72 Ainsworth Street

72 Ainsworth Street

Number 72, otherwise known as Harley Cottage, built 1871, is a single property on the end of a terrace on the east side of Ainsworth Street.

Harley Cottage, built 1871

The 1871 census records 21 inhabited houses in Ainsworth Street, plus another 9 under construction. However, they are not numbered, and at present it is not possible to identify all of them.

1881 census

Thomas Livermore, head, 32, 1849, engine fireman on GER, b. Duxford, Cambridgeshire
Louisa Livermore, wife, 31, 1850, b. Southampton, Hampshire
William W Livermore, son, 3, 1878, b. Cambridge
Arthur J Livermore, son, 2, 1879, b. Cambridge
Louisa Livermore, daughter, 1 months, b. Cambridge
Martha Ambrose, visitor, 20, 1861, b. Cambridge

The Electoral Register indicates that Thomas Livermore was living on AInsworth Street from 1872, so he must have only narrowly missed being included in the 1871 census.

1891 census

John H Medlow, head, 60, retired farmer, b. Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire
Jane Medlow, wife, 63, b. Willingham, Cambridgeshire
Helen Medlow, daughter, 31, b. Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire
George William Medlow, son, 28, carpenter & joiner, b. Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire

John How Medlow was born into a non-conformist family in Waterbeach.

1901 census

William Pearson, head, 56, bricklayer’s labourer, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Sarah Pearson, wife, 57, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Eliza Pearson, daughter, 28, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire

1911 census

William Pearson, head, 67, builder’s bricklayer, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Sarah Pearson, wife, 69, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Eliza Pearson, daughter, 40, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
J W Pearson, grandson, 9, school boy, b. London
Fanny Kingham, boarder, single, 72, independent means, b. Waterstock, Oxfordshire

William and Sarah had been married for 45 years.  They had five children, one of whom has died.

1921 census

Sarah Pearson, head, widow, 77, home duties, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Eliza Pearson, daughter, 53, assisting mother, b. Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
Fanny Kingham, boarder, 81, retired lady’s maid, old age pensioner, b. Oxfordshire

1939 register

Charles W Cornell, male, married, b. 24 Mar 1900, baker, butcher
Lilian Eliza Cornell, female, married, b. 29 Sep 1900, housewife
Joy Mary Cornell [later married name Jacklin], b. 22 Oct 1935, under school age
2 younger children (closed records)

Charles Cornell is mentioned at the property in trade directories from 1953 and 1967.

The 1967 trade directory also mentions a business at no. 72A, likely around the corner on Ainsworth Place: Kershaw Heating & Plumbing, heating and sanitary engineers, plumbers sheet metal workers & welders.

Source: 1881–1921 Census, 1939 Register, Trade Directories for 1953 and 1967