1 Cockburn Street, ghost sign

1 Cockburn Street, Cambridge

History of 1 Cockburn Street

1891

Daniel Gentle, 33, coal merchant and carter

Julia

Grace, 13, b Trumpington

Lizzie

Rose

Effie

Sarah

Samuel, 4, b Cambridge

Daniel

In 1881, the Gentle family were living in Trumpington on the London Road, location unknown.

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1896

Daniel Gentle, coal and coke merchant

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1901

Daniel Gentle, 44, carting contractor, b Harlton

Julia, 44, b Trumpington

Lizzie, 20, b Trumpington

Rose, 19, b Cambridge

Effie, 17, b Cambridge

Sarah, 16, b Cambridge

Daniel, 12, b Cambridge

Winifred, 6, b Cambridge

Lilian, 4, b Cambridge

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1911

Daniel Gentle, 54, contractor

Julie

Winifred

Lilian

Samuel

Lizzie Oakins Woolfenden, granddaughter, 9, b Cambridge

Rose Hutchcroft, daughter, 29, married, b Cambridge

Harold Frederick Hutchcroft, grandson, 3, b Warboys

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1913

Daniel Gentle, coal and coke merchant and carting contractor

The advertisement for his business is still in 2022 visible on the end wall of the terrace.

There is an entry for Daniel and Julia Gentle on the Mill Road Cemetery website

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1939

Mrs L Woolfenden

Misses W & L Gentle

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1970

D Sparkes

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1980 -1982

Email from AT 2026:

I lived at 1 Cockburn Street from October 1980 to April 1982. The ghost sign was more legible then. I think it said “Coal, coke, hay and chaff merchant”. (I’m not certain about the order; there might even have been “corn” in there somewhere, as well.) I’m hoping you will be able to match these words up with your photo, or with the sign itself, and make more sense of it. Thank you for including 1 Cockburn Street, and reminding me of many happy times there!