Alfred Street

The Bear is an historic public house located on the west side of Alfred Street at the southern end.

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 for many years.

During the 19th century, it was host to the Oxford Gymnasium, designed by William Wilkinson and built in 1859 for Archibald MacLaren, an early physical education pioneer.

[6] Other real tennis courts in Oxford were located off Oriel Square and (still extant) off Merton Street.

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