| A. C. E. SKEY | Boarder | Unmarried | 10 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Bristol, Glos |
| E. LISTER | Boarder | Unmarried | 12 | M | Scholar | Redcar, Yorkshire |
| C. F. STEELE | Boarder | Unmarried | 9 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Clifton, Somerset |
| R. J. FORTNER | Boarder | Unmarried | 9 | M | Chorister Mag. Coll. | Andover, Hants |
| Isabella DANIEL | Servant | Unmarried | 38 | F | School Matron | Tolland, ?Cornwall |
| E. PAICE | Servant | Widow | 76 | F | School Cook | Newport, Shropshire |
| E. BUTLER | Servant | Unmarried | 26 | F | School Housemaid | Wolverhampton, Staffs |
| E. T. COAKES | Servant | Unmarried | 23 | F | School Housemaid | Ramsbury, Wiltshire |
| E. A. GREEN | Servant | Unmarried | 18 | F | School Housemaid | Garsington, Oxon |
| Caroline ROBERTS | Servant | Unmarried | 17 | F | School Kitchenmaid | Oxford |
| Frank SHIPPORTOW | Servant | Unmarried | 13 | M | Domestic Servant | Oxford |