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http://www.artuk.org/artworks/life-in-the-jurassic-sea-duria-antiquior-an-earlier-dorset-194784

29 Station Road, 1 Salisbury Villas (Basque Refugee Hostel)

History of 29 Station Road

Group of houses built c1874 possibly by Richard Reynolds Rowe. Arundel Villas are two pairs of semis which had their own shared access. Salisbury Villas were six detached properties with another shared access whilst in-between was the largest house, St Andrew’s, which had its own double access to Station Road. All the properties are similar in style, of 2-3 storeys with semi basements, of gault brick with red brick and stone dressings and slate roofs. Whilst all the buildings are different, they share common features and mostly Gothic detailing; Most have prominent gables and end chimney stacks (except no. 13) and plate glass sash windows.

The original separate (but shared) accesses have now been consolidated into one combined access road / car park, though the lime trees adjacent to the road and ‘no-fines’ concrete boundary wall is of interest in its own right.

This is a fine group of houses of consistent character, probably by an architect of some note (his Corn Exchange and Red Cow PH are Grade II Listed). They should be considered for ‘spot-listing’. In townscape terms, the no-fines concrete wall to Station Road is of interest and the rhythm of the set-back houses and avenue of trees are vital to the character of Station Road. Most of the buildings retain their rear gardens though these do not contribute greatly to the townscape, with the exception of the brick wall to no 29 which defines the edge of Tenison Road. (Camb City Council Station Area Conservation Appraisal)

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An on-line exhibition about the Basque Refugees who came to East Anglia including Cambridge will be accessible via this link in June 2020:

https://havenseast.org

See below for more information on the role this house played as a hostel for some of the refugee children.

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1891

(1 Salisbury Villas)

John S Winbolt [Hinbolt?], 50, civil engineer, born Middlesex

Christiana, 49, born Kennington

Annie P Barton, servant, 36, cook, born Beds

Susan Good [Cook?], servant, 35, housemaid, born Cambs

1901

Barnabas Gibson, 76, retired Governor of Prison, born Leeds

Mary A Matthews, cook, born Comberton

Esther Ison, housemaid, born Cambs

1911

Robert Farren, 79, widower, oil and water colour painter, born Cambridge

Mary Farren, 55, daughter, single, oil and water colour painter, born Cambridge

Anne Coe, 53, married, artist painter, born Cambridge

Nellie Coe, granddaughter, 24, born Cambridge

Jessie Farren, 52, daughter, artist painter, born Cambridge

Alexander Farren, son, artist, born Cambridge

Emma Grace farren, son’s wife, 40, born Cambridge

Daphne Farren, granddaughter, 7, born Cambridge

Ivy Elizabeth Brown, servant, 15, born Cambridge

Robert Farren (1832-1912) was born in Willow Walk, Newmarket Road and worked as a heraldic artist and in the Geological Museum mounting specimens and labelling cases. He published engravings of local scenery. His brother William Farren was a photographer and the two brothers joined together and created Farren Brothers in 1869. They split in 1870 and William Farren continued the photography business.

Robert Farren from a photo by W Farren

20/12/1920: Robert Farren, the well-known Cambridge artist, died at Highgate. Farren, who was born in Cambridge about 80 years ago, lived in Cambridge all his life with the exception of a few years’ residence at Scarborough until August last when he went to live in Highgate. He was a very clever water colour artist but best known for his work in oils and his etchings. His fen pictures were well- known and his series of etchings of cathedral cities amongst his most famous work. He also produced fine etchings of the Cambridge Greek plays. His ‘Degree Day’ was published as a photo by Wm Farren when he lived in Rose Crescent. Farren loved to paint Cambridge & Cambridgeshire scenery and there is scarcely a picturesque ‘bit’ in the town or county that has not been reproduced by him. At one time he had his studios at the top of which are now the University offices but were formerly a Liberal Club. A good many years ago he resided at Mayfield, Hills Road but during the last three years lived at no. 1 Station Road. In his younger days he was a very handsome figure, tall and well- built. He was a skilful fencer and attained some note as a geologist. He married Miss Mason, a Cambridge lady and had a family of 14 children, none of whom are now living in Cambridge, his only relatives being his nephew William Farren, the naturalist, of Regent Street and his brother. Two of his daughters have inherited their father’s artistic skill in no small degree. The funeral will take place at Old Chesterton churchyard where his wife is buried.  Three children of his eldest son, the late Ernest Farren live with their mother in Herbert Street (Cam.News)


1913

Mrs Griffiths

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1938

29 Station Road

Jesus College rented the house to be used as a refuge for Basque Children, evacuated to the UK to escape from the Spanish Civil War. An important figure in the support given to the refugees was Professor Francis Macdonald Cornford (1874-1943). He was an ancient historian whose son John had been a poet and Communist; he was killed in the Spanish Civil War. The family home was Conduit Head on Madingley Road.

John Cornford and the fight against the Fascists in the 1930s.

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1939 UK Register

1.Maria Eckroyd, b 1890, teaching

2.Marina Rodriguez, b 1902, matron

3.John A McLean, b 1911, lecturer adult education (Gunner Royal Artillery)

4.withheld

5.withheld

6.Jose Gallego, b 1923, garage apprentice

7.withheld

8.Antonio Gallego, b 1924, garage apprentice

9.withheld

10.withheld

11.withheld

12.withheld

13.withheld

14. Antonio Montero, b 1926, at school

15. Amparo Moreno, b 1926, at school

16. withheld

17.Alvara Martinez, b 1927, at school

18.withheld

19.withheld

20.withheld

21. Maria T Cisneros, b 1928, at school

22.withheld

23.withheld

24.withheld

25. Jose E Murquia, b 1928, at school

26.withheld

27.withheld

28. Carmen Margalet, b 1930, at school

29. withheld

30. Carmen Martinez, b 1900, matron

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Jose and Antonio Gallego were two of the refugees who stayed in England after the war and went on to become professional footballers.

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2012/05/22/inenglish/1337695459_091784.html

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More information about the Basque refugees in general can be found in these locations:

https://www.cambridgeppf.org/faqs/basque-refugees

https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/65794

https://www.basquechildren.org/-/docs/newsletters/20070401

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273164060_HISTORY_MIGRATION_AND_CHILDHOOD_BASQUE_REFUGEE_CHILDREN_IN_1930s_BRITAIN

https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/343357/1/SABIN-FERNANDEZ_Doctoral_Thesis_BASQUE_REFUGEE_CHILDREN.pdf

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