Part of Fordham, 1886 OS map

6 Carter Street, Poet’s Cottage, Fordham

History of 6 Carter Street

Listed Building: [Location is just to left of ‘K’ in King’s Head on the 1886 map]

Cottage early C18. Clunch, painted and plastered with red pantile roofs and tall, local brick stack. House of James Withers, local poet. (Historic England)

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In 1851 the Withers family were living on Feast Green, Fordham. he and his wife Sarah are described as shoemakers.

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In 1861 the Withers family are living on the High Street Fordham. He is described as ‘poet’.

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1871 Carter Street

James R Withers, 58, poet cordwainer

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1881 Waterside

James Reynolds Withers, 68, poet, b Weston Colville

Sarah, 73, b Snailwell

Enid Porter writes in Cambridgeshire Customs and Folklore that James R Withers moved to Fordham in 1840 and began to write verses that attracted the attention of Mrs R Dillamore Fyson of Fordham who organised their publication.

For further information see:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/ForgottenPoet