127, Dant bakery and 129, Scales Hotel, Chesterton Road, looking north west towards St Luke’s church

129 Chesterton Road, Scales Hotel, Portland Arms

History of 129 Chesterton Road

1861

John Rich, 24, publican, Girton

Ann, 25, b Cambridge

Robert, 9 mos, b Chesterton

Sarah Amy, niece, 11, b Cambridge

John Levitt, boarder, 22, labourer, b Horningsea

George Poole, lodger, 42, miller, b West Wratten

Sophia Dewey, 21, servant, b Witcham

In 1841 John Rich was living at Bunker’s Hill, Girton

In 1871 the Rich family were at 33 Market Hill

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1881

George Scales

The Scales family lived at 7 King Street.

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1891 129 Chesterton Road, Scales Hotel

Michael Rowell, 46, licensed victualler, b Chesterton

Caroline, 46, b London

Maude, 20, b Chesterton

Michael, 19, general assistant, b Chesterton

Charles, 18, general assistant, b Chesterton

William, 12, b Chesterton

Harry, 10, b Chesterton

Florence, 9, b Chesterton

Jack, 7, b Chesterton

Benyon, 5, b Chesterton

Marguerite, 3, b Chesterton

Elizabeth Barnsley, mother in law, widow, 83, living on own means, b London

Charles Barnsley, brother in law, 56, waterman, b London

Annie Wagstaff, niece, widow, 29,

Harry Barnsley, boarder, 22, waterman, b Chesterton

Emily Cornwell, 17, servant, b Chesterton

In 1881 the Rowells were at the Bleeding Heart on Chesterton High Street.

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1901 Scales Hotel, Milton Road

Michael Rowell, 55, hotel keeper and farmer, b Chesterton

Caroline, 54, b London

Maud, 30, b Chesterton

William, 33, farmer’s son, b Chesterton

Harry, 20, plumber, b Chesterton

Florence, 19, barmaid, b Chesterton

Jack, 17, b Chesterton

Benyon, 16, b Chesterton

Daisy, 13, b Chesterton

William, brother, widower, 66, living on own means, b Chesterton

Dorris Tweed, granddaughter, 4, Durham

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1911

Michael Rowell, 67, widower, farmer and publican, b Chesterton

Harry, 30, assisting in the business, b Chesterton

Jack, 26, assisting in the business, b Chesterton

Florence, 28, assisting in the business, b Chesterton

Margaret, 23, assisting in the business, b Chesterton

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1913 Scales’ Hotel

Florence Rowell

GER and GNR Parcels Receiving Office

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1924 Reuben [Elsden?] took over

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1930s – 1950s:

This was the HQ of the 12th Cambridge Milton Road School Scouts. The Rovers were based at  “The Adventurer”, Scout Dock, Riverside Court, Chesterton Road, (c 1950).

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In 2025 MA sent this note:

I came to Cambridge aged 1 year old when my parents took over the Portland Arms on Mitcham’s Corner. My bedroom overlooked the Cambridge City football ground and if my parents weren’t too busy, we would cross over to Victoria Bridge to feed the ducks. I have a lot of memories of Midsummer Common and the Fair, of the piles of horse chestnut leaves to walk through, and of course the boathouses. Mr Guiver’s grocery shop was right on the corner with his alluring wooden box of glacé cherries behind the counter. Maskell’s Bakery through the archway on Victoria Avenue – I will always remember its very special smell and the warmth of freshly baked loaves. The Cambridge Folk Club which met in the Portland Arms Club Room where there was an old pianola. Sitting on the knees of The Dubliners and being allowed to get up and play the piano for them and sing with them.

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1962

Portland Arms