93 Sturton Street, Cambridge

An Electrics Worker and a Bricklayer

This property was built at some point between 1881 and 1891.  It doesn’t appear on the 1881 Census or the 1888 Ordnance Survey Town Plan.

“SALE OF PROPERTY – … Nos. 93 and 95, Sturton Street, freehold, £305, purchaser Mr W. Pollard.” Cambridge Chronicle and Journal 20 June 1890

Down Your Street, 1984 p79, describes c. 1900 there was, according to Fred Boreham of Lichfield Road, “my uncle Fred (Fiddler) Boreham kept a small herd of milking cows in the yards of nos. 93 and 95. At that time all milkmen were suspected of watering down their milk, hence the nickname.”

1891

Charles Brayley, 36, Telegraph Clock Maker,  b. St Pancras, London

Ada Brayley, 28, b. Bristol

Henry Brayley, 9, b. Bristol

Ada Brayley, 6, b. St Pancras, London

Lizzie Brayley, 2, b. Islington, London

William Brayley, 9 months, b. Islington, London

1901

William H Pilsworth, 33, bricklayer b. Cambridge

Emily Pilsworth, 30, b. Cambridge

Walter H Pilsworth, 9, b. Cambridge

Sidney J Pilsworth, 7, b. Cambridge

Nellie E Pilsworth, 2, b. Cambridge

1911

Head of household in 1911 is Harry Boreham, a 32 year old brewer’s labourer.  He grew up on Sturton Street, most recently at number 83 where he lived before his marriage in 1902.  His wife is 30 year old Kate (nee Bailey), who was born in Fen Ditton.  Kate is the sister of Susan Bailey, who married Harry’s brother Frederick.

The couple have five children.  Lily is 7, Nellie (Helena Matilda) is 5, Olive Grace is 3 and Fred (Frederick James Harvey) is 1. The eldest daughter, Ivy May, is 8 years old and living with Aunt Susan on Pearce Lane, Fulbourn, at the time of the 1911 Census.

The family also have a boarder living with them.  Dudley Solly is 24 and a brewer’s secretary from Sandwich in Kent.

Records for Cherry Hinton Infants School show that Ivy was a pupil there from the 14th of September 1908 (the last school she attended was Sturton Street) until she moved into the Upper School on the 1st May 1909.  Her address at that time is Esperanto Terrace.

Ivy left the Upper School on the 18th February 1910 and the reason was given was “left village”.  This is probable when the family returnes to Sturton Street.

When Harry enlists during World War 1 he gives his address as 6a York Terrace (the current number 11), so the family will leave number 93 by 1916.

Fred Boreham, b 1910, is quoted in Down Your Street, 1984: My father worked at Warboys Brewery as a drayman and served in the evenings at the bottle and jug, so when my uncle Fred died at an early age the nickname rubbed off on him.

Sources – 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, Ordnance Survey Town Plan, National School Admission Registers & Log-Books (1870-1914), British Army World War I Service Records (1914-1920), Cambridge Chronicle and Journal (20 June 1890),