80 Ainsworth Street, Cambridge

80 Ainsworth Street

Number 80 is a single end-of-terrace property on the east side of Ainsworth Street.

The deeds of the house next door, 82 Ainsworth Street, state that in March 1871, carpenter William Brocket bought a double plot from Joseph Sturton, with a 33 ft 6″ frontage, now nos. 80 and 82. In September 1872 William sold the double plot to library employee Henry Hancock. It seems likely that William built the house that is now no. 80 during those 18 months in 1871 and 1872. No. 82 was not built until the 1890s.

1881 census

Henry Hancock, head, widower, 42, doorkeeper at University Library, b. Cambridge
Harriet G Hancock, daughter, 21, b. Cambridge
Henry E Hancock, son, 19, employed at University Library, b. Cambridge
Elizabeth J Hancock, daughter, 11, scholar, b. Cambridge
Alfred J Hancock, son, 9, scholar, b. Cambridge
Emily S Hancock, daughter, 8, scholar, b. Cambridge
Arthur W Hancock, son, 5, scholar, b. Cambridge

In early census records in this new housing of Sturton Town it is rare to find individuals with specific jobs at the University, though some say college servant. At the time, the University Library would have been located in the Senate House opposite Great St Mary’s church on the market.

1891 census

Harry Hancock, head, widower, 52, doorkeeper, University Library, b. Cambridge
Harriett A Hancock, daughter, 31, b. Cambridge
Alfred Jas Hancock, son, 19, flautist, b. Cambridge
Emily Sarah Hancock, daughter, 17, b. Cambridge
Wm Arthur Hancock, son, 15, telegraph messenger, b. Cambridge

Emily and Harriett are buried together in Mill Road Cemetery.  Their entry on the Mill Road Cemetery website has more information about their lives and their father’s life.

1901 census

Alfred F Curwain, head, 31, waiter, b. Cambridge
Annie M A Curwain, wife, 26, b. Cambridge
Dorothea M Curwain, daughter, 4, b. Cambridge
Alfred C Curwain, son, 3, b. Cambridge
Eric Curwain, son, 1, b. Cambridge
Lellie Curwain, son, 3 mo, b. Cambridge

1911 census

Thomas William Hall, head, 52, engine driver, GER, b. Burwell, Cambridgeshire
Sarah Rebecca Hall, wife, 53, b. Chesterton, Cambridgeshire
Herbert William Hall, son, 23, grocer’s warehouseman, b. Cambridge
George Frederick Hall, son, 20, carpet and lino fixer for house furnisher, b. Cambridge
Sidney Thomas Hall, son, 19, grocer’s porter, b. Cambridge
Arthur Charles Hall, son, 13, press boy, University Press, b. Cambridge
Hilda May Hall, daughter, 8, b. Cambridge
28 years married, 6 children, 1 died

1921 census

Thomas Frederick Sargent, head, 59, insurance agent & collector, b. Exning, Suffolk
Amelia Sargent, wife, 55, house duty, b. Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire
Frederick Charles Sargent, son, 28, printer machine minder, Fabb & Tyler, b. Cambridge
James Chandler, son-in-law, 32, engine fitter’s labourer, GER Work Shops, b. Cambridge
Gertrude Chandler, daughter, 30, house duty, b. Cambridge

Thomas and Amelia Sargent moved here with their children from 149 Sturton Street. Thomas worked as an insurance agent for Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society at 15 Mill Road. His son Frederick worked at Fabb & Tyler, a printer on Corn Exchange Street.

Thomas and Amelia both died in 1933 and are buried in Mill Road Cemetery.

Source: 1881–1921 Census, Mill Road Cemetery,