20 Milford Street

A tailor, a car mechanic and a milkman

20 Milford Street is one of a terrace of three houses on the north side of the street, built in the early 1900s.

1911 census

Martin Clifton, head, 50, tailor, b. Cambridge
Mary Clifton, wife, 48, b. Cambridge
Walter Clifton, son, 27, tailor’s assistant, b. Cambridge
Oliver Clifton, son, 22, clerk, b. Cambridge
Dorothy Clifton, daughter, 13, at school, b. Cambridge
Maurice Clifton, son, 8, at school, b. Cambridge
Winifred Clifton, daughter, 6, at school, b. Cambridge
Married 28 years, 12 children of which 3 died

Martin Clifton’s father Benjamin was a tailor from Bedford who had set up business and raised a family in the Kite area of Cambridge. Martin also ran a successful business as a tailor and robe maker. Before moving to Milford Street the family had lived on Maid’s Causeway.

According to Spalding’s trade directories, the resident in 1913 was William Binns, manager of the Empire Music Hall.

1921 census

Arthur E Robinson, head, 49, assistant engineer, Falcon Ice Works, Mac Fisheries, Petty Cury, b. Thornham, Norfolk
Louisa Robinson, wife, 48, home duties, b. Aldenham, Hertfordshire
Dorothy M Robinson, daughter, 19, assistant in general stores, Mrs Skilton, grocer, 11 Milford St, b. Aldenham, Hertfordshire

1939 England and Wales register

Arthur E Robinson, 16 Sep 1871, married, motor mechanic
Louisa Robinson, 30 Nov 1872, married, unpaid domestic
Cyril C Woor, 10 Mar 1903, married, milk roundsman
Dorothy M Woor, 6 Jul 1901, married, unpaid domestic
Two children [closed records]

Dorothy Woor was the Robinsons’ daughter. She and Cyril were still at 20 Milford Street until 1956.  Cyril grew up at 31 Ainsworth Street.

Sources

UK census records (1841 to 1921), General Register Office birth, marriage and death indexes (1837 onwards), the 1939 England and Wales Register, electoral registers, and trade directories.