120 High Street (66), Pond Farm, Cottenham

History of 120 High Street

Listed building:

Probably late C17.

A group of fifty dissenting families, ‘The Church Congregation Society of the Protestant Dissenters of the Denomination of Independence’, worshipped in a barn behind this farmhouse. A chapel was then built in 1781 on the same site as the modern Baptist Chapel. The first minister, Thomas Baron, was a Baptist, so the Society became part of the Baptist movement.

Pond Farm was also used for meetings of the Ranters, or Primitive Methodists, before their own chapel was built at 138 High Street, c.1860. (see Cottenham in Focus, 2002)

1851

Ann Norman, widow, 76, farm of 30 acres, b Cottenham

John, grandson, 23, farmers bailiff, b Cottenham

Eliza, grandson’s wife, 24, b Cottenham

Sophia, great granddaughter, 6 mos, b Cottenham

William Parnwell, 19, ag.lab., b Elsworth

1861

John Norman, 33, widower, farmer of 35 acres employing 1 labourer

Sophia, 10

Elizabeth Moore, 42, servant

1871

John Norman, 41, farmer 55 acres employing 1 man, b Cottenham

Sophia

Elizabeth Norman, 52, dairymaid, b Histon

1881

John Norman, farmer of 60 acres employing  men and 1 boy

Sophia, daughter

Elizabeth Moore, dairy maid

1891

John Norman, widower, farmer

Elizabeth Moore, 76, servant, b Histon

1901

John Norman, widower, 73, farmer, b Cottenham

Sophia Papworth, daughter, 50, housekeeper

1911

Sophie Papworth, 61, farmer, b Cottenham

1939 (66)

Frank M Harris, b 1894, grocers assistant

Lilian M, b 1900

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Modern (120)