HISTORY

The Old Parsonage has stood on the present site since 1660 when Edward Selwood, the prosperous chef of nearby St John’s College, completed the original and principal part of the house, which he had begun 20 years earlier.

The land was owned by University College, one of Oxford’s oldest seats of learning, which had bought it as an endowment for its early scholars. The college has remained the ground landlord for over six centuries.

Original features in the present house include the 17th-century heavy oak front door, still with original hinges and door nails, and the wide stone arched fireplace in the entrance hall.

The stone window frame in the hall is original, later re-glazed between 1830-1930. The front window jambs contain carved gures of saints above sections of guilloch-decorated panelling, all authentic 17th century work in oak. Tradition has it that the gures were secretly taken from St Giles’ church during or after the Civil War when the Puritans prohibited religious embellishment.

The north stairs are in their original form and the north second floor rooms reveal interesting features of the old roof structure. Some renewal of carpentry took place in the early 18th century.

Panelling of the Queen Anne period has been revealed during restoration by the opening up of doors to an original bed recess in one of the principal bedrooms. These doors now lead to the bathroom.