Playfair, Benson Street

History of Playfair

1891

Furniture Store

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1901

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1911

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1912

Playfair works moves here from Searle Street

See Gray family history:

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1913

Playfair Works

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1918 02 27

A fire which caused considerable damage broke out at about six o’clock in the morning in the main building of H.G. Gray’s Athletic Works, Benson Street. The three-storey building, used partly as a workshop and partly as a storehouse, stood a few feet back from the road and adjoined a row of cottages. The flames were confined to the works and the cottages escaped damage. 18 02 27g; 18 03 06d

Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Huntingdon Road Scrapbook.

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1937

Henry John Gray and sons, athletic outfitters (Playfair works)

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1962 9-21

H J Gray and Sons, sports goods manufacturers (Playfair works)

See A Community Remembers: Histon Road p.28

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1973

9.6.1973 local newspaper reported that Gray’s had. defied a Council order to stop work on a second storey extension.