24 Green Street Cambridge

24 Green Street, Post Office, The Coffee Pot, Cambridge

History of 24 Green Street

Early 19th century

This was the post office from 6th July 1810. The Postmaster was Mr James Brown, father of Charles Edward Brown. The business of the Provident bank was also conducted here by Mr Brown; the Savings Bank, as it was latterly known, subsequently outgrew its office accommodation and more suitable buildings were erected in Sidney Street, known as Bank Chambers. On Mr Brown’s death the post office was removed to 44 Sidney Street in 1833.

1832

Gunpowder in the Post: (Full account in ‘A Postal History of Cambridge’ D H Muggleton, 1970, based on contemporary press accounts). From 25th November 1831 to 3rd December three packages with gunpowder were mysteriously dropped in the receiving box at the post office. Two police officers staked out the post office and a student (in student dress) was spotted with a parcel which he was trying to keep secret. He then approached the P.O. window with a lighted cigar and was seen to be trying to light the touch paper connected to what was a packet of gunpowder.

He was arrested and discovered to the Henry Braine, a student of Trinity College. The police found evidence of gunpowder in his rooms. His landlady knew that he had ordered some gunpowder but also that he was not right in the head.

Although there were attempts to have the charges dropped, and also the suggestion that he might be found insane, Braine was brought to trial and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and fined £5.

1851

Pain [?] Challice, 52, lodging house keeper, b Newmarket

1861

Prior Challice, 60, lodging house keeper, b Suffolk

1874

Prior Challice, lodging house keeper

1880

James Doo, district rate collector and overseer of the poor

1885

The building was originally a brick house with tall narrow windows. It was refaced and reroofed in this year.

1913

W. G Thompson auctioneer and estate agent

Miss Doo, milliner

1916

G F Reynolds moved his business here from 28 Green Street

1937

R C Flack & Co, tailors (prop. G F Reynolds)

This business is reported to have had several famous customers, including Stanley Baldwin, whose Chancellor’s robes were ordered here.

Health Food and Herbal Stores, grocers

1950

Coffee Pot opened by Mr and Mrs Sandy Moffatt. The Moffatts sold coffee especially blended by a Canadian coffee merchant in London. People used to write them letters and appreciation; one wished that the coffee was as good on the Queen Mary. In the early days Mr Moffatt ground the coffee by hand.

1962

Coffee Pot Cafe

The top floor was a flat. In 1981 Jon Harris, an artist, told the CWN (23rd Apr) that “I once had a visit from a friend of a friend, a Parsee water diviner, who found a fast flowing stream of natural water running blow the foundations of this house from the top end of Trinity Lane towards the top end of Jesus Lane.” This might have been connected to the St Michael’s parish pump that was stolen in 1816  from the east end of the street.

Among those who lived in the flats over the Coffee Pot were Peter Cook, John Bird, Andrew Sinclair and Ronald Bryden.

1981

Coffee Pot is run by the Kuweider brothers.

2018

Lotus Thai