The Grand Arcaded archaeological excavation identified several historic plots along this frontage:
No. 12 (Plot VIII)
No. 13 (Plot IX)
Nos. 14/15 (Plot IX)
Nos. 16/17 (Plot X)
Nos. 18/19 (Plot XI)
No. 20 (Plot XI)
Commentary in the report (2019) states that in the early eighteenth century the frontage of Plot X was subdivided into five separate messuages, which subsequently underwent a series of development. In the northern part a school may have been built. In the southern part developments were carried out probably at the hands of Francis Tunwell, the Christ’s College cook and later merchant who leased Plot X in 1769. Tunwell was mayor of Cambridge in 1768, 1777 and 1782 and then declared bankrupt by 1784. Tunwell also leased Plot IX.
At some point in the C18th the southern messuage of Plot X stopped being the the Chequer Inn.
There are plans of Plot IX (nos 13 – 15) held by Jesus College dated 1792.
1840 Robert Sayle opens his shop at 12 St Andrew’s Street. Victoria House was leased from Emmanuel College. For detailed history of the plot and the business see Grand Arcade report (2019) p.309.
1841 unnumbered
Robert Sayle, 24, draper
May, 25,
Barbara Kelly, 35, draper assistant
Thomas Stroud, 35, draper assistant
Thomas Man, 22, draper assistant
John Cole, 25, draper assistant
Charles Hawley, 21, draper assistant
William Whilby, 15, draper assistant
Rebecca Smith, 16, servant
Mary Trum, 20, servant
John Sayle, 45, farmer
Susan Sayle, 47
1851
(12?) unnumbered
James Miller, 45, plumber glazier, b Suffolk
Caroline, 38, b Cambs
Caroline, 9, b Cambridge
William, 7, Cambridge
James, 5, b Cambridge
Louisa, 3, b Cambridge
George, 1, b Cambridge
Rachel, 17, servant, b Reach
Tanfield George Headley, lodger, 26, solicitor, b Cambridge
Alfred Chalker, lodger, 22, BA, b Devon
George Wallis Hall, lodger, 19, undergraduate Trinity, b Lincs
George S Nottage, 19, student Caius, b Essex
(Unnumbered)
Robert Sayle, 34, linendraper
Priscilla
Charlotte
Jackson Pettitt, 29, clerk, b Suffolk
William H Horsepool, 22, drapers assistant, b Notts
James Freeman, 21, drapers assistant, b Ely
Anne Tracy, 19, drapers assistant, b Essex
Sara A Pastler, 24, drapers assistant, b Kent
Mary Anne, 27, drapers assistant, b Beds
Anne Pratton, 36, drapers assistant, b Somerset
Elizabeth Sampson, 45, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
William Buchman, 30, drapers assistant, b Herts
John Hillyard, 25, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
James Anderson, 26, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
William Slerry, 20, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
Lewis R Saunders, 24, drapers assistant, b Bristol
Thomas F Barlow, 22, drapers assistant, b Kent
Frederick A Lord, 28, drapers assistant, b Gloucs
Henry C Whitty, 22, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
John A Wright, 24, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
Joseph Pudrey, 26, drapers assistant, b Essex
Gaines R Darley, drapers assistant, b Dorset
Thomas Middleston, apprentice draper, b Hunts
James Barley, 19, apprentice draper, b Norfolk
Henry Peacock, 14, apprentice draper, b Littleport
Henry Dawkins, 24, drapers porter, b Cambridge
William Radford, 18, servant, b Brinkley
Sarah Carter, 28, servant, b Norfolk
Sarah Holman, 18, servant, b Norfolk
Mary Stafford, 28, servant, b Lincs
