Blue Plaque Project – Gwydir Street

Bringing to life the stories of the working class Victorian residents

Using census information from 1891 & 1901 and other archive material, Professor Helen Weinstein, Director of Historyworks produced commemorative blue plaque artworks to tell the stories of the working class Victorian residents in collaboration with local primary school students and residents.

The blue plaque artworks were displayed in residents windows in March-April 2024 to form a pop-up street exhibition as part of the This Is Our Street! event programme for Cambridge Festival.

“walking down Gwydir Street is a really touching experience, seeing how the community has supported the project and displayed the children’s work. I always wanted St Matthew’s to be at the heart of the community and this has been a fantastic way of bringing our local primary school and the wider community together. I therefore hope that the exhibition has played a part in bringing residents together too, seeing how we are all part of the shared history that is going on.” – St Matthew’s Primary School headteacher Tony Davis

Vinyl decal blue plaques have been produced, highlighting a former resident of each household on Gwydir Street. Acknowledging that women have been underrepresented in documented history, Professor Weinstein has featured many women with interesting stories and shines a light on important roles women played in their neighbourhood with tailoring and laundry work as well as voluntary activities, supporting welfare provision.

On Gwydir Street you will discover many railway workers, tailors, grocers, builders, and policemen from the Victorian period. Explore more about the history of places on Gwydir Street here.

See the Gwydir Street blue plaque artworks here.

Cat looks out of window with blue plaque artwork at 91 Gwydir Street. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Blue plaque artwork on gate of 165 Gwydir Street  about Mr Kent. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Blue plaque artwork displayed on Gwydir Street window with window box. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Gwydir Street window display with information on found artefacts. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Gwydir Street blue plaque club. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Residents look at blue plaque artwork. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.

Creating blue plaque artwork using worksheet about Victorian laundress work. Image courtesy Gwydir Street Friends.