Paradise Street, Oxford facts for kids

Paradise Street is a very old and interesting street in the middle of Oxford, England. You can find it in the St Ebbe's area, which is southwest of Oxford Castle. This street connects Paradise Square to Quaking Bridge, crossing over the Castle Mill Stream. It then continues east towards Castle Street.

Paradise Street: A Historic Oxford Lane

A Look Back in Time

Long ago, two groups of religious people, the Greyfriars and the Blackfriars, lived around Paradise Street. One very old building here is the Jolly Farmers public house. This tavern first opened in 1592 and has been used ever since! It sits right on the corner of Paradise Street and Paradise Square.

On the south side of the street, there is a house called Greyfriars. It was built in the late 1600s and was carefully preserved in 1985. Today, the two Greyfriars buildings on this street are used as fancy holiday homes.

Buildings and Bridges

Swan Bridge is an important part of Paradise Street. This bridge goes over the Castle Mill Stream. It is a "Grade II listed" building, which means it is a special historical structure that needs to be protected. The bridge was given this special status in 1972.

A long time ago, in the early 1700s, a place called the Swan's Nest Brewery started on Paradise Street. It later became known as the Swan Brewery. In 1795, a man named William Hall bought it. His company became famous as Hall's Oxford Brewery. They even bought other smaller breweries nearby. However, in 1926, a bigger company called Samuel Allsopp & Sons bought Hall's Brewery, and brewing stopped in Oxford.

Shopping and Modern Life

In 1885, a building called Castle Terrace was built on Paradise Street by F. J. Codd. This building later became known as Simon House. It has since been taken down, and new apartments are being built there now.

At one end of Paradise Street, you will find Westgate Oxford. This is a big, modern shopping center. It has many popular shops, coffee places, gyms, a cinema, and lots of restaurants. It's a busy and exciting part of modern Oxford life.

Gallery

• 

  The former St Ebbe's Rectory, designed by G. E. Street in 1852, off Paradise Street

• 

  Another view of the St Ebbe's Rectory

• 

  A Blue plaque for John Stansfeld (1854–1939), who was the Rector of St Ebbe's Church from 1912 to 1926. This plaque is on the wall of the former St Ebbe's Rectory.

• 

  A close-up of the porch on the former school on Paradise Street.

• 

  The Jolly Farmer public house on Paradise Street.