Corporal H W Bidwell

76 Kingston Street, Cambridge

Two Families of Tailors

1881

The Davenport family live here in 1881.  Edwin Davenport is 49 and a tailor, he was born in Hazelgrove, Cheshire.  His wife is Sarah, she was born in Cambridge.  Son Harry is 21 and also works as a tailor.  Younger son Frank, 15, is employed as a draper.

1891

In 1891 the Davenport family are still living here.  Edwin and Mary are now living with their grandson Henry Davenport, a 6 year old Scholar.

1901

By 1901, 76 Kingston Street is home to the Bidwell family. Maud Bidwell, aged 32, is married to William Bidwell, a 33 year old Tailor. They have four children: Daisy, aged 10; Lilian, aged 8; Harold William, aged 3; and Dorothy, aged 1.

1911

In 1911, little has changed at the Bidwells’ house. They have had another daughter, Ivy Bidwell, now aged 9, and she attends school alongside Harold, now 15 and Dorothy, now 11. Maud, now 42, Daisy, now 20, and Lilian, now 18, have no occupation listed, though William, now 43, still works as a tailor.

1918

Corporal Harold William Bidwell of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment was killed in action 10th August 1918.  He was 21.  There is a picture of Harold on the FindAGrave website.

Electoral registers record Bidwells at this property until 1938.

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, Commonwealth War Graves (1914-1921), FindAGrave.com, Cambridgeshire, Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966)