Carvings believed to be from the Old Post Office, now in Russell Court

Old Post Office / Government Offices, Petty Cury

History of Old Post Office, Petty Cury

1891

Edward E Stutters, custodian of G P O

Ellen Ellis

Edward E

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1901 General Post Office

Edward Elborn Stutters, 53, custodian

Ellen, 38, b Yorks

Edward E, 14, b Cambridge

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1913

The General Post Office, A Sirett superintendant

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Old Post Office: proposed purchase and road widening — 2 August 1934

Councillors considered a scheme for compulsorily purchasing the old Post Office on the corner of Petty Cury and other properties in Sidney Street to widen the road. Cambridge could not progress unless it spent money. Money was never cheaper: the banks were bursting with it. There were the materials, the men and the money available for the work. But having compulsory orders hanging over the properties would influence the price they could be sold for.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 34 08 02.

Old Post Office: Education Committee meetings — 18 January 1936

As the Guildhall is being reconstructed the Cambridge Education Committee met in the old Post Office on the corner of Petty Cury. The large hall on the ground floor where the public business of the Post Office used to be transacted has been cleared of the counters, screens and telephone boxes and converted into a committee room. Unfortunately the CDN reporters found the acoustic properties very bad. It is never easy to follow the remarks of some of the members of the Committee and hearing was rendered doubly difficult by the roar of traffic outside. They dragged their table nearer but even then the noise of the traffic was an easy winner.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 36 01 18.

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WWII:

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Old Post Office: Borough Restaurant opens — 2 October 1947

New premises, a new name and new services for Cambridge’s British restaurant were marked by the attendance of the Mayor at an informal opening ceremony. The new premises are in the old G.P.O. building at the corner of Petty Cury. The new name is the Cambridge Borough restaurant, and the new services are a more varied lunch menu instead of the old “flat rate”. The cafeteria system of serving is being introduced, by which you slide a tray along choosing your dish and pay when you have completed your selection. First to eat in the new premises were the workmen employed on the job who were entertained to lunch with a typical menu of cream of vegetable soup, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, baked and boiled potatoes and cabbage, blackberry and apple tart and custard

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, 2 October 1947.

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1961

Old Post Office: Civic Restaurant’s daily work — 14 April 1961

Cambridge Civic Restaurant produces over 1,000 meals a day either for consumption in its spacious contemporary dining room or for the Drummer Street Mobile Canteen or W.V.S. Meals-on-Wheels service. The premises at the Old Post Office in Petty Cury may have to be demolished as part of the Lion Yard scheme but the Manageress, Mrs Gillett and her staff of 30, including Mrs E. Stubbings who has been vegetable cook for the last 18 years have become very attached to the restaurant and regard their customers as ‘one big family’ which needs feeding.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 61 04 14b.

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1962

Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance

Cambridgeshire County Council Welfare Foods Distribution Centre

Overseas Services Club

Overseas Services Courses