Brown's Yard (MoC)

164 (72) Newmarket Road, Brown’s Yard

History of 164 Newmarket Road

At the back of this location was Brown’s Yard. It appears on an 1830 map. It was demolished in the mid 20th century.

In 1851 12 properties were listed in Brown’s Yard; from 1871 there were only 8. It was probably one of the blind alleys with properties ‘unfit for human habitation’ according to the Cambridge Improved Industrial Dwellings Co. who bought the land in the later 1870s.

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1851 (57?)

James Mullin, 52, labourer

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1861 (72)

Thomas Mullens, 67, labourer

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1871 (72)

James Mullens, 82, general dealer

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1881 (72)

James Reynolds, 20, sugar boiler

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1891

Brown’s Yard:

Amelia Bradford, widow, 42, laundress, b Great Wilbraham

Alice, 18, servant, b Fulbourn

John, 8, b Cherry Hinton

Harry, 7, b Cherry Hinton

Sarah A Rayner, boarder, 26, laundress, b Cambridge

 

Walter Newman, 36, labourer, b Cambridge

Kate Smith, single, housekeeper, 35, b Liverpool

 

Caroline Page, single, 25, laundress, b Great Shelford

William, 4, b Cambridge

Emily, 2, b Cambridge

George, 1, b Cambridge

John Spaxman, lodger, 24, labourer, b Cambridge

 

Annie Woodroffe, single, 26, dressmaker, b Cambridge

 

Mary A Day, married, 53, charwoman, b Cambridge

Ada M Derbyshire, boarder, widow, 35, laundress, b Salisbury

(72)

Henry Bruce, 45, gas worker, b Cambridge

Harriet, 46, b Cambridge

William Germany, step son, 25, labourer, b Cambridge

Edward Germany, step son, 19, labourer, b Cambridge

Maria Germany, step daughter, 15, b Cambridge

Alexandra Germany, step daughter, 9, b Cambridge

Emily Bruce, 13, b Cambridge

Lizzie Bruce, 9, b Cambridge

Cambridge Independent Press 25/7/1891: Jane Elsden a young woman residing in Brown’s yard was charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a married woman named Mary Ann Bird of Coldham Lane on 21st of July. Prosecutrix appeared in Court with her head bandaged and said about twelve o’clock on the night in question she was telling her child that she should not have been out at that time of night when the prisoner said “Don’t go home for the old _, ” and followed up the remark by striking her a violent blow on the head with a bottle, causing the blood to flow very freely. She was attended by Dr Lucas who examined her and found her almost covered with blood and suffering from two wounds. Prisoner was also charged with using obscene language and this offence was admitted. A fine of 40s and costs was imposed for using indecent language and on the more serious charge defendant was committed for trial.

Cambridge Independent Press 24.10.1891: JANE ELSDEN AGAIN. Jane Elsden (18), a woman of bad character, was charged on a warrant with having assaulted Mary Ann Bird, also of bad character, on the 15th of October.—The prosecutrix. who resides in Coldham Lane, Newmarket Road, said she was going home by Christ’s Church, about midnight, on Thursday, when the prisoner ran across from the other side of the road and struck her a blow on the face with her fist, at the same time saying, “Take that, you old cow.”—The evidence of the complainant did not satisfy the Bench, who dismissed the case, much to the delight of Jane.

1894

Cambridge Independent Press:

