Wesleyan Chapel, County Hall, Hobson Street (Wall’s Lane), Cambridge

History of Wesleyan Chapel

1807

Agreement between John Haggerston of Cambridge and Thomas Thurnall of Whittlesford whereby Thurnall agreed to buy ‘all that freehold Malting Office with the Cistern Coach, Working Floors, Kiln and other Appurtenance thereto…situated in Wall’s Lane in the Town of Cambridge.’

Thomas Thurnall’s son William inherited the property when his father died and on his own death it was put up for sale.

1846

Cambridge Methodist Circuit archives hold auctioneer’s poster announcing sale on 29th January 1846 of the ‘Malting Premises situated near Messrs Swan & Sons’ Wagon Establishment with a frontage next Hobson Street.’ the bidding did not meet the reserve price. A group of methodists led by Robert Sayle bid privately and were successful. The Maltings were demolished; the building of a new chapel commenced and on Good Friday 6th April 1849, it opened for worship. (See The History of Methodism in Cambridge by Frank Tice, 1966).

The Chapel was of white bricks with a portico. It cost £3,300 to build; the site had cost £900. Both congregations, those of Green Street and of Fitzroy Street, moved to the new chapel. It also attracted undergraduates and within 40 years the premises were no longer adequate.

1871

Wesleyan House

1891

Wesleyan Chapel

1901

Chapel

In 1901 it was decided to look for new premises. This lead to the purchase of the Poplar House Estate at the corner of Short Street with a frontage on Christ’s Pieces. The Hobson Street Chapel was sold to Cambridgeshire County Council for £3,500.

The congregation moved temporarily to the ‘Victoria Rooms‘ on Market Hill courtesy of the managing director of the ‘Cambridge Electric Theatre Ltd’.

The new Wesley Church was opened 30th October 1913.

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1912 08 09

The County Council had considered various sites for a new County Hall. The purchase price of Hobson Street Methodist Chapel was £3,500 (£324,000 today) which was fair. In the chapel they had a good deal of material and the shell and outside walls would stand and be utilised. But it would not be sufficient. So they needed to purchase a house from Christ’s College; they were not desirous of selling and the price of £2,500 was the least they would accept. The erection of county hall would increase the value of the other buildings in Hobson Street and help to bring a much-needed town improvement through the widening of Sussex Street. 12 08 09
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1913 12 19

Plans for alterations at the rear of the Guildhall were shelved after the Ratepayers Association raised a petition. They had to face a loss on the trams, the Borough Bill, Chesterton footbridge and other improvements and as the Colleges were building rapidly the town landladies found it hard to pay their rates. Now the County Council had decided to build their new offices in Hobson Street. They had been debating since 1907 and all the expense and time had been worthless. But the Free Library was over-crowded and disease was spread in libraries where people were constantly sitting together 13 12 19 p7
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1914 02 06

At the opening of the new County Hall in Hobson Street the chairman thanked the Town Council for allowing them to use their council chamber and committee rooms for the past 25 years. In 1747 the old Shire Hall had been built on Market Hill above arches where butchers had their stalls on market days. In 1842 this passed to the town when a new Shire Hall at Castle Hill was ready for occupation. But the enormous development of administrative business had now brought the County Council again into the centre to this new commodious and economical building, finally bringing together departments previously distributed in all parts of the town. 14 02 06, a-c
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1928 04 28

Less than 20 years ago I was doing journalistic work in a Hobson Street office. In those days there was no County Hall opposite, nor talk of one. It was begun only 15 years ago and if anyone had been asked how long it would remain the County Council headquarters he might have answered ‘A hundred years at least’. But so great has been the extra work thrown on the Council that already the building has been outgrown and plans are now to be prepared for a new building on the Castle Hill site. There are now 86 officials and ratepayers may ask if such an army of officers are really necessary
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.

1983 07 01

The County Hall office block in Hobson Street which houses a major section of the county council’s social services department may be sold to Christ’s College for £1.25 million and converted into student accommodation. It would be one of the biggest property deals in the much sought-after city centre location for years. Scores of council officials would be moved into the new offices planned at the back of Shire Hall. 83 07 01 p1
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Hobson Street Scrapbook.