65–66: Stanford House
This whole terrace dates from the eighteenth century. Every house is a Grade II listed building (No. 65 is listed separately under ref. 1485/405, and No. 66 is listed with Nos. 67 and 68 under ref. 1485/406).
Since 1984, Stanford University in California has leased 65 and 66 High Street from Magdalen College to accommodate about fifty of their students who are able to pursue part of their course in Oxford.
It also extends considerably in both directions on the upper floor of other Magdalen houses. To the east, it occupies the upper floor of Nos. 62–64; and to the west it spreads over four large shops (Artwear, Pens Plus, Oxford Holographics, and Hoyle’s Games & Puzzles), only stopping when it reaches the Eastgate Hotel.
The main entrance of Stanford House is the red door at No. 65.
At the time of the Survey of Oxford in 1772, before the widening of Magdalen Bridge and the rebuilding of this area, the houses/shops on this site were occupied as follows: Mrs Anderson (65) and Mr Kensal (66).
No. 65
In 1851 No. 65 was occupied by John Hill, who was both Vice-Principal & Tutor of St Edmund Hall as well as the Perpetual Curate of Hampton Gay. A widower of 64, he lived with his unmarried daughter, a cook, and a housemaid.
In 1861 it was occupied by Elizabeth Pilcher, a fundholder of 78, and her cook.
In 1881 the Revd H. J. Turrill, a clerk in orders, lived at No. 65 with his wife and three children, plus a pupil of 25 and a cook, parlourmaid, and housemaid.
No. 66
In 1851 (conflicting with the directories) the census shows James P. Shepperd, Clerk of Magdalen College, living at No. 66 with his son William (a cook) and daughter, and a housekeeper.
In 1881, No. 66 was occupied by a 33-year-old male cook called Hill with his wife and daughter.
Nos. 65 and 66 have been lodging-houses since 1884.
The advertisement on the left, which dates from the 1950s, shows how university lodgings became guest houses in the vacation
| People who have occupied 65 & 66 High Street | ||
| Date | 65 High Street | 66 High Street |
| 1846 | Revd John Hill, BD | William Cattle
[sic], Manciple of Magdalen College |
| 1852 | ? | |
| 1861 | Mrs Pilcher | Mrs Castle |
| 1866–1867 | Revd. H. J. Turrill, B.D. | Miss Castle |
| 1869–1872 | W. Haines | |
| 1875–1876 | Miss Castle | |
| 1880 | R. Hill | |
| 1884 | Mrs Reeves University Lodgings |
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| 1887–1890 | Charles Sanders University lodgings |
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| 1891 | Henry Carr University Lodgings |
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| 1893 | Joseph Shillingford University Lodgings |
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| 1894–1904 | Mrs Caroline Bennett University Lodgings |
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| 1905 | George James Cooper Lodging House |
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| 1907–1913 | Miss Davis University Lodging House plus Herbert Bennett masseur 1912–1915 Lionel Palliser Costobadie, physician 1923) |
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| 1914–1923 | Mrs Bowler University Lodging House |
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| 1924–1932 | Charles Palfrey University Lodging House |
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| 1934–1937 | Mrs H. D.. Moseley, SRN University Lodging House |
William Soper University Lodging House |
| 1939–1940 | Miss E. E. Mordaunt University Lodging House |
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| 1941–1945 | Francis Thomas Jones Solicitor |
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| 1947–1949 | William Soper | |
| 1952–1964 | George Wright Guest House |
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| 1966–1969 | Central Guest House | |
| 1970–1976+ | (no listing) | |
| Before 1993–present | Stanford House | |