44 Chalmers Road, Cambridge

History of 44 Chalmers Road

1953 06 03
The special prize of £5 for the best decorated private house competition in Cambridge was won by Mrs M. O’Dell of Staffordshire Street who beat her nearest rival, Mr A.A. Cox of Victoria Road by one point. The standard was high and points awarded for each ward were very close. Winners included: Abbey Ward Mr R. Runham of Wellington Street; Castle: Miss J. Bowers, Windsor Road; Coleridge: Mr Blows, Cherryhinton Road; Cherry Hinton: Mr R. Abraham, Chalmers Road and Market Mr W.G.D. Clee of Union Road.
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Cherryhinton Road Area Scrapbook 1897–1990.

1960 06 04
An air raid shelter erected at the beginning of the war in the garden of 44 Chalmers Road, Cambridge, was never used because it was thought to be too shaky. Mr P.C. Grimwood, who constructed it, used a wonderful variety of iron work to strengthen it including a fender, a quantity of large keys, a sewing machine, part of a bedstead and wire netting. After the war it was left because the cost of demolition was prohibitive. Now it has finally been removed after three days hard drilling with two pneumatic drills, leaving 20 tons of rubble. Workmen say it was well-built and only a direct hit in the doorway would have destroyed it. 60 06 04
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Cherryhinton Road Area Scrapbook 1897–1990.