32 Trinity Street

History of 32 Trinity Street

No. 32 is a mid C18 red brick house with Venetian windows on the first floor. It was extended W early in the 19th cent. John Bowtell, bookbinder and antiquary, lived here. Inside there are original cornices, panelled doors and a staircase. There is a good early 19th century staircase in a well lit through a roof lantern. (see 1959 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments Survey of Cambridge)

1791-1813

Residence of John Bowtell, book-binder, antiquary and philanthropist

See Bookbinding & Printing

1861

William Warwicker, 70, hosier employing 2 shopmen, b Essex

1891

Jane Warwicker, widow, 80, living on her own means, b Herts

William Bodger, boarder, 70, retired hosier, b Cambridge

Ellen Lackie, servant, 16, b Essex

Alice Ricketts, 21, servant, b Gloucs

Ann Marshall, companion, 55, b Northants

1901

32 Trinity Street, date unknown

1902

Ernest Shepherd set up a tailor’s shop in Cambridge in 1902. His father was already established in Oxford. The rooms above were used as undergraduate lodgings by Trinity College.

1911

Alice Elizabeth Ward, wife, 30, lodging house keeper, b London

Alice Grimshaw, step daughter, 13, b London

Gertrude King, niece, 4, b London

Rachael Elizabeth Newman, 21, servant, b Cambridge

1927

Prince Chula

Prince Chula Chakrabongse of Thailand was allocated a bedroom on the third floor. Chakrabongse wrote in 1943: The room had ugly wallpapers, dark red curtains and armchairs and sofas covered in a hideous red plush. His table was quickly filled with letters – hundreds of circulars from innumerable university clubs and societies together with others from shops in Cambridge offering everything the new undergraduate could conceivably want – match boxes, tobacco jars, and other utensils all decorated with the college crest. They were known as ‘freshers’ delights’.

Whitney Straight, 32 Trinity Street

Racing car driver Whitney Straight lived at 32 Trinity Street for the four terms he studied at Cambridge. Prince Chula later bought the single seater Maserati owned by Whitney Straight for his nephew Prince Bira to race. Whitney had studied at Trinity from 1932 to 1933 but quit Cambridge to become one of Europe’s most famous racing driver. He later had a distinguished military and business career.