135 York Street

A Hawker & a Laundress

This property is no longer standing.  Numbers 129, 131, 133, 135 & 137 formed a terrace on what is now St. Matthew’s Piece.  The 1888 Cambridge Town Plan and 1910 Land Tax both refer to this section as “Lower York Street”.

1881

Mary Prince, lodger, 63, 1818, pauper, Cambridge
John Argent, head, 30, 1851, coal porter (labourer), Carlton, Cambridgeshire
Sarah A. Argent, wife, 27, 1854, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Harriett Argent, daughter, 4, 1877, scholar, Cambridge
Geo. Argent, son, 3, 1878, Cambridge
John H. Argent, son, 5 months, Cambridge

1890s

Numbers 129 – 135 do not appear in the 1891 Census.  There are seven houses listed as “Lower York Street”, but it is uncertain which of those apply to these missing properties.  None of the families match one from 1881 or 1901.

The Cambridge Independent Press for the 24th August 1894 runs a public notice announcing that “Desirable freehold properties” including “Nos. 129, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 131, 133, 135, 137, 143, 145, 147, 149 & 151 Lower York Street” are to be sold by Auction.

1901

David Lee, head, 35, pedlar / hawker, 1866, Cambridge
Emma Lee, wife, 28, laundress, 1873, Cambridge
Polly Freeman, boarder, 32, laundress, 1869, Cambridge
Ethel Freeman, boarder, 8, 1893, Cambridge

1910 Land Tax

The odd numbered properties, 129 – 151 (Lower) York Street, all appear on the 1910 Land Tax owned by a Mrs M C Sheldrick who lived at 151 Chesterton Road.

Mary Catherine Sheldrick (1850 – 11 September 1922) was married to Joseph Albert Sheldrick, a Superindendent for the Post Office.

David Lee is the tenant on the Land Tax document.

1911

Mary Jane Freeman, 45, widow, laundress, b. Dereham, Norfolk

Ethel May Freeman, 18, winding machinist A.R.C Knitting Company, b. Cambridge

Eliza Chapman, 69, lodger, widow, no occupation, b. Great Thurlow, Suffolk

Mary Jane records that she was married for twenty one years,  and had four children. Only Ethel is still alive.

The ARC Knitting Shop was at 12 Mill Road.

The History of the Alex Wood Hall mentions the ARC Knitting Company hosiery factory.

1939

“The General Committee (of Addenbrooke’s) acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following gifts … Mrs Carter, 135 York Street, books” Cambridge Daily News 26 April 1939

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, lostcambridge.wordpress.com, 1888 Cambridge Town Plan, 1910 Land Tax, Civil Registration Birth Index (1837-1915), Civil Registration Death Index (1916-2007), Cambridge Independent Press 24 Aug 1894, Cambridge Daily News 26 April 1939