147 York Street, Cambridge

History of 147 York Street

This house no longer stands.  The 1888 Cambridge Town Plan and the 1910 Land Tax both refer to this part of York Street as “Lower York Street”.

The property doesn’t appear on any census prior to 1911.

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.

“For disobeying Magistrates’ orders, … George Thomas Matthews of 147 York Street was fined 2s” George has failed to send his children to school. Cambridge Independent Press 13 December 1895

The Cambridge Independent Press for the 22nd March 1901 ran an article on Cases of Alledged Hardship.

“The last case on which I called was that of an old man at 147 York Street.  His name is Edward Clayden; his age 68.  He has a wife and a son. The allowance is 5s, out of which 3s is paid for rent.  The son earns a small wage; so it is seen that his mother and father have to live on 2s a week, plus the assistance he is able to give them.  The old man has been in bed for some time; the woman suffers from bad legs.  Mr Sturton is very kind to this poverty-stricken family, who out of the sum the receive from the Board have 6d for coal, 6d for bread, and 1s for grocery.”

Edward Clayden was ordered to the workhouse infirmary. “Mrs Clayden, who is aged 59 years, was much relieved.”

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.

Lewis Ernest Munsey is the tenant named on the Land Tax document.  He appears on the electoral registers for 1909 – 1911 and then moves to 61 Ainsworth Street.

1911

Mary Ann Cambridge, 50, widow, bedmaker,

Elizabeth Lilian Cambridge, 26, charwoman,

Harry William Cambridge, 22, labourer in sawyer mill

1939

Percy Wilson, 28, ambulance driver.  ‘ARP ambulance driver’ written in the margin.

Lillian E Wilson, 24.

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1910 Land Tax, 1939 Register, Civil Registration Birth Index (1837-1915), Civil Registration Death Index (1916-2007), 1888 Cambridge Town Plan, Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966), Cambridge Independent Press 24 Aug 1894, Cambridge Independent Press 13 December 1895,