The Society of the Sacred Heart opened a "house of studies" in Oxford in 1929, and moved to 11 Norham Gardens in 1932. In 2012 the present community celebrated their 80th birthday. The intervening decades have seen many changes in use of space and community make-up. Its primary focus, too, has seen different expressions, but fundamentally has always remained the same: the encouragement and facilitation of learning and development.

To celebrate this 80th anniversary one of the current community, Sue Acheson RSCJ, at present warden and administrator of the hostel, has been working on a history of the house. More material is being researched and prepared, and will be added later in 2012.