Alfred Street is a street running between the High Street

High Street, Oxford

The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...

 to the north and the junction with Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street

Blue Boar Street is a narrow historic street running betweenSt Aldate's to the west and the north of Alfred Street to the west, in central Oxford, England...

 and Bear Lane

Bear Lane

Bear Lane is a short historic street in central Oxford, England. The lane is located just north of Christ Church. It runs between the junction of Blue Boar Street and Alfred Street to the west, and King Edward Street and the north of Oriel Square to the east....

 at the southern end, in central Oxford, England. To the south is Christ Church

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...

, one of Oxford University's historic colleges.

The Bear

Bear Inn, Oxford

The Bear Inn is one of the oldest public houses in Oxford, England, dating back to 1242. It stands on the corner of Alfred Street and Blue Boar Street, opposite Bear Lane in the centre of Oxford, just north of Christ Church....

 is an historic public house

Public house

A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...

 located on the west side of Alfred Street at the southern end. A unique feature is a large collection of ties displayed on its walls and ceiling.

History

Alfred Street was named Venella Sancti Edwardi in 1220. The name was taken from St Edward's Church, which was on the west side of the street, but was destroyed around 1500. In the 16th century, the street was known as Vine Hall Street. This name derived from Vine Hall, located near the rear of Christ Church.

In the 17th–18th centuries, the name Bear Lane

Bear Lane

Bear Lane is a short historic street in central Oxford, England. The lane is located just north of Christ Church. It runs between the junction of Blue Boar Street and Alfred Street to the west, and King Edward Street and the north of Oriel Square to the east....

 was used, after the Bear inn in the street. Nowadays, this name is used for the lane from the southern end of Alfred Street to the east. The origin of the current name, which has been used since at least the middle of the 19th century, is not known, but may mean King Alfred, the purported founder of University College, Oxford

University College, Oxford

.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...

 for many years.

In 1916, St Columba's United Reform Church was built in the street following the Gothic

Gothic architecture

Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....

 style. It is was designed by T. Phillips Figgis. A new front and lobby were added in 1960, designed by Brian Smith.

Pusey Street

Pusey Street

Pusey Street links the wide thoroughfare of St Giles' Street to the east with St John Street to the west in the St John Street area of central Oxford, England. Pusey Street, formerly called Alfred Street, was renamed in honour of Edward Bouverie Pusey in 1926.The street is bordered by two Oxford...

, also in central Oxford to the north, was formerly called Alfred Street, but was renamed in 1926.