Elizabeth Illsden, 24, servant, b Cambridge
John Palmer, 25, assistant draper, b Somerset
1861
(16)
George Preston, 22, bookseller and stationer, b Cambridge
Harriett, sister, 32, b Cambridge
George D Bryant, visitor, 41, cattle dealer, b Stilton
Susan Cornwell, 17, maidservant, b Cherry Hinton
Alfred Curwain, 17, errand boy, b Cambridge
(15)
Marice Deane, 29, chemist and druggist, b Essex
Sarah A, 28, b Essex
Marice B, 4, b Cambridge
Charles Deane, 17, b Cambridge
Harriett Potter, 15, house servant, b Linton
(12 – 14)
Robert Sayle, 45, draper, b Norfolk
Priscilla, 36, b Bucks
Charlotte M, 10, b Cambridge
Arthur W, 8, b Cambridge
Robert H, 6, b Cambridge
Caroline M, 5, b Cambridge
Frances A, 4, b Cambridge
George M, 2, b Cambridge
Martin W, 9m, b Cambridge
Mary A Gayle, 22, b Bucks
Mary Ekins, housekeeper, 33, b Berks
Emma Wright, 26, cook, b Suffolk
Martha Pooley, 22, parlour maid, b Norfolk
Eliza Belch, 20, housemaid, b Suffolk
Sarah Peacock, 18, kitchenmaid, b Norfolk
Eliza KIng, 18, housemaid, b Norfolk
Emily Carter, 24, nursemaid, b Norfolk
Robert Emmerson, 15, footman, b Norfolk
Robert Gunn, 18, porter, b Willingham
Amelia Dibley, 23, drapery assistant, b Sussex
Laura Chandler, 24, drapery assistant, b Wilts
Elizabeth W Dwelley, 20, draper assistant, b Plymouth
Sophia Dawe, 25, drapery assistant, b Monmouth
Eliza H Kate, 27, mantle trimmer, b Gloucs
Mary J Lovering, 37, drapery assistant, b Devon
Maria H Norton, 26, milliner, b London
Bessie Porter, 20, drapery assistant, b Norfolk
Marion Muskett, 20, drapery assistant, b Norfolk
Emma Price, 21, drapery assistant, b Devon
Mary E Rice, 19, drapery assistant, b Middlesex
Robert Addymen, 16, drapery apprentice, b Yorks
Alfred Jermyn, 15, drapery apprentice, b Norfolk
Charles Careban, 18, drapery apprentice, b Norfolk
Robert Liddelaw, 15, drapery apprentice, b Norfolk
Abraham S Welham, 19, drapery apprentice, b Suffolk
Joseph Clarke, 19, assistant draper, b Isleham
William Darlington, 24, clerk draper, b Shrops
William Wetherill, 22, clerk draper, b Yorks
Ebenezer Brown, 30, assistant draper, b Suffolk
Josiah Brown, 22, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Frederic W Browne, 19, assistant draper, b Lincs
Charles Carfe, 21, assistant draper, b Middlesex
Challis S Claston, 21, assistant draper, b Newmarket
Odling P Dawse, 21, assistant draper, b Middlesex
Samuel J Pall, 21, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Thomas Jones, 25, assistant draper, b Hereford
John Mann, 23, assistant draper, b Essex
Henry Quiner, 23, assistant draper, b Sussex
James B Newton, 25, assistant draper, b Lincs
Robert Lack, 25, assistant draper, b Herts
Joseph Searle, 24, assistant draper, b Surrey
Henry Dawkins, 35, assistant draper, b Cambridge
1871
(17)
James H Morl, 49, hair dresser, b Norfolk
Eliza S, 46, ladies hairdresser, b Cambridge
James B, 15, clerk and volunteer, b Cambridge
Lizzie M, 12, b Cambridge
Florence S, 10, b Cambridge
Herbert E, 7, b Cambridge
Bessie A, 3, b Cambridge
Ernest W, 1, b Cambridge
(16)
John Pink, 36, librarian, b Cambridge
Elinor A, 38, fancy shop keeper, b Surrey
John S, 14, librarian’s assistant, b Cambridge
Emily M, 13, b Cambridge
Edward A, 11, b Cambridge
Ellen M, 10, b Cambridge
Oliver G, 8, b Cambridge
William, 6, b Cambridge
Flora A, 4, b Cambridge
Frank, 2, b Cambridge
