3 Sleaford Street (2), Cambridge

History of 3 Sleaford Street

Number Three Sleaford Street (Ebenezer Villas) was built in 1884.  On the 1891 Census it is number 2.  By 1901 it is number 3.

1891 (number 2)

In 1891, this is home to the Pearce family. John Pearce, aged 46, from Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, works as a Sawyer. He is married to Caroline Pearce, a 40 year old born in Cambridge. They have 5 children: Harry Pearce, aged 17, a Grocers Assistant; Walter Pearce aged 14, a scholar; Kate and Minnie, both aged 10, both scholars; and Grace Pearce, aged 3. While Grace is born in Cambridge, their other four Children are born in Colchester, suggesting they have only moved to this house when it was built in 1884.

1901 (number 3)

By 1901, Caroline, now 49, and John, now 56, still working as a Wood Sawyer, have had two more Children. Beatrice, aged 8, and Victor, aged 5. Kate, now 21, works as a Book Sewer, and Minnie, now 20, works as a dressmaker. Harry and Walter have both left home; with Harry now living at 16 Sleaford Street.

1911

By 1911, Number 3 is now home to Harry’s family, although he has actually ommitted his name and that of his wife from the census sheet by filling it in as Mr Pearce and Mrs Pearce; only by finding his children at number 16 ten years prior was it possible to work out that this is Harry returning to his parents house after they have left. John is still alive; he dies in 1939, though he is not to be found in Cambridge in 1911, and unidentifiable amongst the many John Pearce born in 1845 across the country that year.

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