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Central Cinema, Hobson StreetCentral Cinema / Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co, 21 Hobson Street
History of Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co
1861 21 Hobson Street
Charles Cowles, 34, groom, b Cambridge
Betsey, 35, b Shelford
William, 14, French polisher, b Ireland
Selina, 11, b Cambridge
Charles, 8, b Cambridge
1871 ?
1881 21 Hobson Street
Joseph Gelby, 43, groom, b West Wratting
Emma, 43, b West Wratting
Mary E, 16, b West Wratting
1891 21 Hobson St
Jesse Butler, 27, groom, b Swaffham Bulbeck
Amelia, 27, b Swaffham Bulbeck
William E, 3 mos, b Cambridge
1901 21 Hobson Street
William Blackwell, 32, coachman, b Cambridge
Emma, 27, b Hunts
Louisa E, 3, b Cambridge
William A Blackwell, 7 mos,
1911 The Cambridge Automobile & Engineering Co Ltd
Harry Smith, 26, garage man (in charge), b Trumpington
Cambridge Automobile Company (MoC)
1913
Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co Ltd
R de la Rue & Cuthbert Foster, managing directors
H Oswin Mills, secretary
Cambridge Automobile Ltd Hobson Street
1916
Women window cleaners Cambridge Automobile and Engineering Co, Hobson Street, 1916 (Cambridgeshire Collection)
1921
Central Cinema opened and was rebuilt in 1930.
Hobson Street 1921. Cambridge Automobile Engineering (photo J Johnson) (Cambridgeshire Collection)
1928
Central Cinema, Hobson Street c.1928 (Cambridgeshire Collection)
1930
Central Cinema built
Cambridge Historic Core Appraisal report notes the tiled glazed facade and its Egyptienne style.
1939
Fire at Central Cinema spread to Cambridge Motor Service Company causing £2,000 damage.
1962
Central Cinema
2021
Building of Local Interest. Planning proposals for the site were published in 2021. A commentary on these can be found here:
2024
The owner of the Central Cinema site has published plans to redevelop it which involve the demolition of the building including its fascia. This has prompted complaints from organisations such as the Cinema Theatre Association and has led to some interesting documents coming to light which are examined in the following article.
The Cinema Theatre Association’s history of the Hobson Street Cinema
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