This charming house has a stone in the basement with the date 1770 carved into it. Built by sea Captain Richard Barnaby, this house is one of only four late-eighteenth century buildings remaining in Oxford and the only one still on its original foundation. While all of these early buildings have been altered and enlarged to some extent, the Barnaby house retains its eighteenth-century character with 95% of its original structure intact. The original pine woodwork, corner fireplaces and an unusually lovely handmade staircase are still as Capt Barnaby crafted them, earning its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Curiously, The Barnaby House is the only house in Oxford that faces sideways to the street. This may be due to the fact that taxes levied on lots along the High Street were assessed on the length of road frontage. Narrower frontage meant lower taxes.
Built during the boom years before the Revolutionary War, the Barnaby House witnessed the high tide of Oxford’s fortunes, but it also shared in the very tough times in Oxford following America’s Independence. Writing in 1793, Customs Officer Jeremiah Banning lamented:
“… The poor, drooping and forsaken Oxford, bereft of almost every comfort in life, hath nothing remaining to console it except its salubrious situation and fine navigation which may anticipate better times. Oxford, whose strands and streets were once covered with busy, noisy crowds, rushing in common from almost every quarter of the Globe, alas is now shaded by wheat, corn and tobacco. The well-worn streets are now grown up with grass, save a few narrow tracks made by the sheep and swine…”
You’ll just need to watch out for cars, bicyclists and dog-walkers as you continue a few more yards down Morris Street. Look across to #216. (Stop #7)