4, St Andrew’s Street, Post Office / Brazen George

History of 4 St Andrew's Street

This was the site in medieval times of the Hostel or Inn for students known as the Brazen George. In the reign of Henry VI (1445-6) it became the property of Geoffrey Neville, who had sold his house (where students lived) to the King for the site of King’s College, on condition of another equally good location being found for him.

14th century Cambridge map

The Brazen George was given to Christ’s College by its third Master (1511-17) Dr Thomas Thompson, who had been a member of Pembroke. It was long used as as a dwelling place for some of the scholars of Christ’s. Thompson also gave the house adjacent to the Brazen George, named after successive tenants ‘Scocroft’s’ and ‘Troilus Atkinson’s’.

The Brazen George pub sign

A report to Archbishop Laud in 1636 points out that students of Christ’s College are living at the hostel despite University statutes that require them to live in the college.

1805

A room in the yard of the Brazen George was one of the first places that Methodists met for worship in Cambridge from 1805. As the King’s Ditch ran close by, this early Wesleyan meeting house was known as ‘the Black Ditch’. A Society was formed which by 1811 numbered 80 members. It was decided to build a chapel in Barnwell, at 133 Fitzroy Street.

Circa 1850 the post office was moved to this site from 44 Sidney Street.

Late 18th cent. with 19th cent. additions.

1851 unnumbered

James Turner, 34, postmaster of Cambridge
Sally, 28, b London
Edward, 1
Julia, 2m
Jane Beddome, 56, shareholder in Insurance Company, b London
Mary Ann Day, 21, cook and housemaid, b Melbourn
Sarah Casburn, 19, nursemaid, b Burwell
Elizabeth Edwards, 16, nursery girl, b Babraham

1861 Post Office

James Turner, 45, head post master Cambridge
Edward, 11, b Cambridge
Julia, 10,
George, 8,
Frances Trayban, 41, governess, b Cambridge
Ann Collins, 22, cook, b Landbeach

1871 Post Office

James Turner, 54, head postmaster Cambridge
Julia, 20, b Cambridge
George, 18, b Cambridge
Elvia Willson, 30, servant, b Duxford
Jessie Parr, 15, housemaid,  b Burwell

1881 Post Office

James Turner, 64, the Postmaster of Cambridge
Edward, 31, barrister at law
Alice Willson, 33, cook, b Cambs
Alice Tredzel, 19, housemaid, b Great Shelford

1891

James H Turner, 75, postmaster of Cambridge, b Cambridge
Edward, 41, Barrister at Law Middle Temple, b Cambridge
Elizabeth Chapman, cook, 34, b Burwell
Martha Lawrence, 25, b housemaid, b Wimblingdon

1901

Charles Clark, 34, college porter, b Cambridge
Emma M, 38, lodging house keeper, b Cambridge
Sidney G, 10, b Cambridge
Albert E, 7, b Cambridge
Reginald, 5, b Cambridge
Elsie B V, 3, b Cambridge
Annie Clayton, servant, 24, b Burwell

1913

Coote and Warren, coal merchants C C Flitton manager
C W Clark University lodging house
S G Clark

Old Post Office, St Andrew’s Street and Post Office Terrace c.1900

Front of Post Office Terrace: drawing by Slim Smith from The Lion Yard (1974) based on photo above