Adkins Corner, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge (RGL 2016)

Adkins Corner, Cambridge

History of Adkins Corner

Mike Petty Fenland History on FaceBook notes:

(April 28th 1953) Cambridge council approved building licences to Mr E. Maloney for five shops, twelve flats and a garage at the junction of Perne Road and Radegund Road, at a total cost not exceeding £29,300 & to the Norwich Union Insurance Societies for a block of 20 flats at Pinehurst, Grange Road. 

A comment on the site notes: I remember when it was Shadbolts field and had a donkey in it, it used to get the remains of my pack up on the way home from school 40s and 50s.

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1961 12 17
Adkins Corner. For the convenience of those who prefer out-of-town shopping with good parking facilities, W.J. Atkins have opened a self-service store by the Perne Road island in Cherryhinton Road where you will find the same quality – the best – which has made Adkins famous for English and Scottish meat, sausages, pies, cooked meats and other provisions. You pay less for the best – and you get Green Shield Stamps as well – Advert 61 12 17c
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Cherryhinton Road Area Scrapbook 1897–1990.

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Once the domain of a donkey, in 1963 W J Adkins opened a grocery supermarket at this site, the largest of their local chain. The company had originally begun as butchers in Cherry Hinton Village. For this reason the corner became known as Adkins corner. Subsequently Budgens occupied the site as well as smaller retail units like the Numark pharmacy, Floorstore and Coral the bookmakers. A major four million pounds refurbishment is currently (2018) planned to revive the tired looking facade and new flats will be built at the back. Work is expected to be completed by autumn 2018.