159 Cherry Hinton Road, 2 Middleton Terrace, Cambridge

History of 159 Cherry Hinton Road

1891

Robert Proctor, 44, engine stoker, born Suffolk
Ellen, 40, born Glos.
Frank Watkinson, lodger, 8, born Cambridge

1901

Edward Cowell, miller’s carman
Sarah A D
Donald J
Stanley A
Rosetta, mother, widow

1911

Edward Cowell, 41, miller flour mill, born Cambs.
Sarah Ann Daisy, 39, born Cambs.
Donald John, 12, born New Cherryhinton
Stanley Arthur, 10, born New Cherryhinton
Basil Edward,7, born New Cherryhinton
Doris Maud, 4, born New Cherryhinton
Rosetta Olive, 1, born New Cherryhinton
Rosetta Cowell , mother, 73, widow, born Essex

Iris Cowell volunteered for the Red Cross from 1915-1918 at the First Eastern General Hospital.

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159 Cherry Hinton Road was for many years home of Cowells the builders. Edward Cowell is recorded in the census in 1901 and 1911 as a miller. By 1913 the property is in Mrs Cowell’s name.

At the bottom of their garden at 159 they created their workshops and expanded by buying parts of the garden on either side. This area of workshops was finally sold to the Swiss Laundry next door.

Tony Whitmore, a member of the family firm, talked in 2016 about his grandparents and the growth of the firm.

After his national service Tony went into business with his father. He had previously be apprenticed to the firm of Keating in Hills Road, based near the corner with Homerton Street. Here he talks about the work they did in those days: