James Stewart, who came from Scotland, built the Stewart House in 1790 from the timbers of old ships. It was a modest cottage then with a stone foundation, a cellar, a sitting room and a bedroom above. The house was sited facing south, away from the water, thus eliminating the impact from the strong winds that sweep over the Strand. James’ younger son Charles, brought his bride Annie Rebecca Leonard to the old cottage in 1878. A significant enlargement was made by the turn of the century, enlarging the second floor, raising the attic, and changing the front door to face east.
Erma Stewart, a teacher in Oxford, lived in the house for 100 years.
The first indoor toilet in Oxford was installed on the second floor of this house. Water was supplied from a wooden tank in the attic being pumped up from a well in the backyard. The house has 5 working fireplaces and a huge boiler in the basement. Each room has a view of the Tred Avon. The basement is of interest because, it is alleged, the three slaves owned by the family lived there.
The outside laundry room and summer kitchen were separate from the house and later incorporated as part of the kitchen. The original carriage house is used as a garage. Although the house appears very large, it has only two bedrooms and two baths (including the original one from the past century). The property is now ringed by both a picket fence and large trees that have been there for over one hundred years.
When the last of the Stewarts left the house, there was a ceremony to honor the members of the family who had lived there from 1790 until 2006.
James’ oldest son, Thomas, built his house west of the original house for his bride, Mary Virginia Willis in the 1880s. This house was sold in 1981.
Now carefully cross to the north side of West Strand, also known as Lovers Lane.