1 Sleaford Street, Ebenezer Villas, Cambridge

History of 1 Sleaford Street

Number One Sleaford Street (Ebenezer Villas) was built in 1884.

1891

In 1891, Number 1 Sleaford Street is home to the Taylor Family. Mary Taylor. aged 45, born in Cambridge, works as a Dressmaker. She lives with four of her children – Florence Taylor, aged 19, working as a Teacher; Frances Taylor, aged 16, working as a Drapers Apprentice; and Frank Taylor, aged 13, who attends school with his younger sister Nellie, aged 9.

1901

By 1901, Number 1 was home to the large Ellis family. William Ellis, aged 51, born in Mile End, London, works as a boiler maker. He is married to Elizabeth Ellis, a 41 year old from Hackney, London. They have 5 children: William, aged 18, works as an Engine Fitters Apprentice; Edward, aged 16, also works as an Engine Fitters Apprentice (likely at the same workplace as their father); Catherine, aged 13; Violet, aged 8, and Alfred, aged 4.

Staying with them is an interesting visitor, Charles Kenney, a 19 year old from Ireland. His job is listed as “Baden Powell’s Police.” General Robert Baden-Powell is most commonly known as the creator of the Scouts; but in the early 1900s he was regarded as a ‘national hero’ for his successful defence of a South African town during the Second Boer War. “Baden-Powell’s Police” was the informal name given to the South African Constabulary, a colonial police force whose role was widely different from dealing with crime – their primary aim was to prevent rebellion in the two regions the British had captured from the Orange Free State and the Traansvaal in the Second Boer War; in doing so they were more a military force than a police force. In 1901, the second Boer War was still ongoing, and so Charles Kenney, only aged 19, is returning from his role as an enforcer of a milatry occupation. A Parliamentary Record from 1901 includes a question asked to the Minister for the Colonies about character of the candidates for Baden Powell’s police force, suggesting this was a matter of concern at the time – such colonial police forces were little more than paid thugs whose sole purpose was to intimidate the population of the regions they worked in.

1911

By 1911, Number 1 Sleaford Street is home the Sansom family. The Sansoms were living on Ainsworth Street in the previous Census. George Sansom, aged 43, born in Cambridge, works a Butcher. He is married to Annie Sansom, a 41 year old from Sutton, near Ely. They have 7 Children: Hilda, aged 14, an Apprentice Dressmaker; Thomas, aged 13; Florence, aged 10; Joseph, aged 8; Sydney, aged 6; Kathleen, aged 4; and James, aged 1. Thomas, Florence, Joseph and Sydney all attend school.

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 UK Census, 1888 OS Town Plan of Cambridge, 1901 revised map of Cambridge.

1913

George Sansom, butcher