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20, 21, 22 Trinity Street (White Bear Inn)(Heffers)
History of 20-22 Trinity Street
‘Rebuilt behind in 1969-70 for Heffers bookshop by Austin-Smith: Lord as part of the Wolfson Building of Trinity. The huge open plan volume with its galleries and descending levels was something quite new for a British bookshop.’ (Pevsner)
F A Reeve in ‘The Cambridge Nobody Knows’ (1977) writes about the White Bear Inn. This stood almost opposite the entrance to Trinity College, where Heffer’s bookshop is now, and had a yard extending to Sidney Street. In 1782 Thomas Adkin took his BA and hired a handsome suite of rooms at the inn. Supported by Admin and his friends, the inn prospered and the landlord, Alderman Gurford, became wealthy. Because of the lavish entertainment by Adkin the White Bear became nicknamed Adkin College.
Three storey houses built in the early 18th century.
Pre 1858
Premises known as Baxters. Included nos 20 & 21 Trinity Street.
1861
The Matthew business had moved from 25 Trinity Street to 20-21 Trinity Street in 1858. The story of the Matthew family is told in Judy Wilson’s book.
Cambridge Grocer, Judy Wilson
(20)
John Matthew, 49, grocer china & glass dealer employing 6 men & 3 boys, b Surrey
Mary A, 44, b Cambridge
Henry J, 15, Royal Navy midshipman, b Cambridge
Frances, 14, b Cambridge
Charles J, 13, b Cambridge
Herbert, 11, b Cambridge
Arthur, 10, b Cambridge
George Alfred, 5, b Cambridge
Sidney, 3, b Cambridge
Kathrine, 1, b Cambridge
Susanna Bartlett, visitor, proprietor of houses, 56, b Surrey
Susanna E Bartlett, visitor, 15, b Devon
Sarah Asplin, servant, nursemaid, 35, b Girton
Hannah M Edwards, 22, servant, cook, b Norfolk
Ann E Harradine, 16, housemaid, b Trumpington
(21) Shop
(22-23)
Henry M Ransom, 38, tailor & robemaker, b Cambridge
Emily M, 27, b Cambridge
Emily S, 1, b Cambridge
Harriet Elizabeth, 2 mos, b Cambridge
Sophia Randall, servant, housemaid, 21, b Quy
Elizabeth Rayner, servant, housemaid, 17, b Chesterton
Isabella Hancock, nurse, 15, b Quy
Julia J Watts, sister, 22, b Cambridge
Rebecca Norton, visitor, 60, b Norfolk
William E Brymer, lodger, 20, student at Trinity College & Inns Temple, b Hants
Samuel T Richardson, lodger, 33, haircutter, b Cambridge
Rebecca A Richardson, wife, 34, b Norfolk
Ada Mary Richardson, 1, b Cambridge
1871
1874
John Matthew & Henry Matthew, John’s eldest son, entrered into a Deed of Partnership as Matthew and Son.
1879
Henry John Matthew had bought the Lensfield Estate from the Wentworth family. But Henry died unexpectedly on 12th September 1879 at the age of 39. The property was bought by the Catholic church and became the site of the new church, Our Lady and the English Martyrs. Henry’s wife Margaret took his place as partner with John, with John’s fourth son Arthur returning to Cambridge to work with his father. Henry’s estate was almost £15,000; one of his executors was Josiah Chater. He left gifts to Josiah, Deacon’s Baptist Church, the Victoria Asylum and the Female Refuge.
Henry b 1845 d 1879 had married Margaret Gosling in 1874. They lived at 7 St George’s Terrace in Chesterton; they had two children, Harold and Eva. Arthur Matthew b 1850 d 1917 married Maude Illsley b 1878 d 1968. They had three children, Gordon b 1898 d 1947, Bernard Matthew b 1900 d 1898 who married Enid Doughty, and David Matthew b 1906 d 1989 who married Josephine Ekin.
1881
(20, 21, 22)
Arthur Matthew, 30, grocer and china dealer, b Cambridge
Benjamin Birt, 26, grocer’s clerk, b Oxford
William Cole, 21, grocer’s clerk, b Cambridge
John C Heffer, 17, grocer’s clerk, b Cambridge
James Dawson, 23, china saleman, b York
Goodman B Campbell, 16, grocer’s shopman, b Sheffield
Julia Holloway, widow, servant, 37, b Norfolk
Susannah Burgess, servant, 25, b Cambridge
1884
Arthur Matthew and his father John enter into Deed of Partnership as Matthew and Son.
1885
Matthew’s, 20 – 21 Trinity Street c.1885 Arthur Matthew behind second window from left (Charles Porter)
1889
John dies, leaving the business to Arthur.
1894
Lease of 19 Trinity Street, the wine shop, taken on
1895
Matthew and Son becomes a Limited Company with Arthur as Governing Director
1896
Cafe opens at 14 Trinity Street
1899
Independent Press and Chronicle 1899, Matthew and Son Trinity Street
The arrival of Seville oranges in early 1899 was announced by Matthew’s in the local paper. Many items were needed for the task of making marmalade and Matthew’s probably hoped they had cornered the market.
Marmalade list, 1913, Matthew’s Trinity Street
Marmalade machine, Matthew’s 1913 catalogue
According to the history of the Matthews family, M R James, an undergraduate of King’s in the 1880s and to become a well known author of ghost stories, bought his marmalade ready made from Matthew’s. Customers before the First World War could choose from 15 varieties; by 1936 the choice had been reduced to 11, sold in 1lb, 2lb and 7lb jars.
Keiller’s and Cooper’s Oxford were among the most expensive, while cheapest in 1913 was Chivers at 4 1/2d a pound. Chivers had begun manufacturing jam in Histon in 1873. By 1885 to ensure a permanent workforce they diversified into marmalade. Matthews sold and recommended many Chivers products; the two families got to know each other well and met socially.
1900
Plan of Matthew’s Trinity Street, 1900
1901
Frederick George Morgan, 28, grocer’s cashier, b Cambridge
Alfred H Clarke, boarder, 22, ironmonger, b Derby
Arthur W French, boarder, 22, provisions merchant’s assistant, b Pampisford
Ernest G Driver, 20, grocer, b Cambridge
Julia Holloway, widow, 55, housekeeper, b Norfolk
Ethel Norman, housemaid, 16, b Over
1902
Restoration work, 1902, 22 -22 Trinity Street
1905
Memorial window to John and Mary Ann Matthew in nave of All Saints Church
Family gravestone in Mill Road cemetery built by Rattee and Kett of Sicilian marble, cost £74.16.0.
All Saints memorial window to John and Mary Ann Matthew, 1905
1911
(20)
Robert Bradley, 35, university lodging house keeper, b Market Drayton
Margaret, 30, b Herts
Musgrave, 8, b Cambridge
Beatrice Hall, sister in law, 23, working in house, b Herts
Lavina Hall, niece, 15, working in house, b Herts
Lawrence Harvey, servant, 16, b Cambridge
Rose Pearson, 20, b Hadstock
Charles Albert Brantsen, 27, law student, b London
1913
20 & 21
Matthew and Sons Ltd, grocers, provision merchants, fruiterers, china and glass dealers
Heffer & Sons (unknown date)(MoC)
1922, Cambridge Chronicle, Matthew and Son, Trinity Street
China Department at Matthew and Son, date unknown
Horse stalls behind Matthew’s, 20 Trinity Street, 1913
1936
Matthew’s, 20 Trinity Street, delivery map, 1936
Matthew’s delivery van
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