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Part of Fordham, 1886 OS map

6 Carter Street, Poet’s Cottage, Fordham

History of 6 Carter Street

Listed Building: [Location is just to left of ‘K’ in King’s Head on the 1886 map]

Cottage early C18. Clunch, painted and plastered with red pantile roofs and tall, local brick stack. House of James Withers, local poet. (Historic England)

In 1851 the Withers family were living on Feast Green, Fordham. he and his wife Sarah are described as shoemakers.

In 1861 the Withers family are living on the High Street Fordham. He is described as ‘poet’.

1871 Carter Street

James R Withers, 58, poet cordwainer

1881 Waterside

James Reynolds Withers, 68, poet, b Weston Colville

Sarah, 73, b Snailwell

Enid Porter writes in Cambridgeshire Customs and Folklore that James R Withers moved to Fordham in 1840 and began to write verses that attracted the attention of Mrs R Dillamore Fyson of Fordham who organised their publication.

For further information see:

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/ForgottenPoet

 

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