Subseries 3 - Brewhouse and Bakehouse Bursar

The bursar of the brewhouse and bakehouse was first appointed to assist the steward in the provision of bread and ale, the staple diet of commons. First established sometime before 1565, the office was not written into the College statutes until the revision of the code of 1580 approved in 1849. The office was abolished in 1860. The College bakehouse was situated from at least 1603 to 1876 on the site opposite the College, which was also occupied by accommodation known as the Pensionary. When the buildings were demolished to make way for a Divinity School on land sold to the University on 30 December 1876 and the business was transferred to a new bakehouse built in the yard of 67 Bridge Street. In 1921 an upper floor store-room was let out to a bookbinder, Edgar Stoakley, who continued their tenancy until 2007. During the second world war Bill Daish, the last baker, worked at a town bakery (Matthews’), and the bakery was finally closed in 1947, the whole building being let to tenants.

These records include details of the stocks of wheat, malt and flour, wages of the baker and amount spent from the corn rents in addition ('praeter') to commons of fellows and scholars. See also the rent books in SB8.