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221 Hills RoadMore information about the history of this building, currently occupied by the language school EF, can be found here:
Information about the history of EF can be found here:
http://www.ef.co.uk/about-us/our-history/
A letter to the Cambridge Weekly New in September 1986 from Anne Bidder recalls some of the activities at the house:
While my father and mother lived at Cavendish Corner, the garden was in frequent use by the local community for sales of work, garden meetings, district nursing, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Womens Citizens’ Association, Liberal gatherings (my father was a keen and active Liberal).
The activities all took place on the lawn and orchard near the house but the whole garden was open.
There was never the least damage; my father said that the local people felt a sort of pride – and would never have hurt what was in a sense “theirs”.
Both my parents were remarkable. My father was grandson of George Parker Bidder I, the ‘calculating boy.’ He had a remarkable mind and width of knowledge.
My mother gave up scientific work on her marriage and was active in all sorts of committees, the council of Homerton, the garden committee of Girton (her own college) and active friend of Newnham (where she was a lecturer until he marriage) – the voluntary Mental Welfare Association (with Mrs Rootham, Mr Rackham) and many others…
UK census data
Alexander Macintosh, 40, ironmonger and ironfounder, born Cambridge
Annie M, 35
Alister B, 10
John B, 8
Margaret B, 4
Mercy Hardy, servant, 26, cook
In 1891 the family were living at 11 Bateman Street. Alexander had married Annie McGregor on 5/6/1888 in Cambridge.
George Parker Bidder, 47, zoologist, born Kensington
Marion Greenwood Bidder, 48, physiologist, born Hull
Caroline Greenwood Bidder, 10, born London
Anna McClean Bidder, 8, born Cherry Hinton
Agnes Hamilton Greenwood, visitor, 52, private teacher, born Hull
Fanny Maxted, servant, 47, nurse, born Kent
Emily Calvert, servant, 44, cook, born Hereford
Helen Hinde, servant, 30, parlourmaid, born Bradford
Florence Anne Peatman, servant, 23, housemaid, born Chesterton
A biography of George Parker Bidder can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Parker_Bidder_III
Marion Greenwood Bidder was a pioneering woman student and taught physiology and botany at Girton and Newnham colleges.
Anna McClean Bidder was a zoologist and co-founder of Lucy Cavendish College.
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