3 Free School Lane (Luttburne Lane)

History of 3 Free School Lane

House no. 3 is divided from nos. 1 – 2 by a narrow single storey modern annexe. The walls are plastered timbered framing. It was built in the late 16th century and although all the windows have been since altered and the staircases reviews it remains rather less altered than most other houses of this type and date in the city. (1959 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments Survey of Cambridge)

Luttburne Lane appears on a map of 1574.

1841 Peas Hill on census

Edward Bell, 47, seedsman

Edward Bell, 14

Charlotte, 40, bonnet maker

William, 18, land surveyor

Sarah, 14, bonnet maker

James, 12

John, 11,

Charlotte, 9,

Alfred, 7,

Alice, 4,

Charles, 2,

Eliza, 13 mos,

Ann Carter, 21, servant,

Sophia Turner, 21, servant

1842 silhouette of Bell family (courtesy SG-S)

1842 key to silhouette of Bell family (courtesy SG-S)

c.1868 manuscript record of the dates and times of birth and death of the Bell family members (courtesy SG-S)

Transcription of the 1868 manuscript record of the dates and times of birth and death of the Bell family members (courtesy SG-S)

Edward Bell (1794-1865) a small carte de visit with ‘mother’s father’ written on it (courtesy SG-S)

1851

Edward Bell, 57, corn and seed merchant, b Cambridge

Charlotte Bell, 50, b Fulbourn

Edward Bell, 24,  assistant, b Cambridge [in 1861 Edward Bell was at 26 Hills Road]

John Gillam Bell, 20, assistant, b Cambridge

Charlotte Diana Bell, 19, b Cambridge

Maryann Fabb, 22, b Great Swaffham

Charles Heavitree Todd, visitor, 24, astronomer at Cambridge observatory, b London

Sir Charles Todd

Charles & Alice Todd shortly after their wedding in 1855. Ambrotype image (courtesy SG-S)

In 1855 Alice Gillam Bell married Charles Todd in the old Baptist Church in St Andrew’s Street and they emigrated to South Australia the same year. In 1851 she was at school in Lewisham, Kent. Alice Thomson has written a book about her ancestors, ‘The Singing Line‘, pub 1999.

The Singing Line by Alice Thomson

See Histon Road Cemetery entry

In 1841 the family were living on Pea’s Hill

In 1861 the family were at 2 Parson’s Court

1887

Mrs Mary Greenwood, lodging house keeper

1-3 Free School Lane, 1939 (photo K Cooke)

1930 – 1957

Ernest Clarke, picture framer

Bene’t Gallery which later moved to King’s Parade.

1981

Textile Studio