A corner view of a brick building with a bay window, arched doorways marked YMCA, and the name Alexandra Hall on the facade.

YMCA building, Alexandra Street 1930s (Mike Petty 159.61)

1 Alexandra Street, YMCA (Alexandra Hall), Cambridge

History of the YMCA, Alexandra Street

1868-1871

Josiah Chater describes in detail in his diary how the move of the Y.M.C.A. from St Edward’s Passage to Alexandra Street took place. It was decided to buy a piece of the Red Hart Inn estate behind Petty Cury. Its sale was advertised on behalf of Corpus Christi College. However, they then decided to try and buy off Richard Miller, the wine merchant, a freehold site nearby, on the corner of St Tibbs Row, part of the site of the old Brazen George Inn. By the end of November a price of £1,110 had been agreed and five guarantors found; by the end of December £1,400 had been raised in promises. Numerous fundraising events were organised – tea parties, lectures and excursions. In May 1869 a Rose Show was held in the garden of G E Foster’s house in Brooklands Avenue.

Details of the plot for the YMCA given to Josiah Chater.

One controversial event was a lecture given by “Professor Huxley, [Thomas Henry Huxley] an Atheist’ on science. Josiah received a letter of complaint from the Church of England Young Men’s Society; the lecture went ahead and raised £14 18s 8d.

The was a ceremony to mark the laying of the foundations stones on 31st March 1870. On 1st January 1871 Josiah wrote: After dinner went to our New Rooms in Alexandra Street. We had a splendid meeting – an opening address to the young men by Neville Goodman. About 300 were present.

See Enid Porter’s Article: The YMCA

Black and white print showing a timber-framed building with a courtyard, two figures standing in doorways, and a street lamp. — Site of Mr Pointer livery stables in 1869, later Y.M.C.A., before Alexandra Street was opened. On the right is Black Ditch leading to Petty Cury.

A dense crowd of people in formal attire and top hats gathers beneath a wooden frame decorated with flags and greenery. — YMCA laying of foundation stone (MoC137/69)

1881 Census

Noah Castle, 51, custodian, b HertsHannah, 48, b HertsSarah Clarke, mother in law, widow, 85, former cook, b EssexJane Brown, 22, servant, b Beds

1887 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian Association.President, Dale, A. W. W., M.A.Hon. Secs., W. T. Thrussell and A. C. Roper.

1895 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian Association.Kenny, Courtney, S., LL.D., President.Gray, J. G., General Secretary.Custodian: Wado, Frederick S.

1901 Census

Herbert G Grounds, 39, custodian YMCA, b CambridgeBeatrice A, 32, b LondonLily E, 12, b ChestertonDorothy M, 6, b ChestertonErnest William Gee, boarder, 18, sorting telegraph clerk. b London

A brick YMCA building with a corner bay window stands at a street junction, flanked by modern and older terraced structures. — Y.M.C.A. Alexandra Street, from Post Office Terrace

24.10.1902: The members of the Cambridge Y.M.C.A. celebrated their jubilee with a soiree in their rooms in Alexandra Street. 50 years ago the Church of England Young Men’s Society and the Sunday School Teachers’ Institute amalgamated, forming the Association. It settled in Rose Crescent. In 1853 it moved to larger premises at 5, Sidney Street, moving to Hobson Place in 1858 and then St Edward’s Passage. In 1870 the first stone was laid of their present building; it was completed a year later. To call the soiree a success is scarcely adequate; the visitors never had a dull moment from the time they entered the door until the National Anthem brought the evening to a close. (Cam. News)

1911 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWright, J. Aldren, M.D., presidentLutley, A. T. & Moore. F.A., Hon. Secs.Grounds, Herbert, G., custodian.

1912 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWright, J. Aldren, M.D., president.Layton, C. R. & Durham, J, Hon. Secs.Grounds, Herbert, G., custodian.

