Listed building:
House. c.1684 and mid C20 restorations. Brick ground floor, timber-framed first floor, part replaced by brick, and original brick end walls.
This is the Old Vicarage referred to by Rupert Brooke in his poetry. He moved there in 1910.
1861
Samuel Page Widnall, 35, farmer 120 acres employing 7 men 3 boys, b Grantchester
Elizabeth, 34, b Worcs
Ann Smith, mother in law, 71, b London
Laura Davis, niece, 9, b Worcs
Ruth Raynes, 18, servant, b Grantchester
1871
Samuel Widnall, 45, farmer 78 acres 5 men 3 boys, b Grantchester
Elizabeth, 44, b Worcester
Eliza Ann Whitstone, 24, servant, b Wimpole
Fanny Stearn, 15, servant, b Grantchester
1881
Samuel Page Widnall, 55, retired farmer, b Grantchester
Elizabeth Widnall, 54, b Worcester
Martha Adcock, boarder, 67, annuitant, b Leicester
Jane Elizabeth Docwra, 18, cook, b Bourn
Amy Sarah Docwra, 13, housemaid, b Bourn
For a detailed description of the Widnalls see Mary Greene’s autobiography. In particular, chapter 1:
1891
Samuel Page Widnall, widower, 65, farmer
Lally [Sally] Smith, sister in law, 69, living on own means, b Worcester
Frederick Walter Greene, visitor, 28, living on own means, b Grantchester
Mary Charlotte Greene, visitor, 30, artist in oils and watercolour, b Essex
Mary Elizabeth Stigwood, servant, 20, domestic servant, b Stetchworth
The Greene family were living in 1871 at Riversdale, Grantchester.
It is difficult to find any trace of the Greene family in the 1901 census. members next appear in the 1911 census at Harston House.
1901 The Old Vicarage
Sally Smith, 79, living on own means
Annie Smith, 44, servant
Florence Wagstaff in 1901 was a 19 year old servant on Ferry Stud Farm in Chatteris. She had been born in Grantchester which presumably was why Lally knew her.
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