Water Street range, Chesterton

5 – 11 (5) (16) Water Street, Chesterton / Green Dragon

History of 5 - 11 Water Street, Chesterton

According to Alison Taylor, Cambridge The Hidden History p. 122:

The earliest building [in the Water Street area] is the Green Dragon, built in the 16th century but probably serving traders at the fair from much earlier. Edward Ward’s pamphlet about Sturbridge Fair published in 1700, mentions ‘the Black Bull, where the Country Chapmen generally lodge that come to the Fair, for the sake of rare strong humming Ale, for which ’tis famous; over which they get Drunk, Quarrel, and make Bargains.

Royal Commission Survey of Cambridge 1959: range of four tenements, the ‘Green Dragon’ inn, Nos. 7, 9, 11 Water Street ….. has plastered timber-framed walls and tile-covered roofs. It was built in the 16th century, with two wings on the back; additions have since been made beside and on the ends of the wings. The building is of note as a timber-framed range of the 16th century.

1851

William Essex, publican

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1861

Ephraim Mansfield, publican

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1869 Alfred Carter (Post Office Directory)

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1871

Ephraim Mansfield

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1879 Jacob Holmes (Kellys)

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1881

Jacob Holmes

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1883 J Holmes (Kellys)

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1891

George Hall

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1892 Geo Hall (Kellys)

1896 Walter Chappell Rayner (Kellys)

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1901 (16)

John Fordham

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1904 John Fordham (Kellys)

1913 (16) J Fordham (Cambridge Directory)

1916 John Fordham (Kellys)

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1939 (5)

Walter Shelley, b 1883, licensed victualler

Hetty, b 1884

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1963 Green Dragon

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The following are postcards of ‘The Green Dragon’ supplied by J H Baker: