Star Brewery bottle

Burleigh House, Star Brewery, 13, 14, 15 Newmarket Road, Cambridge

History of 13 - 15 Newmarket Road

Royal Commission Survey of Cambridge 1959: built in the 18th century but in the second half of the 19th century the front was extensively remodelled… some of the rooms retain original panelling. The eponym is James Burleigh, FSA, carrier and landowner, of Cambridge, died c. 1830.

A B Gray in Cambridge Revisited (1921) notes:

Opposite stands Burleigh House, deriving its name from a former owner who held extensive property in the neighbourhood. James Burleigh flourished during the reign of George III and was one of that small number of public spirited men who from time to time have risen to affluence by their industry and sterling worth, and played no inconsiderable part in the life of their native town. He followed the remunerative calling of a carrier and, during the stirring times of the Napoleonic menace, was accorded public thanks for his patriotic offer of sixty horses and eight waggons for general service in the event of an invasion…. he became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries…. James Street and Burleigh Street perpetuate respectively the christian name and surname of this worth citizen.

James Burleigh’s will is in the National Archives at Kew.

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c. 1822/23: James P Twiss moved his brewery in Rose Crescent to this site. he married Ann in the 1830s. At the Coronation Feats of 1838 on Parker’s Piece, the Star Brewery provided six barrels of beer.

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1859 Brewery was sold to Frederick Bailey, former licensee of the Burleigh Arms, the Star Brewery tap associated with the little Hope Brewery in Parsonage Street. Twiss moved with his family to 56 Hills Road.

The ‘Star’ name was probably in use from the 1850s. The Hope brewery was incorporated circa 1870.

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1871

(14)

William Towler, 41, brewer, b Fulbourn

Mary, 33, b Fulbourn

Ellen Mary, 7, b Fulbourn

William, 6, b Cambridge

Annie, 4, b Cambridge

Janet, 3, b Cambridge

Alexander, 1, b Cambridge

Lucy Morgan, servant, 14, b Norfolk

(13)

Frederick James Burton, 42, boot closer, b Cambridge

Ellen, 42, college servant, b Cambridge

Sara Ann, 20, machinist, b Cambridge

James, 18, boot closer, b Cambridge

Frederick, 16, compositor, b Cambridge

Phoebe, 14, wool flower maker, b Cambridge

James Dunn, apprentice, 18, boot closer, b Cambridge

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c 1877: Herbert Hazeldene Tebbutt, Bailey’s stepson, became involved in the work of the brewery. He later became head brewer and a partner in the Granta Brewery.

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1881

(13)

Alfred Whiffen, 49, shoe maker, b Cambridge

Mary, 45, b Cambridge

George, 21, shoemaker, b Cambridge

Thomas, 14, b Cambridge

Rose, 10, b Cambridge

Bertha Smith, visitor, 5, b Cambridge

(14)

William Towler, 51, brewer master employing 3 men, b Isleham

Mary, 43, b Fulbourn

Ellen M, 17, b Fulbourn

William J, 16, brewer, b Cambridge

Anne, 14, b Cambridge

Alexander, 11, b Cambridge

Maude, 7, b Cambridge

John, 4, b Cambridge

Daisey, 1, b Cambridge

Abigail Piper, 17, servant, b Little Wilbraham

In 1891 the Towler family were at Morden Heath farm in Steeple Morden

Research by the family states that William Towler owned the Star Brewery in Newmarket Road. In addition  the Shakespeare Brewery at the Shakespeare in Newmarket Road (acquired by Towler in 1861), the Red Bull in Newnham as well as Morden Heath Farm in Steeple Morden. William died at the Shakespeare Brewery in 1896. There used to be a memorial plaque at the Red Bull: In ever loving memory of William Towler at Shakespeare Brewery — To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Those of his children who stayed in Cambridgeshire were:

James Towler (1868-1930) who lived with sisters Maud and Daisy at Nether Hall Farm. He was educated at the Perse School. Before moving to Nether Hall he managed the farm at Shelford Bottom.

