Ship Street, Oxford

Location

The street lies north of Jesus College and west of Exeter College, two of Oxford University's colleges. To the south, at the western end is the Junior Common Room of Jesus and to the eastern end is the same college's Principal's (private) garden. At the western end is St Michael at the Northgate church, near the site of the original north gate in the city wall. Originally Oxford's wall ran just to the north of Ship Street.

At the eastern end once stood the QI Building, a member's club, bookshop and café associated with the comedic quiz show QI television series on BBC2, and established by the comedy producer John Lloyd. The entrance to the building was in Turl Street. The building now plays host to Turl Street Kitchen, a Social Enterprise cafe-bar-restaurant which raises money for the student volunteering charity, Student Hubs.

To the west is the major shopping street, Cornmarket Street, with St Michael's Street opposite, and to the east is the Turl. Market Street runs parallel with Ship Street to the south and Broad Street runs similarly to the north.

History

The street has had a number of names. It was known as Dewy's Lane in the 13th century, after a family who lived there. Its name was Somenor's Lane in 1385. For a time the street was known by the name of Lawrence Hall, which was on the south side of the street, 30–40 yards from Turl Street. The name of "Ship Street" was used from about 1762, after an alehouse in the street. At one time, there was a sheep market in the street and its name is a possible corruption of this. The street used to be much longer than it is today, running east through Catte Street to the city wall at Eastgate.

St Anne's College, when it was still known as the Society for Home Students, had its first common room in Ship Street. The annual magazine for former members of the college is entitled The Ship.

There are still many 16th to early 18th century houses in the street that are Grade II listed buildings.