Beatrice Stallan photographed by brother W J Stallan

40 London Road, Sawston

History of 40 London Road

1881 The Stallan family are living in the High Street, Sawston

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1891 London Road unnumbered

Alfred Stallan, 45, splitter leather, b Sawston

Alice, 21, daughter, machinist paper, b Sawston

Grace, 13, b Sawston

Willie, 9, b Sawston

Gertrude, 3, b Sawston

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1901 London Road unnumbered

Alfred Stallan, 58, skinner leather factory,

Mary Ann, 54,

Eunice, 30, glove maker,

Grace, 23, dressmaker,

William J, 19, apprentice to skinner,

Gertrude M, 13,

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1911 London Road unnumbered

Alfred Stallan, 65, skinner leather factory, b Sawston

Mary Ann née Coleman, 64, b Sawston

Eunice, 40, draper, b Sawston

Grace, 33, miller, b Sawston

William James, 29, photographer, b Sawston

Gertrude Maud, 23, drapers assistant, b Sawston

The London Road address is unnumbered in 1911. But later Mary Ann is living at 55 High Street with Walter Stallan, whilst  Horace Stallan and Mabel Stallan are living at 3 London Road.

Later William James is living in 6 Holland Street, Cambridge.

His great nephew C Tongue wrote in 2024:

The second son [William J Stallan] of his parents Alfred and Mary Ann Stallan of Sawston, he must have been a bright pupil at the village school, perhaps particularly in mathematic. While still at home at east View, Sawston he is listed as a photographer in 1904-1911, and may have had a hand in installing the first gas lighting in the village. He tried employment locally as a leather dresser in a Sawston tannery, which was his father’s trade, but his permanent work emerged to be as a laboratory assistant at the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company in Carlyle Road (how typical of the man to have his home, chapel and works all conveniently near to him) where he was initially engaged as a milling machine operative. Under the leadership of Sir Horace Darwin William was to emerge gradually as an intelligent inventor of many gadgets and refinements – some too complicated to describe here but as was the custom in those days, he only rarely gained credit or recognition when patents were registered by the company. It was enough for him to be inventing successfully and to be mastering problems. [continued Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company.]

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