Charles H, 1, b Cambridge
(12-15)
William Henry Lee, 30, drapers clerk and house manager, b Wisbech
Alice H Lee, 32, b Yorks
Henry C, 2, b Cambridge
Marianne, 7 mos, b Cambridge
Elizabeth Clark, 17, nursery maid, b Hunts
Mary Cullum, 22, housemaid, b Norfolk
Elizabeth Fisk, 31, cook, b Suffolk
Maria Green, 19, kitchenmaid, b Norfolk
Fanny Gauge, 19, housemaid, b Bourn
Elizabeth Cockrell, 36, housemaid, b Norfolk
Mary Shakeshaft, 19, assistant draper, b Bucks
Mehetable Kent, 26, assistant draper, b Cornwall
Josephine Lourtie, 22, assistant draper, b Belgium
Henrietta Russell, 26, assistant draper, b Wales
Kate James, 29, assistant draper, b Ireland
Esther Newell, 27, assistant draper, b Berks
Caroline Cockram, 33, assistant draper, b Devon
Emma Johnson, 21, assistant draper, b London
Mary E Nicholls, 27, assistant draper, b Devon
Kate W Blandford, 22, assistant draper, b Dorset
Lucy A Stevens, 26, assistant draper, b Dorset
Hannah M Brook, 33, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Emily Utting, 32, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Rhoda Bowen, 22, assistant draper, b Wales
Mary E White, 31, assistant draper, b Warwicks
Caroline C Wills, 20, assistant draper, b Devon
Martha O Crisp, 24, assistant draper, b Suffolk
Amelia Harvey, 38, assistant draper, b Gloucs
Hannah Snow, 24, assistant draper, b Kent
Kate Floyd, 23, assistant draper, b Cornwall
Helen Dixon, 28, assistant draper, b London
Isabella Tiley, 22, assistant draper, b Somerset
Hannah Radmore, 27, assistant draper, b Wales
Margareta Robert, 22, assistant draper, b Cornwall
Richard H Baker, 21, assistant draper, b Kent
Stephen H Sharman, 30, commercial traveller drapery, b Essex
Richard Pearce, 23, assistant draper, b Somerset
Thomas Park, 23, assistant draper, b Cumberland
Samuel W Locker, 24, assistant draper, b Wilts
Charles Eastment, 22, drapers clerk, b Fulham
Edward D Greenbury, 16, apprentice draper, b London
Thomas R Hubbard, 18, apprentice draper, b Leics
Fred Burford, 17, apprentice draper, b Essex
John C Saunders, 16, apprentice draper, b Bucks
William H Caley, 15, apprentice draper, b Norfolk
Edward A Thornton, 23, assistant draper, b Yorks
John N Walters, 26, assistant draper, b London
Alfred Garnham, 21, assistant draper, b Suffolk
William H Tucker, 20, assistant draper, b Gloucs
Alfred H Chaston, 25, assistant draper, b Suffolk
Walter Holder, 33, assistant draper, b Somerset
John B Northy, 20, assistant draper, b Cornwall
John S Ward, 21, assistant draper, b Devon
William H Smith, 20, assistant draper, b Ireland
George Whittleton, 24, assistant draper, b Norfolk
George Wilby, 22, assistant draper, b Norfolk
George H Jones, 30, assistant draper, b Herts
Albert C Tugwell, 22, assistant draper, b Sussex
Ernest W Julyan, 18, assistant draper, b Middlesex
Philip Phillips, 22, assistant draper, b Essex
Harry Cassey, 19, assistant draper, b Wilts
Robert C Mutton, 23, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Robertson Rolfe, 21, assistant draper, b Suffolk
Frank Stanbury, 24, assistant draper, b Devon
George Sharp, 25, assistant draper, b Devon
Edward Harvey, 24, assistant draper, b Middlesex
James Black, 20, assistant draper, b London
1881 (12-18)
(unnumbered) Emmanuel College Lodge
Jane Wisbey, 40, cook, b Harston
Clara Thurlbourn, 31, house maid, b Cherry Hinton
