63 St Andrew’s Street. Built by Henry Ranch and known as Rance’s Folly. Demolished in 1954 (MoC185/57)

62 – 63 St Andrew’s Street, The Chequers, Rance’s Folly

History of 62-63 St Andrew's Street

63 St Andrew’s Street

St Nicholas’s Hostel is recorded in a conveyance document from 1585. But the earliest reference to the hostel is in the will of Thomas Lolleworth of Cambridge dated 1393. This document bequeathed the whole of his messuages (buildings) to the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, including the hostel. the hostel had a great reputation in medieval times in connection with legal studies.

British History Online states: St. Nicholas’s Hostel was prominent among the houses of jurists, and had many eminent men among its members.  It also seems to have had a reputation for rowdiness;  the Grace Book records a fight on two successive nights with its neighbours at Christ’s College, and there are plenty of other examples of inter-hostel brawls recorded.

62 St Andrew’s Street

1585 The Chequer: in the possession of Dr Christopher Greene, the Professor of Physic (who held considerable property in Cambridge); members of his family owned it for many years. In the middle of the 18th century it was the residence of Mr Richard Whish, a celebrated Cambridge citizen, who under somewhat peculiar circumstances amassed a large fortune.

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1851 (66 St Andrew’s)

Henry Rance, 44, solicitor, b Ely
Caroline, 36, b Newmarket
Henry W H, 8, b Cambridge
Rosaline C M, 6, b Cambridge
Edith Hills, 31, servant
Elizabeth F Shangward, 33, servant, b Hunts
Keren H Smith, 20, servant, b Suffolk

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1861

(62) Sarah Dearlove, 82, of no business, b Cambridge
(63) Henry Rance, 54, solicitor, b Ely

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Henry Rance

Born Ely. Conservator of the River Cam, a director of Accident Insurance Company and lessee of Barnwell Theatre. Also a director of the new Gas Company. Built luxurious mansion in St. Andrew’s Street (known as Rance’s Folly) which sported a magnificent dining room. It had four lifts and a roof-top tennis court. His reputation for hospitality was lavish and he spent many thousands of pounds a year entertaining. Alderman for Trinity ward, but had to leave because of non-attendance at meetings for beyond the statutory period. His aldermanic seat was taken by Councillor Joshua Taylor. https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/media/j2fotixm/cambridge-mayors-1835-to-2000.pdf

See Enid Porter’s article: St Andrew’s Street

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1871 (63 St Andrew’s)

Henry Rance, 64
Caroline,
Henry W H
Rosalie C M
Ricarda C
Edith Hills, cook, 54, b Little Eversden
Julianna Toffill, 21, housemaid, b Cambridge
George Thomas Willson, 22, footman, b Cambridge

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1881

(62 St Andrew’s)

Henry Rance
Caroline

(63 St Andrew’s)

Lucien Boquel
Maria Joseph Boquel

The Boquels had previously lived at 115 Hills Road. They later moved to 19 Trumpington St.

http://millroadcemetery.org.uk/joseph-ouel/

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1913

University Syndicate’s Vice-Chancellor’s and University Marshal’s Rooms – Alfred Brockett University Marshal
University Appointments Board
Board of Indian Civil Service Studies
Military Board of Studies
Foreign Service Students’ Committee

(63-64) Ginn & Co solicitors – Samuel Reuben Ginn

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1957 June demolished

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1970

(62) Gordon Thoday, dress fabrics

(63) A Jones and son, shoe retailers