4 Petty Cury, Cambridge

History of 4 Petty Cury

1851 (unnumbered)

Henry Watson, 35, chemist

1861 (4)

Henry Brown Watson, 43, chemist, b Cambridge

1896

William Heffer moves shop here from 104 Fitzroy Street

1913

W Heffer and Sons, publishers booksellers and printers

Heffer’s, Petty Cury c.1920

Commentary by Mike Petty on Fenland History Facebook site:

William Heffer opened his bookshop in Petty Cury in 1896 having bought out a chemist whose stock he sold off, but the giant bottles were to remain in the windows up till 1922. On the day that war broke out, 1914, the Oak-Room-and-Gallery was opened, stretching backwards where the Lion’s stables had stood. As the shop expanded upstairs into the rest of the building it retained mementoes: the wallpaper was that of the university lodgings, while bedroom 40, renamed The Science Room, still sported a chandelier. In 1928 the shop expanded into adjacent premises and a new frontage, designed by Arthur Heffer was installed. [H. Bosanquet. Walks round vanished Cambridge: Petty Cury. 1974]. The firm moved to Trinity Street in 1970 and the building was demolished as part of the Lion Yard redevelopment that saw the clearance of the south side of Petty Cury and the lanes and alleys beyond. Had the Antiquarian Society photographers realised the extent of the demolition that was to occur they may have devoted more of their plates to the area.

Heffer’s Petty Cury Cambridge

Heffers: new bookshop — 5 December 1929

Heffer’s wonderful new shop in Petty Cury, Cambridge, is a book lovers’ paradise. In the basement are ‘remainders’ at reduced prices while the ground floor is devoted to the latest publications and an extensive foreign literature section. A wide range of second-hand volumes occupies most of the first floor where connoisseurs of original editions will find much to interest them at prices from £5 to £250. On the second floor are oriental, foreign travel and fine art books while higher still are Heffer’s own publications, many of local interest. There is a special reference department and out-of-print books service. The front design successfully combines and old-world impression with a modern style.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, 5 December 1929.

Heffers: expansion — 15 January 1930

From modest beginnings in Fitzroy Street the history of the House of Heffer is one of continuous progress. The Printing Works on Hills Road has been considerable enlarged, last year saw reconstruction of the Petty Cury Bookshop which is now twice its original size, and this year sees the reconstruction of the Sidney Street Stationery and Art Shop. It will be a shop worthy of its central position. The new premises will have five floor, the frontage will be in the Georgian style with pilasters, fascia and columns of grey polished granite and the upper part will be faced with red Flemish bricks with Weldon stone dressings to the windows. A unique feature will be the Picture Gallery on the third flood with a barrel-shaped ceiling

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, 15 January 1930.

Heffers: site purchased for redevelopment — 7 May 1962

Mr Jack Cotton and Mr Charles Clore, the property millionaires, have bought the site of Heffer’s from Emmanuel College on the understanding that the bookshop will be rehoused in any new redevelopment of Petty Cury. Their company, City Centre Properties, acquired the adjoining Lion Hotel site last year. The Director of Dolamore, the wine merchants, who hold the freehold of most of the corner with Guildhall Street, would not say whether they had also approached them. Recently this part of Petty Cury was included in the area scheduled for redevelopment. The firm also have an interest in the New Theatre site which is now being demolished to be replaced by a block of offices

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 62 05 07.

1939 (3-4)

W Heffer, booksellers

1962

W Heffer & Sons, booksellers

Heffer’s, 3 – 4 Petty Cury c.1960s (MoC38/160/69)

3/4 Petty Cury (MoC405/63)

3 – 4 Petty Cury (MoC133/71)

Heffers, 3 Petty Cury (MoC61B71)

4,3,2 (Eastern Electricity, Finlay’s, Card Boutique) Petty Cury, 1971 (Peter Soar)