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Spread Eagle / Snug sign67 Lensfield Road, The Spread Eagle / 14 Downing Terrace
History of 67 Lensfield Road
67 Lensfield Road
1847
Death of publican Jonas Clark. According to his great great grandson, there was a succession of canaries who lived at bar called ‘Mr Clark’ over 90 years.
1851
Edward Morris, 49, bookseller, b London
Phoebe, 42, b Uppingham
Arthur, 21, clerk, b Hull
Henry, 18, servant, b Cottenham
M [?], 14, b Cottenham
John, 8, b Cambridge
Phoebe, 4, b Cambridge
1861 (14) Spread Eagle Public House
Jeremiah Cates, 35, licensed victualler, b Cambs
1901 (14)
Percival Fielding, 41, licensed victualler, b Surrey
Margaret E, 33, b Hants
Gladys L, 7, b Norwich
Percival F, 5, b Norwich
Nelson William, 5, b Norwich
Nelson William Fielding: Bombardier, 56825, “V” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Died of wounds 02-03-15. Aged 19 . Born Norwich, enlisted London. Son of Percival and Margaret Fielding, Norwich. Buried in Aire Communal Cemetery, Plot IV. Row E. Grave 24. Also listed on Meldreth Memorial and Cambridge Guildhall (St Paul’s Roll of Honour)
Cambridge Independent Press – Friday 19 March 1915:
Corpl. P. Fielding, Cambridge.
Mr. P. Fielding, Lensfield-road, has been officially informed that his son, Nelson Willie Fielding, of the Roval Horse Artillery, was killed in action on March 2nd. He had lately been transferred from “J” Battery ” V ” Battery, attached to the Indian Expeditionary Force, and promoted from Bombardier to Corporal. His twin brother, Percy, is still in “ J “ Battery.
Both boys joined the R.H.A. from the Duke of York’s School at 14 years of age, and not yet 20. They went out to France with the original Expeditionary Force, and had been through every engagement since the commencement of the war. Nelson had never once been off duty. He was a fine specimen of manhood, standing over 6ft. in height, and was well known in Cambridge. Mr. Fielding, the bereaved father, himself an old soldier, with 29 years’ service to his credit. He left the Army Squadron-Sergt.- Major the King’s Dragoon Guards in 1897. He joined the Loyal Suffolk Hussars coming to Cambridge, and held the position of Regimental Quartermaster-Sergt. at the time of his retirement.
1911
Percival Fielding, 51, publican, b Sussex
Kate, 39, assisting in the business, b Cambridge
Gladys Constance, 17, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
1913 (67) The Spread Eagle, J Ireland
22/12/1937 “Mr Clark”, the canary that called ‘Time!’ at the Spread Eagle, Lensfield Road, was suffocated to death by smoke when fire broke out in the saloon bar. He had been an affectionately regarded
inhabitant of the pub for some eight years. His almost human intelligence made his cage hanging from the bar ceiling a frequent centre of attraction. The bird was alive when rescued but although given brandy was too overcome by smoke to recover. The fire was caused by Christmas decorations accidentally catching fire (Cam. Press)
1941
Diarist Jack Overhill who lived in Saxon Street was not happy with the noise that the local pubs created in the evening. He wrote on 24th August:
The nights are not very good. As soon as we get abed there’s calls of ‘R-o-s-i-e’ from the evacuees next door (Rosie is with the soldiers up Brookside), then there’s calls for ‘E-i-l-e-e-n’ (probably in the same place) and various calls for other girls round here whose ages range from 13 to 20 and who, very likely, are playing peep-bo in the dark with the soldiers in the billets along Brookside. Then there’s the pubs turning out, the Spread Eagle and the Cross Keys. The ‘Spread’ is the worst; youths and girls, singling, whistling shouting, giggling. — How they dramatise themselves; their actions and talk based on that of the most popular film stars, is nauseating. frequently, they sing snatches of sentimental songs; but I believe croon is the right word. They all fade away, there’s a brief spell of peace; and then the cats start … In between, there’s tows and the wail of the siren ….
1943
Jack Overhill writes 27 September 1943:
As I type I can hear the piano going in the Spread Eagle playing ‘All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor’. There’s a lot of life up there these days; but I don’t envy them a little bit. There’s a lot of life round here altogether now, for the women are having a good time with the American soldiers. So good, in fact , that many of them are, or have been. in the family way; and one of them has just been arrested in Doric Street for procuring miscarriages.
In 2024 AM wrote: As a tiny child 63 Lensfield Road was next door to THE SPREAD EAGLE on Sunday afternoon I had the job of going “next door” to get THE OLD MAN OUT OF THE PUB for Sunday dinner. In those days the owner or proprietor was a very colourful character similar to Tallulah Bankhead, does anyone remember her? Well the lady proprietor used a long cigarette holder and was so theatrical I can’t right now remember her nick name but it will come to me. In 1977 when I returned to Cambridge The Snug today was still The Spread Eagle (I think) I went in and sat at the bar and told the owner then about my past neighbour association He gave me a seltzer bottle with the pubs name and Cambridge on it. It is one of my most prized possessions will send picture.
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