THE MORALITY OF CAMBRIDGE. A short time ago the condition of the streets and the deplorable prevalence and licence of prostitution called forth much indignant protest on the part of the inhabitants of the town, and as a result eflfort,although it was but spasmodic, was made bv the police to rid Cambridge of what is undoubtedly the greatest blot on its escutcheon. Since this period of activity on the part of the police the denizens of Brown’s-yard, Newmarket road, wherein most, or rather the most notorious of the fallen characters of the town find their abode, have been brought prominently before the public through the Police Court by what has been aptly described as “civil war” among themselves. The fearful and disgusting conditions of life which these and other enquiries disclosed attracted the particular attention of more than one member of the Bench, and therein perhaps lies the origin of the fact that this week a raid has been made upon this hotbed of disorder and crime. Rarely, if ever, has the Police Court been the scene of enquiry so revolting in its character as that which took place on Tuesday, aud which disclosed to the public eye a phase of life in Cambridge the most horrible and the degraded is possible to imagine.— The Magistrates present were the Mayor (HJ. H. Parker, Esq.), Dr. Cooper, Dr Kenny, Dr. Waraker, W. B. Redfern, Hugh Porter, and J. Burford, Esqs—Mary Ann Laxton, of 2, Brown’s yard, was summoned for that she the 14th April and on divers other days between the 1st January and the 23rd May, being the occupier of certain premises did unlawfully and knowingly permit the said premises to be used a place for the carrying on of habitual prostitution.—The Town Clerk, Mr. J. E. L. Whitehead, appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Police, and stated that the proceedings were taken under the and 48 and 49 Vic, chap. 69, sec. 13. Section 13 was divided into three sub-sections, and the second subsection comprised two offences. It was with the second of those that the defendant was charged. Charles Henry Wilkin, of 6, Hertford-street, Chesterton, who seemed to treat the proceedings as a joke, said he was the owner of No. 2, Brown’s yard, Newmarket-road, of which the defendant was the tenant. She held it on weekly tenancy, and paid 2s. week. There were two rooms in the house and a little back place, he thought. He did not often into it. — Eunice Clements and Elizabeth Missen, both living at 7, Brown’s-yard, deposed that they had used the defendant’s house for purposes of prostitution to the knowledge of the defendant, to whom money had been paid by them for the use of the room. There were two rooms in the house, which four persons lived ; until recently there were five.—The defendant said both witnesses were bitter enemies of her’s, and were swearing falsely.—The defendant was sworn, and said she was innocent of the affair of which she was accused. She totally denied the truth of the statement of the witnesses.—Charlotte Sutton, living at 5, Brown’s-yard, said she had never seen anything wrong at Mrs. Laxton’s house. She had never used the house herself.—Dr. Cooper immediately reminded the witness that on a former occasion when she was a witness before the Court she had given evidence to the direct contrary. He reminded her that she was liable to be committed to the Assizes —The witness said she did not understand what was meant then. She did not understand it at all. She denied that she told Detective Carter that the house was brothel. Florence Hume, of 8, Brown’s-yard, and Frances Ablett, of 1, Brown’s-yard, were summoned similar charges.—John C. Longstaff, of Haywood Villa, Newmarket-road, said he was agent for Mrs. Pink, the owner of 8,Brown’s yard. The defendant Hume was the tenant of that house ; she paid 2s. 1d. per week. There were two rooms in the house.—James Gibson, of Smart’s Row, said he was agent to Mr. Herbert D. Benton, 34, East road, the owner of No. 1, Brown’s-yard, which was let to the defendant Ablett —Eunice Clements and Elizabeth Missen gave similar evidence in these as in the former case.—The Magistrates retired for a short time, and on their return the Mayor said the Bench convicted all the defendants, and sentenced Mrs. Laxton and Mrs Ablett to three months’ hard labour each, and Florence Hume to two months. —The Mayor also called the attention of the lessees and agents of the houses to a section of the Act which constituted it an offence to let a house with the knowledge that it or any part of it would be used as brothel. It is to be regretted that while the charges were being investigated the discipline of the Court was somewhat relaxed, and that the occupants of the gallery were allowed to give such free and audible expression of the interest taken by them the cases ; also the removal from the Court of some of the companions of the accused, would have added more dignity to the proceedings.

(1) let to Frances Ablett by D Benton of 34 East Road

(2) let to Mary Ann Laxton by Charles Henry Wilkin of 6 Hertford Street

(3)

(4)

(5) Charlotte Sutton

(6)

(7) Eunice Clements and Elizabeth Missen

(8)

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1901 (72)

Israel Rockett, bootmaker

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1913

Israel Rockett, bootmaker

Nathan Rockett, bootmaker