78 Ainsworth Street

Now Demolished

This is one of the three properties in front of the Virgin Media building that are now demolished, along with the Claremont Arms and no. 76.

1881 census

Thomas Proctor, head, 32, butcher, b. Lawshall, Suffolk
Louisa Proctor, mother, widow, 50, b. Stansfield, Suffolk
Arthur Proctor, brother, 30, butcher, b. Lawshall, Suffolk
Annie Proctor, sister-in-law,  29, b. Whepstead, Suffolk
Frederick Proctor, nephew, 6, scholar, b. Harstead, Suffolk
Harry Proctor, nephew, 3, scholar, b. Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire
Charles Proctor, nephew, 10 mo, b. Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire

1891 census

John Black, head, 49, manager of coal yard, b. Ireland
Hannah Black, wife, 44, b. Leasingthorne, Durham
George Black, son, 21, grocer’s assistant, b. Crook, Durham
James W Black, son, 16, Midland Railway trolley boy, b. Crook, Durham
Thomas Black, son, 12, scholar, b. Newcastle on Tyne
Edward Black, son, 8, scholar, b. Newcastle on Tyne
Hannah Black, daughter, 5, scholar, b. Cambridge
George Tolson, boarder, 69, retired brick maker, b. Barnaby, Yorkshire

John Black was the manager of a coal yard. This yard could could have been one of the many dotted around the station area.

16-year-old James Black’s occupation is listed as ‘Midland Railway trolley boy’, and there is an additional note saying ‘R port’, indicating that he was a railway porter, carrying passengers’ luggage on and off trains. The Midland Railway ran services from Cambridge to Bedford and Oxford along the now closed Varsity Line.

There was also a boarder living at their house, 69-year-old George Tolson. His payments for lodgings would have helped the family cover their food and rent bills, but it did mean the small terraced house was home to eight people.

1901 census

George Ison, head, 58, coal dealer, b. Bottisham, Cambridgeshire

George Ison’s first wife Tryphena died in 1891. In 1904 George married Matilda Cornwell (née Pluck) , a 48-year-old widow with seven children who was previously living at 108 Gwydir Street.  Matilda’s first husband Henry Cornwell died in 1903.

1911 census

Matilda Ison, head, widow, 55, b. Bottisham, Cambridgeshire
Percy Cornwell, son, 19, builder’s carpenter, b. Cambridge
Lilian Cornwell, daughter, 21, domestic servant, b. Cambridge

In 1911 Matilda was head of household, having been widowed again. By 1912 Matilda had moved back to Gwydir Street, now at no. 98.  She died in 1939.

1921 census

Edward Ruck, head, 57, carpenter’s labourer, b. Sevenhampton, Gloucestershire
Annie Ruck, wife, 63, home duties, b. Reach, Cambridgeshire
Alice Ruck, daughter, 30, general domestic servant, b. Maldon, Essex

Edward Ruck worked as a carpenter’s labourer for Watts & Sons Saw Mills, which was on Newmarket Road. His daughter Alice worked as a domestic servant for a private client at 29 Mill Road.

Source: 1881–1921 Census, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, 1939 Register, Cambridgeshire, England, Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books, 1722-1966