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Grantchester, former pigeon house, date uncertain (RCHM)

36 & 38 Mill Way, Dove Cottages, Grantchester

History of 36 & 38 Mill Way

Listed Building:

Dovecote, now house. C18. Timber-framed, renderd on high brick plinth and tiled, hipped roof with gablets.

In the 15th cent. this building was probably a combined hen-house and dove-cot for King’s College.

By the 20th cent. it had become three cottages for farm workers and 18 occupants.

Harold Smith, Grantchester

Harold Stephen Smith and Amy Barnes married in Grantchester in June 1914. Both had been born and grew up in Burwell. On marriage they settled at 3 Dove Cottages.

Harold enlisted in May 1916 and served in the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment. On 23rd April 1917 his regiment was ordered to break the Hindenburg Line in the Sensée Valley but the regiment was forced to retreat. 448 men were killed or missing; Harold’s body was never found.

(See World War 1, Francis Burkitt)

Private Edward Baker, Grantchester

George Baker and family moved to Dove Cottages by 1912. He was the manager of the dairy at Manor Farm. His son, Edward enrolled in the Yorkshire Hussars and was wounded 26th April 1917. He wrote to his parents on 28th from hospital but died on 7th May.

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