Alice J Carter, 17, kitchen maid, b Fulbourn
(Sayles Yard)
John Humphrey, 26, groom, b Essex
Eliza, 28, b Cambridge
Alice S, 10ms, b Cambridge
Elizabeth Bull, 40, visitor, b London
Harriett Sheldrick, 23, b Derbys
Harry Green, 15, page boy, b London
(12-18)
Selina B Parker, 17, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Minnie Greenaugh, 23, assistant draper, b Northants
Ellen A Wigg, 28, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Katherine Rawles, 26, assistant draper, b Gloucs
Bessie L Elliott, 27, assistant draper, b Bucks
Elizabeth Palmer, 30, assistant draper, b Norfolk
Lucy Dawson, 19, assistant draper, b Lincs
Albert M Hamblin, 17, assistant draper, b Norwich
Ellen F Fairbank, 23, b Kennington
Letitia Winter, 24, dressmaker, b London
Emily Fountain, 21, dressmaker assistant, b London
Frances M Blake, 27, dressmaker assistant, b Norwich
Martha Procta, 24, dressmaker assistant, b Lancs
Sarah Philip, 27, dressmaker assistant, b Cornwall
Arrabelle M Balfour, 21, dressmaker assistant, b Ireland
Agnes Hopewell, 24, dressmaker assistant, b Notts
Emily Olliver, 38, dressmaker assistant, b Sussex
Mary A Reed, 24, dressmaker assistant, b Isle of Wight
Eleanor Pool, 25, dressmaker assistant, b London
Lulie Wheeler, 22, dressmaker assistant, b Hants
Martha A Long, 25, dressmaker assistant, b Oxon
Florence A Robinson, 18, dressmaker assistant, b London
Elizabeth J Hall, 23, dressmaker assistant, b London
Charles W R Gamham, 21, shopman draper, b Chelsea
Frederick W Savage, 19, shopman draper, b Norfolk
Bernhard A Eichem, 24, shopman draper, b London
Harry B Rogers, 25, shopman draper, b Kent
Herman F Fawcett, 27, shopman draper, b London
Frederick E Wicks, 23, shopman draper, b Essex
Frederick W Pears, 21, shopman draper, b Kent
Robert E Watson, 24, shopman draper, b London
George H Lavender, 20, shopman draper, b Chesterton
Frederick Whitefield, 16, shopman draper, b Birmingham
Ernest S Barton, 23, shopman draper, b Devon
William P Stringer, 27, commercial clerk, b London
Edward J Kave, commercial clerk, b London
Ellenor Howe, 22, assistant draper, b Leicester
Catherine Mill, 30, assistant draper, b Cornwall
Clara Merritt, 20, assistant draper, b Gloucs
Louisa C Pearson, 24, assistant draper, b Cheshire
Kate M Collins, 20, dressmaker, b Wilts
Emily Parry, 28, dressmaker, b Manchester
Frederick Dawson, 20, shopman draper, b Kent
Annie Anning, 23, assistant draper, b Somerset
John Wright, 25, head shopman draper, b Benwick
Louisa Nottage, 51, housekeeper, b Herts
William A Gardner, 28, shopman draper, b Essex
Eliza Brown, 22, servant, b Cambridge
Elizabeth Scott, 28, dressmaker, b London
George Wilby, 30, commercial traveller, b Norfolk
Charlotte Johnson, 24, cook, b Norfolk
John Watkinson, 28, draper shopman, b Notts
Sarah Eagle, 20, servant, b Norfolk
Mary E Collins, 22, servant, b Chesterton
William R Gaudie, 24, shopman, b Middlesex
Charles A Elliott, 21, shopman, b Beds
Alice Barton, 21, servant, b Cambridge
Thomas Dennes, 22, shopman, b Lowestoft
George W Sayle, 25, commercial clerk, b Norfolk
Robert Smith, 22, commercial clerk, b Manchester
Edward D Greenberry, 26, commercial clerk, b London
Charles Coleman, 25, draper shopman, b Hants
1883 death of Robert Sayle
1884 ownership transferred to Robert Sayle and Co with three individual partners.
