Sidney Street / Petty Cury – 22 Petty Cury – 1930 by H S Johnson (Cambridgeshire Collection)

71 Sidney Street / 22 Petty Cury, Cambridge

History of 71 Sidney Street

1841

William Lyon, 25, chemist

Louisa, 20

James Hudd, 17, apprentice

Susan Plumb, 20, servant

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1851

Henry Lyon, chemist master, 29, b Cambridge

Angelica, 28, b Kent

William Craswellen, assistant, 25, b Hants

John Dowaward, assistant, 21, b Lancs

Mary Rowlands, 24, servant.b Stapleford

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John Yeomans, chemist — 28 October 1932

John Yeomans came to Cambridge at the age of 19 in 1857 and purchased the shop at the corner of Petty Cury and Sidney Street from Mr Lyons where he carried on business as a chemist for 40 years. He had a vivid recollection of events: he knew George Stephenson personally and was a passenger in the first railway engine to run in England.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 32 10 28e.

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1861 (22 Petty Cury)

John Yeomans, chemist and druggist employing 1 man and 1 boy

Sarah Levett, housekeeper,

Serocold C Skeels, 21, lodger, student of Emmanuel College, b Chatteris

Herbert Mather, 20, lodger, scholar b Walton

Arthur S Mather, 18, lodger, attorney’s articled clerk, b Walton

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1871 (22 Petty Cury)

John Yeomans

Sarah Levett, servant

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1881 (22 Petty Cury)

John Yeomans, chemist employing 3 men and 2 boys,

Sarah Levett, 45, housekeeper,

Arthur A Goodall, 22, chemist, b Yorks

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1891 (22 Petty Cury)

John Yeomans, 53, chemist and dentist, b Leicestershire

Sarah Levett, 55, housekeeper, b Suffolk

John H Dressler, errand boy, 14, b Hildersham

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1898 CDN 17th December: A stroll through Petty Cury, Cambridge and a glance at the shop windows of Boots Limited gives a good idea of the effort which this firm has made to cater for all tastes and all classes. Those desirous of purchasing suitable presents for their cousins, their aunts, and sweethearts should pay a visit to Boots, in the Cury.

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1901 (22 Petty Cury)

Horace S Beale, 32, chemist druggist, b Cambridge

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1913 (71 Sidney Street)

H S Beale (late Yeomans) chemist

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1937

Boots: model anti-gas room — 19 October 1937

The Mayor opened a model anti-gas room at Boot’s shop in Petty Cury. With the disturbed state of international politics the company was anxious to help people to retain a sense of proportion concerning air raids. Any room could be made gasproof at a trifling cost. It had been tested under the most severe conditions with war gas. The Home Office Air Raids Precautions Department welcomed the initiative. If people took the simple precautions suggested they would be able to deal with the emergency quite successfully.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Petty Cury Scrapbook, ref. 37 10 19b.

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1938

In 1930 work started on a new shopping development which focussed on the enlarged Boots the chemist.

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1939 (22 Petty Cury)

Turner and Sons, opticians

Miss Dora Papworth, ladies’ hairdressers

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