Imagine living in a house built for retirement. That’s the story of Stoke House. It stands here today a testament to history. But Stoke House is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a journey through time.
Stoke House, originally a 17th-century cottage, got a new lease on life in 1883. The Reverend John William Augustus Taylor built Stoke House. He intended it for his retirement. Revd Taylor resided at the Rookery now Ruskin College. He also owned land east of the lane. In 1929, the lane was officially named Stoke Place after Stoke House. Before that, it was known as Love Lane.
Revd Taylor only enjoyed his retirement home for three years. He passed away in 1886. His daughter Sarah and her husband Robert Henry Dockray inherited Stoke House. Robert was a private tutor. Sarah was a painter. She even exhibited at the Royal Academy. The Dockrays called Stoke House home until about 1914.
Major William Lauriston Melville Lee became the resident of Stoke House in 1915. He was a secret agent. Later, he became President of Headington United Football Club. The 1921 census reveals Major Lee lived here with three servants. He lived at Stoke House until his death in 1955.
After Major Lee’s death his son Rupert Henry Melville Lee remained at Stoke House for ten years. In 1959, he sold part of the land. Houses at 8 9 and 10 Stoke Place were built. In 1965 he sold Stoke House to Ruskin College.
Around 1990, extensions and dormer windows were added to the rear of Stoke House. In March 2021 Linacre College Oxford purchased Stoke House from Ruskin College.
Before Stoke Place got its name the houses nearby were named Rookery Cottages. In 1891 the census described Stoke Place as Rookery Road. The seven homes were called Stoke House and Cottages in the meadows.
The Enclosure Award of 1805 shows Stoke Place marked as No. XVI Private Road. It petered out into a path to Bayswater Brook. It was a private road for owners of three allotments.
Today Stoke House is part of Linacre College. It stands as a reminder of the past. It has witnessed changes from a quiet cottage to a college building. Stoke House whispers stories of reclusive residents. It now serves as a place of learning and growth.