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Steam Laundry Cottages c1950. No. 6 is closest to the camera which is looking north.Margaret Daniels, widow, 53, living on own means, born Scotland
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Frederick Bowles
Mary A
Dorothy
Frederick
Redvers
Pretoria May
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Frederick Bowles, 40, coal carman, born Fulbourn
Mary Ann, 38, born Cambs.
Dorothy, 13, born Cherryhinton
Frederick George, 12, born Cherryhinton
Redvers, 10, born Cherryhinton
Pretoria May, 10, born Cherryhinton
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Cecilia Dora Arnold, b 1891, incapacitated
Ada M Rayner, b 1913, factory worker glass washing department
Gladys Arnold, b 1917, packer and sorter laundry
Gertrude Arnold, b 1919, packer and sorter laundry
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John F Arnold, b 1930
Jean F Abbs, b 1934
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In 2021 KA wrote:
I was born and lived in Steam Laundry Cottages. My father was Leonard Percy Arnold, my grandmother was Cecilia Dora Arnold. So many Arnolds lived and worked at the laundry. John (Beefy) Arnold was my uncle and had many children. One notable small time criminal in our family, who was well known to the police and an alcoholic, was renowned for stealing high end garments and linen from the laundry and selling them round Cherry Hinton to feed his habit. Later he built his own still in a shed at the back of the house, also selling cheap liquor.
One of his clothing customers and friend was a certain Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd fame who penned a song called Arnold Layne (See Youtube) which became their debut single.
“Arnold Layne had a strange hobby
Collecting clothes moonshine washing line
They suit him fine
…….
Now he’s caught
A nasty sort of person
They gave him time
Doors bang, chain gang he hates it”
The Steam Laundry Lane was also affectionately known as Arnold Lane because most occupants were indeed Arnolds.
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