Grandpont House

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Sitting gracefully on stone arches over a serene water channel near Folly Bridge, Grandpont House dates back to 1785, originally constructed for Sir William Elias Taunton, the Town Clerk of Oxford. This fine example of an urban villa-style Georgian house changed hands over the centuries, with Brasenose College acquiring it in 1847 before it became a university centre in 1959. Its rich history includes a period in the 1850s and 60s when it was lived in by Thomas Randall, a notable Oxford tailor, whimsically suggested by some to be an inspiration for the Hatter in Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. The L-shaped, three-storeyed stuccoed brick building, with its distinctive moulded cornice and parapet, offers picturesque views, particularly from its east elevation facing the river, which features elegant three-sided bays and tall sash windows.

Today, Grandpont House serves as a dynamic university centre, fostering academic, cultural, outreach, and religious activities for students and the wider community. While primarily offering accommodation for male undergraduate and postgraduate students, its doors are open for various events and the renowned Taunton Talks, designed to broaden intellectual horizons beyond focused academic disciplines. The house is conveniently located on Abingdon Road, overlooking the scenic Christ Church Meadows and within easy walking distance of Oxford's historic colleges, libraries, and vibrant city centre. Recent plans submitted in 2024 aim to sensitively refurbish and enhance this Grade II-listed heritage asset, ensuring its long-term future and improving facilities to meet contemporary student needs, including proposals for new en-suite accommodation and a chapel.

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