02/09/2026
Before The Store, there was Boswells.
For 282 years, this corner of Broad Street and Cornmarket was home to one of Oxford’s best-loved department stores. Founded in 1738 by Francis Boswell, it began with luggage and trunks before becoming the treasure trove generations of Oxford knew and loved, from toys and kitchenware to haberdashery and its much-loved tearoom.
Boswells closed its doors in 2020 after nearly three centuries of trading. Today, its home has a new chapter.
Reborn as The Store. Same address, a new story being written.
Oxford | Oxford History | Boswells of Oxford | The Store Oxford