• 
• 
• 

• Home
• /
• Projects
• /
• Sturton Town
• BackForward

137 York Street

A Carman & a Bed Maker

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 refers to this section as “Lower York Street”.

1881 – 1894

This house is not on the 1881 or 1891 Census.

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.

“Cambridge Borough … Assault – Emma Bruce, of 137 York Street, married woman, for assaulting on the 14th inst. Elizabeth Farrington, was fined 5s.” Cambridge Chronicle and Journal 18 March 1898

1901

Thomas Knight, head, 38, carman, 1863, Huntingdon
Miriam Knight, wife, 40, 1861, Offord, Huntingdonshire
George Knight, son, 12, 1889, Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire
Arthur Knight, son, 8, 1893, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire
Ernest Knight, son, 5, 1896, Peterborough, Northamptonshire

On the 15 December 1902 the Cambridge Daily News reported three cases of men being fined for having no control over their horse and cart. “Thomas Knight, carman, of 137 York Street was summoned for a similar offence at Grantchester on December 9th.  He pleaded guilty… a fine of 5s and costs was  inflicted.”

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.

Frederick Read is the tenant on the Land Tax document.

1911

Caroline Reid, 44, college bed maker’s help, b. Norwich

Caroline has recorded that she has been married for twenty one years and has eight children, two of whom have died. She says she is married and doesn’t call herself head of the household, so her husband must have been away from home on census night.

Mary Reid, 20, daughter, jam factory hand, b. Burnham Market

Annie Reid, 11, daughter, b. Norwich

Frederick Bruce, 27, son-in-law, general labourer, b. Cambridge

Florence Bruce, 28, daughter, laundry maid, b. Norwich

Florence and Frederick have been married for a year and have two children.  From the childrens name it appears that Frederick is their step-father.

Lillian Bruce Frost, 3, grandchild, b. Cambridge

Rose Bruce Frost, 1, grandchild, b. Cambridge

By 1919 Florence and Frederick have moved next door to 139 York Street.

1939 Register

Caroline Reid, born 1868, retired college servant

Annie Reid, born 1901, serving room maid

Arthur R Frost, born 1865, retired ticket collector

Stephen A Bruce, born 1927, scholar

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, 1888 Cambridge Town Plan, 1910 Land Tax, Civil Registration Birth Index (1837-1915), Civil Registration Death Index (1916-2007), Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966), 1939 Register, Cambridge Independent Press 24 Aug 1894, Cambridge Chronicle and Journal 18 March 1898

Dear Visitor,

 

Thank you for exploring historical Cambridgeshire! We hope you enjoy your visit.

 

Did you know that we are a small, independent Museum and that we rely on donations from people like you to survive?

 

If you love Capturing Cambridge, and you are able to, we’d appreciate your support today.

 

Every donation makes a world of difference.

 

Thank you,

The Museum of Cambridge