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15 Ainsworth Street

15 Ainsworth Street

Number 15 is one of a terrace of four houses on the west side of Ainsworth Street.

1881 census

James Thompson, head, 35, carpenter & joiner, b. Great Thorton [Thurlow], Suffolk
Mary A Thompson, wife, 41, b. Haverhill, Suffolk
Frederic W Thompson, son, 10, scholar, b. Haverhill, Suffolk
Herbert W Thompson, son, 8, scholar, b. Cambridge
James S Thompson, son, 5, scholar, b. Cambridge
Jane Thompson, daughter, 3, scholar, b. Cambridge
Ellen A Thompson, daughter, 7 months, b. Cambridge

The Electoral Register shows that James Thompson and his family were living here from 1880, and that they had moved to 75 Gwydir Street by 1886.

Newspaper death notices record the death of 14-month-old Elizabeth Robinson at 15 Ainsworth Street in 1890 (Cambridge Independent Press, 1 Dec 1890).

1891 census

Sidney J Melton, head, 25, carpenter, b. Rougham, Suffolk
Sarah E Melton, wife, 22, b. Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire
Mary G M Melton, daughter, 1, b. Cambridge
Albert S Melton, son, 2, b. Cambridge

The Electoral Register shows that the family were here from 1890 to 1896, and had moved to 4 Ainsworth Street by 1897. On the 1911 Census they were living at 48 Gwydir Street.

1901 census

Edward Ladds, head, 28, b. London, Middlesex
Priscilla Ladds, wife, 29, b. Wretton, Norfolk

Edward and Priscilla Ladds married at St Barnabas in 1900. Edward doesn’t list an occupation on this census. The Electoral Register suggests that Edward and Priscilla were resident here until 1907, after which they moved to 20 Stone Street.

Between 1908 and 1911, the Electoral Register shows a William Northfield living at the property. This is probably the William Northfield, aged 50 in 1911, a disinfector for the Town Council, who previously lived at Gloucester Place, and was living at 186 Sturton Street on the 1911 Census.

1911 census

William James Jackson, head, 30, coal merchant, b. Lambeth, London
Evelyn Jane Jackson, wife, 28, b. Chesterton, Cambridgeshire
Annie Elizabeth Jackson, daughter, 2, b. Chesterton, Cambridgeshire
Frances Jackson, mother, widow, 72, b. Kirtling, Newmarket

William Jackson and Evelyn Palmer married in 1909.

The Electoral Register for 1913–1915 shows a George Styles living at the property.

1921 census

James Bertram Walker, head, 31, railway shunter, G E Railway, b. Cambridge
Minnie Alice  Walker, wife, 32, house duties, b. Whissonsett, Dereham, Norfolk
Bertie Augustus Henry Walker, son, 6, b. Cambridge
Vera Lavinia Walker, daughter, 22 months, b. Cambridge

The Electoral Register shows that James and Minnie Walker lived here from 1918 to 1922. They then moved to 85 Searle Street.

The Electoral Register for 1922–1934 shows that Harold Leonard Pollendine and Olive Alice (née Bull, married in 1921) were living at the property. Harold grew up at 42 Russell Street. He was a railway porter, and joined the National Union of Railwaymen aged 16.

From 1935 until at least 1966 May and William Edward James Collings lived at no. 15. May’s maiden name was Cockerton, and she grew up next door at 13 Ainsworth Street. William Collings was a general labourer, and he served in the 1st Suffolk Regiment during World War I. William and May married in 1926.

Sources: UK census records (1881 to 1921), Cambridgeshire, England, Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books, 1722–1966, Cambridge Independent Press 06 December 1890, 1939 Register, England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995, World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914–1920,

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