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20, 21, 22 Trinity Street (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)

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.

(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

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1871

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1874

John Matthew & Henry Matthew, John’s eldest son, entrered into a Deed of Partnership as Matthew and Son.

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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.

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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

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1884

Arthur Matthew and his father John enter into Deed of Partnership as Matthew and Son.

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1885

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1889

John dies, leaving the business to Arthur.

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1894

Lease of 19 Trinity Street, the wine shop, taken on

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1895

Matthew and Son becomes a Limited Company with Arthur as Governing Director

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1896

Cafe opens at 14 Trinity Street

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1899

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.

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.

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1900

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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

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1902

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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.

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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

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1913

20 & 21

Matthew and Sons Ltd, grocers, provision merchants, fruiterers, china and glass dealers

 

 

1936

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