Alexander (1869-1920) died at River Farm, Latham Road. He farmed at Grange Farm, Madingley then at River Farm. He married Matilda Lees who died in 1941 at 4 Montague Road.

Maud died in 1958 at 11 Selwyn Road and was buried in Grantchester.

Charles died in 1942 aged 71 at Home farm, Litlington.

Elly married Frome Wilson and lived at Haggis Farm, Barton

John married Emily Lennox and farmed at Tunbridge Hall, Bottisham. Their one child, Marguerite who died in 1984 was a former owner of the Copper Kettle in Kings Parade.

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1889 brewery was sold to Charles Armstrong. Armstrong also took over the Priory and Victoria Breweries. He remodelled and modernised the brewery. Among the pubs it supplied were the ‘Fountain‘ in St Andrew’s Street, the ‘Free Press‘, the ‘Hazard Arms‘ in Mill Lane renamed the ‘Mill’, the ‘Jolly Millers‘, the ‘Cow and Calf’, ‘Dew Drop‘, ‘Midland Tavern‘, and ‘Champion of the Thames’.

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1892 Limited Company formed, initially the ‘Star and Priory Brewery Co’, but by 1893 the ‘Star Brewery’.

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1901

Frederick Cumberland, 44, brewer, b Beds

Evelyn M, 38, b Newcastle

Geoffrey, 12, b Somerset

Rupert, 10, b Wilts

Alice Cutting, 24, cook, b Chesterton

Alice Fisher, 23, parlourmaid, b London

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1906

Burleigh House, Newmarket Road — Frederick Bailey’s charity, 21 March 1906
Since 1886 the parish of St Andrew the Less has theoretically been richer by the sum of £5,299 through the munificence of Frederick Bailey, a well-known brewer who resided at Burleigh House, Newmarket Road. Up to the present the riches have conferred no practical benefit but now a scheme has been formulated and income will flow to the relief of poor residents. There is also to be a commemoration service on his birthday. Now a poor parish will receive a substantial charity and the memory of a generous benefactor will be kept green for many an age. 06 03 21a & b
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Newmarket Road Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, entry 1906 03 21.

Star Tap, Newmarket Road — Bakers’ Clem supper, 19 November 1906
For many years it has been the custom for men employed in the various bakery businesses in Cambridge to hold an annual supper known as the Bakers’ Clem, provided through the generosity of the master bakers and millers. This year 70 men and boys sat down to a substantial meal at the Star Tap, Newmarket Road after which songs were sung 06 11 19
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Newmarket Road Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, entry 1906 11 19.

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1913 Burleigh House

Henry C Francis, director Cambridge Star Brewery

Star Brewery Cambridge Ltd, Charles Armstrong, managing director

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1918

The workforce of the Star Brewery was almost entirely female a the end of World War One (Barnwell at War 2018)

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1934

Tollemache Breweries of Ipswich gained controlling interest.

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1940

14 June 1940 — football ground left in trust

Land in Trust. — Mr. Henry Clement Francis, of Burleigh House, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, who died on February 13 last, aged 83 years left gross estate of the value of £33,512 13s. 2d., with net personality £30,614 17s. 11d. Testator left Freehold land in the parish of Fen Ditton, now used by the Abbey United Football Club, to the Vicar of Fen Ditton and the Mayor of Cambridge, in trust to be used for football and for grazing and dancing, and if no longer required for those purposes, to sell the ground, and one half of the proceeds to be given to the Cambridge and District Nurses and one half to the Abbey Church.
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Newmarket Road Scrapbook 1897 to 1990, entry 1940 06 14.

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1957 merger of Tollemache and Cobbold breweries

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1962

Tollemache and Cobbold Breweries

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1972 brewing on site ceased

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1981/2 brewery demolished leaving only the 18th century Burleigh House front.