Wildcroft, The Front, Holywell

History of Wildcroft

Wildcroft was the home of the Metcalfe-Arnold family. The property had been mortgaged in 1750 for £10.

In 1841 the Metcalfes lived at Wildcroft, but also at the Ferry Boat Inn and at the Pike and Eel, Overcote Ferry.

The family were professional punt gunners. The gun weighed 17lbs and fired a pound of shot. Later generations of the family have taught Cambridge undergraduates the art of fowling with gun and dog.

The family were also expert at fishing and had their own design of eel trap. See ‘The Holywell Story’ by Joe Newell for more information about the family.

1871 Front Street

Thomas Metcalfe, 33,

Emma, 31,

Walter, 9,

Thomas Arthur, 6,

Ada Ann, 2 ms,

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1881 Front Street

Thomas Metcalfe, 42, fisherman, b Holywell

Emma, 42, b Upware

Walter W, 19, fisherman, b Holywell

Thomas A, 16, fisherman, b Holywell

Marian, 13, b Holywell

Ada A, 12, b Holywell

Ellen, 10, b Holywell

George, 7, b Holywell

Frederick, 4, b Holywell

Laura J, 2, b Holywell

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1891

Thomas Metcalfe, 52, rod and rush merchant, b Holywell

Emma, 50, b Upwell

Walter W, 29, in the business, b Holywell

Thomas, 26, in the business, b Holywell

George, 17, in the business, b Holywell

Fred, 14, b Holywell

Laura, 12, b Holywell

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1901

Thomas A Metcalfe, 36, fisherman

Mary A, 33,

Dorothy M, 4

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1911

Thomas Arthur Metcalfe, 46, fisherman

Mary Anne, 42, b Impington

Dorothy Mary, 14, b Holywell

George William Pearse, boarder, 45, retired, b Wales

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1919

Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Metcalfe married John Henry Cecil Arnold. He had been a policeman before the war. During WWI he served in the Huntingdonshire Cyclists. After the war he left the police force; the couple lived in the village at ‘Brooklyn’.

Their son Tom would be the last of the family to make a living from the river at Holywell.

See ‘A Working Life on the Great Ouse’ by Nita Luxford (2000)

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1921 Wildcroft

Thomas Arthur Metcalfe, 57, fisherman, b Holywell

Mary Anne, 52, b Histon

John Henry Cecil, son in law, 25, b Farcet

Dorothy Mary, daughter, 24, b Holywell

Mary Ann & Tom Metcalfe with grandson, Tom. Dolly by punt.

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1939

Thomas A Metcalfe, b 1864, fisherman

Cecil Arnold, b 1922, farm labourer