5 Sleaford Street, Memorial Buildings, Cambridge

History of 5 Sleaford Street

Number 5 is part of a terrace named Memorial Buildings, and is not on the 1881 Census.  In 1891 this property is number 3, and in 1898 it is referred to as “No.1 Memorial Buildings, Sleaford Street”.  By 1901 it has the modern numbering.

Taken by HW.

1891 (number 3)

Head of household on the night of the 1891 Census is Elizabeth Mary Daffen, a 62 year old retired schoolmistress, who was born in Cambridge.  Between 1876 and 1907 she is registered as living at 48 York Street.  That property does not appear on the 1891 census, and electoral registers show Elizabeth back on York Street by the end of 1891.

After the death of Elizabeth in 1907, an advert appears in the newpaper announcing the sale of 46 and 48 York Street (along with houses on Willow Walk and Grafton Street a total of seven “dwelling houses”, and nine cottages on New Street) “Let to old Weekly Tenants, the whole producing a gross rental of £168 17s 8d per annum” the advert goes on to say “Catling & Son are favoured with instructions from the Executor of the late Miss E M Daffen and of the late Mr Thomas Daffen.” Thomas was Elizabeth’s brother who died in 1906.

The 1881 Census recorded that Elizabeth “lived on rents”.  The rents would have come from these sixteen properties.  A couple of weeks later the paper reveals the outcome of the sale, “Nos. 46 and 48 York Street, the former letting at an annual rental of £9 10s 8d and the latter, the late residence of the deceased owner, being in hand, made £220.”

1901 (number 5)

In 1901, Number 5 is home to the Mills family who have moved here from what is now number 15.

Frances Mills, 47, is married to Ben, 52, who works as a Secretary at the Cooperative.  Their son Harry, is 22 and works as a “Commercial Assistant” (a shop hand); son Frederick, 17, works as a Clerk; while 15 year old Ethel works as a Milliner. They have a visitor; Frances’ sister Sarah Matthews, a 48 year old working as an Assistant Matron.

1911

By 1911;  Harry, Frederick, and Ethel have all left home; leaving only Ben, now 62, still working, though now as a Clerk, and Frances, now 56.

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 UK Census, 1888 OS Town Plan of Cambridge, 1901 revised map of Cambridge, National Probate Calendar (1858-1995), Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966), Cambridge Independent Press, 11 October 1907 and 25 October 1907