1913 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWright, J. Aldren, M.D., president.Layton, C. R. & Groom, B.W., Hon. Secs.Grounds, Herbert, G., custodian.

1914 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWright, J. Aldren, M.D., president.Layton, C. R. & Groom, B.W., Hon. Secs.Poulter, Charles, custodian.

1915 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWright, J. Aldren, M.D., president.Hussey, H. G. L. & Groom, B.W., Hon. Secs.Haslop, H. V., custodian.

1916 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationMansfield, A. C., J.P., president.Phillips, J. H. & Groom, B. W, Hon. Secs.Patrick, Walter, custodian.

1919 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationMansfield, A. C., J.P., president.Fitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Thompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1921 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWhibley, Ald. H. G., J.P., president.Fitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Thompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1923 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationWhibley, Ald. H. G., J.P., president.Fitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Ashley, W., M.A., General Sec.Thompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1924 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationCooke, Arthur, M.A., F.R.C.S., presidentFitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Thompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1925 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationCooke, Arthur, M.A., F.R.C.S., presidentFitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Constable, P. H. C., General SecretaryThompson, Wm. E., custodian.

A 1983 newspaper clipping features a photograph of the six-piece New Museums Orchestra on stage at the Cambridge YMCA hall. — YMCA c. 1925

1926 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationGray, Dr. Alan, presidentFitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley, Stuart N. & Groom, B. W., Hon. Secs.Constable, P. H. C., General SecretaryThompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1927-1928 Spalding’s Directories

Young Men’s Christian AssociationGray, Dr. Alan, presidentFitzgerald, P. C., MA, Whibley & Stuart N., Hon. Secs.Constable, P. H. C., General SecretaryThompson, Wm. E., custodian.

1930 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationGray, Dr. Alan, presidentCrossman, A. R., Hon. TreasurerClarke, O. C.,Haynes, A. H. & Stearn, L. W., Hon. Secs.Whitehouse, G., custodian

1931-1932 Spalding’s Directories

Young Men’s Christian AssociationGray, Dr. Alan, presidentCrossman, A. R., Hon. TreasurerStearn, L. W., Hon. Sec.Stanley, F., custodian

1933 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationGray, Dr. Alan, president-, Hon. TreasurerStearn, L. W., Hon. Sec.Stanley, F., custodian

1934 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationSams, Sir Hubert, M.A., C.I.E., I.C.S., PresidentTabrum, Ashley, M.A., LL.M., O.B.E., Hon. TreasurerMorgan, Lieut. R. M. (R.N.), Hon. Sec.Stanley, F., custodian

1935-1937 Spalding’s Directories

Young Men’s Christian AssociationSams, Sir Hubert, M.A., C.I.E., I.C.S., PresidentTabrum, Ashley, M.A., LL.M., O.B.E., Hon. TreasurerSteam, L., Hon. Sec.Stanley, F., custodian

1939 Spalding’s Directory

Young Men’s Christian AssociationSams, Sir Hubert, M.A., C.I.E., I.C.S., PresidentTabrum, Ashley, M.A., LL.M., O.B.E., Hon. TreasurerSteam, L., Hon. Sec.Francis, A. J., General SecretaryStanley, F., custodian

A large group of people in military uniform and civilian clothes gathered around tables for a meal in a room with a staircase. — YMCA, Alexandra Street Cambridge, Christmas 1942

1948-1955 Kelly’s Directories

YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (H. S. Morrow B.Com . general secretary). Tel. 3995

1960-1968 Kelly’s Directories

Young Men’s Christian Association

1969

A dark brick Victorian building with a corner entrance and several rectangular windows on a quiet street in Cambridge. — YMCA (MoC64/69)

1972

A two-story brick building with arched windows stands partially demolished with rubble in the foreground and a ladder against it. — YMCA Alexandra Street prior to demolition (MoC275.72)

Building dates

Built 1870 · Demolished 1972

Projects

Alexandra Street

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