39 (97, 96) King Street, The Boot Public House & Press’ Court

History of 39 King Street, The Boot

1851 unnumbered

Richard Lucas, sadler

[the 1851 entry for Lucas may be a different location in the street]

1861

(96) The Boot

Richard Lucas, 61, publican and harness maker, b Ely

Press’ Court:

(1)

Samuel Cooper, 56, Chelsea pensioner, b Kent

(2)

John Gee, 44, guide, b Cambridge

(3)

Joseph Case, 59, plumber glazier and painter, b Cambridge

(4) vacant

1881

(96) Moore

(97) The Boot

Mann

1901: The Boot

Eliza White, 54, licensed victualler, b Chipping Campden

William Thurlow, 28, lodger, labourer, b Cambridge

Edward Burbage, 28, bricklayer, b Cambridge

1906:

8 March 1906 – The Boot public house under licensing review
When licensing magistrates reviewed public houses in 1906, the Boot in King Street was listed among a number of Cambridge inns considered during discussions about the number and supervision of licensed premises. Evidence presented concerning nearby public houses highlighted official concerns about policing, public order and the concentration of licensed houses within the central streets of the town. The report noted that there were already numerous public houses within a short distance of one another, reflecting the dense network of inns and beerhouses that served working-class neighbourhoods and visitors to the town in the years before the First World War.
Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 06 03 08c & d.

1911: The Boot

Samuel Rand, 43, publican, b Kent

Charlotte, 37, b Kent

Florence Cramp, adopted daughter, 18, b Kent

1913: The Boot

Samuel Rand

1920

10 March 1920 – Licensing sessions review King Street public houses
The annual licensing sessions reviewed a number of public houses across Cambridge, including the Boot in King Street. Other premises considered included the Turnstile in East Road, the George IV, the Smith and Wheelwright Arms, the Dewdrop in Gwydir Street, the Tally Ho in Newnham, the Indian Chief in Chesterton, the Hopbine in Cherry Hinton and the Queen’s Arms in St Andrew’s Street. Although only a brief notice, it illustrates the continuing supervision of licensed premises after the First World War and reflects the widespread reassessment of public houses that was taking place nationally during this period.
Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 20 03 10b.

10 July 1920 – Public houses proposed for closure
Licensing reform continued in 1920 with a list of public houses proposed for closure across Cambridgeshire. Among those identified was the Boot in King Street, alongside the Victoria at Barrington, the Pig and Whistle at Guilden Morden, the Hopbine at Cherry Hinton, the George and Dragon at Castle Camps, the Axe and Saw at Linton, the Indian Chief at Chesterton, the Tally Ho at Newnham, the Turnstile in East Road and the Dew Drop in Gwydir Street. The proposals formed part of wider national efforts to reduce the number of licensed premises in the years following the First World War and demonstrate that the future of even long-established Cambridge public houses was far from secure.
Source: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge King Street Scrapbook 1897–1990, Item: 20 07 10.