118: Breckon & Breckon
No. 118 dates from the sixteenth century, but the front has been much altered, with only the two top windows surviving. It is a Grade II* listed building (ref. 1485/338).
At the time of the 1772 Survey of Oxford, No. 118 was occupied by Mr Bridle and Mr Cook.
This is the middle of the three shops ooccupied by the tailor Frederick G. Mullins from 1912 to the 1940s. An advertisement from 1929 reads:
Here in these little ‘Old World’ Shops Nos. 117–119 in the famous High Street, nearly opposite ‘The Mitre’ Hotel, can be seen beautiful silks in wonderful shades for Gentlemen’s Neckwear; these can be made into ties to your own designs and colourings in one hour. Do not leave this old City without seeing them, you will not be asked to buy. Prices 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, 4/6.
This was a chemist’s shop from at least the 1840s to 1935. At the time of the 1851 census the chemist was Francis W. Edwards, and he lived over the shop with his wife, two daughters, and two servants. Henry C. Upjohn, another chemist, is listed here with his family in the 1861 census.
From 1879 until his death the well-known botanist George Claridge Druce (1850–1932) had his chemist shop here, and was living over the shop at the time of the 1881 census with his 17-year-old assistant. He was one of the first people in Oxford to have a telephone line put in, and in 1899 he had the simple number “Oxford 12”. He served on Oxford City Council from 1892, and in 1900 he was Mayor of Oxford. He plays a small part under his real name in Max Beerbohm’s Zuleika Dobson.
From 1934 to 1968 South Midland Motor Services were based here.
In November 2004 the shop front was destroyed by an accident.
| Occupiers of 118 High Street | |
| 1839–1846+ | Edward
Rogers Kett Chemist & druggist |
| 1852, 1853 | Francis William Edwards Chemist & druggist |
| 1861–1872 | Henry
Charles Upjohn Chemist |
| 1875–1876+ | E. Burbridge Chemist |
| 1879–1907 | George Claridge
Druce, MA, FLS Pharmaceutical chemist |
| 1908–1920 | Clement Bellamy Pharmaceutical chemist |
| 1921–1933 | Druce &
Co. Chemists |
| 1934–1956 | Frederick G.
Mullins Tailor South Midland Motor Services Ltd Motor coach proprietors (from 1939) |
| 1958–1968 | South Midland Motor Services Ltd |
| 1970–1996 | A-Plan Protection
Ltd Insurance brokers (jointly with No. 117) |
| 2000–2006 | Mices.com |
| 2007–present | Breckon & Breckon |