North Parade

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North Parade or North Parade Avenue is a short shopping street in north Oxford, England. It runs between Winchester Road to the west and Banbury Road to the east. It is the only shopping street in North Oxford between the city centre to the south and Summertown to the north.

The Rose & Crown public house is on the north side and the Gardeners Arms pub is on the south side.

There are some commercial establishments stretching a little way south from North Parade along the Banbury Road. In particular, Gee's, with its glasshouse structure, which used to be a florist and greengrocer, has been a restaurant since 1983.

[edit] History

North Parade runs south of South Parade in Summertown. The reason is that during the Civil War when Charles I was besieged by Oliver Cromwell at Oxford, North Parade was the location of the Royalist northern front, whereas South Parade was the Roundhead southern front.

The land at North Parade sold as 42 lots at an auction held at the Horse & Jockey public house in May 1833. Most of the land between St Giles' and Summertown was owned by St John's College, Oxford and was sold as leasehold. As North Oxford was developed as a suburb, North Parade became a small local shopping centre for the residences in the area.

North Parade used to have traditional local shops. With the changes in people's shopping habits, most of the shops have moved up-market in their style. Shops such as a butchers, grocers, fishmongers, etc., have given way to gift shops, etc.