The building was founded as a school (St. James’ College) in about 1875, and subsequently passed through the hands of several organizations. It became a residential psychiatric home in 1956 under the name Holyrood House. In about 1977 it was taken over by Oxfordshire Area Health Authority and run as a hostel by the Mental Handicap Unit (later the Learning Disability Unit). In 1987 there were twenty seven places. The building is now private housing.