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University Arms HotelAccording to Outside the Barnwell Gate, (Stokes, 1915) according to an 1808 map of Cambridge, there was a veterinary surgery occupying part of this site. The Down Your Way article (CWN 3.12.1981) contains a wealth of information about the hotel’s history.
Parker’s Piece from Regent Street, corner of University Arms Hotel
1833: Coaching inn built called the New Greyhound. It was run by W Bird from 1834 to 1847.
1839: John Barefoot (Robson’s directory)
1847: Hewitt sisters took over the inn.
1851: Mary Hewitt (Gardner’s)
1852: Marianne Hewitt (Slaters)
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1861:
Mari Anne Hewitt, inn keeper, 45, b Norfolk
Susan Hewitt, sister, housekeeper, 4, b Norfolk
Rebecca Hewitt, sister, barmaid, 32, b Norfolk
Frederick Bushby, boarder, fund holder, 63, b Yorkshire
Mary Ann Bower, housemaid, 39, b Norfolk
Emily Mann, kitchenmaid, 20, b Norfolk
Caroline Copeman, chambermaid, 19, b Norfolk
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1867: Miss Hewitt (Mathieson’s )
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1871:
Susan Hewitt, inn keeper, 60
Rebecca Hewitt, cook, 44
Ellen Hewitt, sister, book keeper, 52, b Norfolk
Frederic E Burkley, lodger, annuitant, 70 ,b Yorkshire
Sarah A Furrey, chambermaid, 24, b Norfolk
Mary A Norman, kitchen maid, 32, b Cottenham
Mariann Batterby, housemaid, 24, b Norfolk
Garwood B Palmer, lodger, merchant, 56, b Great Yarmouth
Bettsey Palmer, lodger, merchants wife, 53, b Great Yarmouth
Drummond Grant, lodger, merchant, 57, b Stirling
Mary D Grant, lodger, merchants wife, 48, b Ireland
1879: Miss Rebecca Hewitt (Post Office Directory)
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1881:
Rebecca Hewitt, innkeeper
Ellen Hewitt, sister, annuitant, 44, b Norfolk
Ellen Orridge, niece, 22, b Suffolk
Frederick E Bushby, boarder, 80, b York
Eliza Haylock, domestic servant, 35, b Sawston
Eleanor Davidson, chambermaid, 15, b Hunstanton
William Bailey, waiter (Inn Servant), 16, b Chesterton
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1888: Miss Rebecca Hewitt (Kellys Directory)
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1891:
(CWN 3.12.1981) Marcus Dennis Bradford took over the tenancy (leased from Jesus College) in 1891 from the two elderly Misses Hewitt. [Marcus’ father was caterer to Clare College in 1865.] The only stock he found was half a cask of brown sherry. There was a range of stables containing several coaching horses and a large coach yard. Until the beginning of WWI there were two full time coachmen; regular clients were the High Sheriff and those who wanted to get from the railway station around town.
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University Arms Hotel
1901:
Marcus Bradford, widower, 35, hotel proprietor, b Cambridge
Alfred R, 6, b Cambridge
Dorothy E, 5, b Cambridge
John O Mackenzie, visitor, 90, W S Edinburgh, b Edinburgh
Joanna Mackenzie, visitor, 57, b Glasgow
Jeanie Anderson, visitor, widow, ladies maid, 30, b Falkirk
Julie M Ward, 36, b Kent
Walter J Coward, 62, HM Inspector of schools, b Jamaica
Joan Pietsch, 22, waiter, b Germany
Sarah A Pearson, 39, housemaid, b Linton
Kate Montrose, 28, housemaid, b Perthshire
Elizabeth S Norden, 21, housemaid, b Hants
Louisa Heffer, 29, housemaid, b Cambridge
Janet M Bilton, 23, housemaid, b Bottisham
Florence A Haggins, 26, bookkeeper, b Cumberland
Violet M Smith, 24, governess, b Surrey
Annie Camden, 29, assistant housekeeper, b Norfolk
Mary A Hellings, 45, housekeeper, b Wales
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University Arms (date unknown)
University Arms Hotel (after 1906 when portico was built) (Cambridgeshire Collection)
University Arms Hotel (MoC68.72)
1913:
University Arms Hotel, Marcus D Bradford proprietor
Around this time the architect George Banyard was involved in design of part of the hotel. Mackays of East Road supplied much of the ironmongery and steelwork. The balconies on the hotel were designed by Isabella Mackay, artist, engraver and miniaturist. She lived at 143 Cherry Hinton Road until 1976.
Outside University Arms Hotel, Parker’s Piece, August 1914 (Cambridgeshire Collection)
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7/3/1935: Police guarded the closed gates of the University Arms Hotel while Sir Oswald Mosley was at a dinner organised by the University Fascist Society. Outside a meeting organised by the University Socialist Society was held on Parker’s Piece with speeches by John Comford, Maurice Comford and Maurice Dobb. Then a torchlight procession by 200 undergraduates shouting anti-Fascist slogans such as ‘We want Mosley dead or alive’ and singing ‘The Internationale’ marched to Peas Hill where more speeches were made before a Proctor arrived and they dispersed. (Cam.News)
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1962:
University Arms Hotel, M N & J Bradford managing director
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University Arms Hotel (MoC156.70)
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2021:
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