New Chesterton Institute, dominoes club

New Chesterton Young Men’s Institute, Cambridge

History of New Chesterton Young Men's Institute

On the role the New Chesterton Institute had on the development of cricket in Cambridge see: Town v Gown; City v Village – A History of Cricket in Cambridge, Tony Watts (2025)

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Origins of the New Chesterton Institute — 7 August 1995
The New Chesterton Institute was founded 100 years ago to promote the moral, mental and physical well-being of its members. Today with 1,100 members the NCI Sports and Social Club is still going strong. Meetings were originally held in the Coffee House, Searle Street until the present building was erected in 1891. In the early days it was famous as a debating society. Now it is known more for its sporting achievements and even has a crib team. 95 08 07a

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Chesterton Road Area Scrapbook, reference 95 08 07a

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29 March 1900
A debate at New Chesterton Institute was told that while at the beginning of the century. Cambridge could only boast one weekly paper, they now had something like half-a-dozen weeklies and two dailies. During the past few years the Press generally had lost its influence for good upon the public. He did not think in recent years that editors had improved (Laughter). One sometimes heard that editors were “got at” and that sometimes big prices fetched extravagant leaders. There was too much reporting of police-court cases and inquests and they could do with a little less of the tragedy. The minds of the young were being poisoned by these things.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Chesterton Scrapbook, reference 1900 03 29 # c.04.

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1901

Institute

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1913

New Chesterton Young Men’s Institute

J Miller hon sec

Walter Williams, custodian

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1939

Sidney and Sally Gifford, and their daughter Greta

Read Greta’s reminiscences

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21 October 1960
Since the opening of the New Chesterton Institute in 1885 members have not been able to obtain any alcoholic drinks in the club. But now it has opened a bar in an effort to increase the dwindling membership. One of the first to patronise it was 89-year-old Sam Gawthrop, who has been a member of the club for 72 years. His drink was a non-alcoholic ginger–ale. “I don’t touch much of the stuff now, I am too old for that lark”, he said.

Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge Chesterton Scrapbook, reference 60 10 21b.

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1962

Sydney Gifford, New Chesterton Institute

L E G Ray, sec.

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See Legacies of Windrush: Dominoes Club