Subseries 14 - 23 Jesus Lane [Star]

History of the Site 23 and 24 Jesus Lane

These houses stand on the site of one tenement known in early 16th century as the Pownde Candell or Pound of Candles (possibly an Inn or tallow chandler’s workshop). In 1478 the lease was held by William Warde; in 1533/5 by Mrs Huntley and in 1541/49 by Mr Chancellour. In 1585 Ralf Watson, a labourer, held the lease and it was unusual for a college lease to be to a working man. A covenant provided for occupation as a dwelling for a single family (suggesting it used to be an inn). Succeeding tenants were a wool spinster and then another labourer suggesting poor living accommodation.
In 1659 a widow and her son, William Watson (cordwainer) held the lease of the messuage which was described as a house, yard and garden plot with buildings, workshops and chambers.
1683 – Nicholas Smith (currier)
1730 – Thomas Gunton (gardener). At this time there were 4 cottages on the site.
1773 – Ann Gunton sold her interest to William Cowling (innkeeper). He turned the western most house into a Public House.
1780 – William Cowling sublet the public house, at that time known as the Wagon and Horses, to Joseph Butcher (brewer) and in 1793 he let it to Alderman Ind (brewer and founder of the firm Ind, Coope).
The Inn then changed its name to the Cradle and Coffin before being renamed in 1801 the Star. later it was known as the Coach and Horses.
Adjoining the inn was a house on the site of No. 24 and behind it were two cottages of only one room each. By the middle of the 19th century the Star was suffering from competition from other inns in the area and in 1864 Alderman John Death (who had made his money as a livery stable keeper) acquired the premises. He demolished the public house, the small house and the cottages and built the two houses No. 23 and 24. These were demolished in the 1970s and now part of West Court.