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Photo of Lally Smith by Samuel Page Widnall, Old Vicarage Grantchester

Old Vicarage, (The Grange) 61 Mill Way, Grantchester

History of Od Vicarage

Listed building:

House. c.1684 and mid C20 restorations. Brick ground floor, timber-framed first floor, part replaced by brick, and original brick end walls.

This is the Old Vicarage referred to by Rupert Brooke in his poetry. He moved there in 1910.

c 1860 Samuel Page Widnall on lawn at Old Vicarage, Grantchester

1861

Samuel Page Widnall, 35, farmer 120 acres employing 7 men 3 boys, b Grantchester

Elizabeth, 34, b Worcs

Ann Smith, mother in law, 71, b London

Laura Davis, niece, 9, b Worcs

Ruth Raynes, 18, servant, b Grantchester

1871

Samuel Widnall, 45, farmer 78 acres 5 men 3 boys, b Grantchester

Elizabeth, 44, b Worcester

Eliza Ann Whitstone, 24, servant, b Wimpole

Fanny Stearn, 15, servant, b Grantchester

1881

Samuel Page Widnall, 55, retired farmer, b Grantchester

Elizabeth Widnall, 54, b Worcester

Martha Adcock, boarder, 67, annuitant, b Leicester

Jane Elizabeth Docwra, 18, cook, b Bourn

Amy Sarah Docwra, 13, housemaid, b Bourn

For a detailed description of the Widnalls see Mary Greene’s autobiography. In particular, chapter 1:

JoyofRemembering_1

1891

Samuel Page Widnall, widower, 65, farmer

Lally [Sally] Smith, sister in law, 69, living on own means, b Worcester

Frederick Walter Greene, visitor, 28, living on own means, b Grantchester

Mary Charlotte Greene, visitor, 30, artist in oils and watercolour, b Essex

Mary Elizabeth Stigwood, servant, 20, domestic servant, b Stetchworth

The Greene family were living in 1871 at Riversdale, Grantchester.

It is difficult to find any trace of the Greene family in the 1901 census. members next appear in the 1911 census at Harston House.

1901 The Old Vicarage

Sally Smith, 79, living on own means

Annie Smith, 44, servant

1903 letter from Lally Smith, Old Vicarage Grantchester, to Flossie Wagstaff

1903 letter from Lally Smith, Old Vicarage Grantchester, to Flossie Wagstaff

Florence Wagstaff in 1901 was a 19 year old servant on Ferry Stud Farm in Chatteris. She had been born in Grantchester which presumably was why Lally knew her.

The Old Vicarage Grantchester by Rupert Brooke, 1916

Orchard House, Grantchester (RGL2024)

 

 

 

 

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