1891 (12-18)
Robert Mutten, superintendent of house, 43, drapers buyer and superintendent
Louisa Mutten
David Collie, 31, drapers salesman, b Scotland
Oswin F Ayers, 24, carpet salesman, b Berkshire
Frederic C Roots, 18, woollen salesman, b Lincs
Charlie R Thompson, 20, drapers salesman, b Lincs
Arthur Benton, 19, drapers salesman, b Lincs
Henry Hardcastle, 19, drapers salesman, b London
Peter A Findlay, 26, drapers clerk, b Scotland
Edward C Staples, 20, drapers clerk, b Birmingham
William L Bragg, 19, drapers clerk, b Balsham
Edward L Bell, 24, drapers salesman, b Cumberland
Frederic M Barkway, 27, drapers saleman, b Suffolk
William H Saltmarsh, 21, drapers assistant, b Oxon
Thomas S Mills, 22, drapers assistant, b London
Frederick W Bocock, 19, drapers salesman, b Suffolk
Arthur J Smith, 22, drapers salesman, b Surrey
Robert H Whittaker, 24, drapers salesman, b Norfolk
William E Thirkettle, 19, drapers salesman, b Norfolk
Harold C Doo, 20, drapers salesman, b Cambridge
Robert Norton, 18, apprentice drapers salesman, b Berks
Percy H West, 16, apprentice drapers salesman, b Norfolk
John H Lister, 18, apprentice drapers salesman, b Upend
Reginald Tebbit, 16, apprentice drapers salesman, b Comberton
Frederick N Hayes, 24, drapers salesman, b Worcs
Ernest R Clark, 19, drapers salesman, b Cambridge
Laura M Smith, 23, mantle cutter, b Hants
Julia Giddins, 27, dressmaker, b Hunts
Alice G Curson, 30, draper saleswoman, b Warwick
Lilian F Davies, 21, draper saleswoman, b Gloucs
Clara E Dann, 24, draper saleswoman, b Wisbech
Eliza Newton, 33, drapers saleswoman, b Lincs
Ellen Oliver, 21, drapers saleswoman, b Essex
Eliza A Taylor, 19, drapers saleswoman, b Littleport
Albina M Hayman, 48, drapers saleswoman, b Devon
Alice J Blunderfield, 23, drapers saleswoman, b Norfolk
May E Blunderfield, 18, apprentice saleswoman, b Norfolk
Elma G Gellar, drapers saleswoman, b Essex
Caroline A W Howe, 16, drapers apprentice, b Northants
Annie B Claribert, 30, drapers saleswoman, b Kent
Florence Harries, 21, drapers saleswoman, b Lancs
Maud Tomlinson, 24, drapers saleswoman, b Hull
Nina McQuire, 31, drapers saleswoman, b Hunts
Edith M Hunter, 20, drapers saleswoman, b Sussex
Eliza Gibbons, 37, dressmaker, b London
Mary E Grimes, 31, dressmaker, b Oxon
Ethel St Andrews, 18, drapers apprentice, b Norfolk
Mary M Hipkins, milliner, 43, practical milliner, b London
Alice Rutter, 18, saleswoman, b Cambridge
Mary E Collins, 30, practical milliner, b Essex
Edith Boyce, 23, saleswoman, b Isleham
Louisa M Thatcher, 39, saleswoman, b Berks
Harriet Frohock, 35, housemaid, b Waterbeach
Annie Newton, 27, cook, b Kent
Martha E Pinder, 22, housemaid, b Chesterton
Ellen Coe, 19, housemaid, b Cherry Hinton
Elizabeth Gray, 17, housemaid, b Steeple Morden
Ada Coe, 17, housemaid, b Cherry Hinton
Agnes Franklin, 19, housemaid, b Chesterton
Percy Lelliott, 16, houseboy, b Wilts
1901
Robert Mutten, 53, caretaker, b Norfolk
Louisa Mutten, 53, housekeeper, b London
Bertha Marshall, 28, drapers assistant, b Manchester
Caroline Jack, 37, practical milliner, b London
Elma Geller, 36, drapers assistant, b Essex
Annie Gaunt, 22, drapers assistant, b New Zealand
Francis Cotton, 31, drapers assistant, b London
A F Masters, 29, drapers assistant, b Guilden Morden
Emily Masters, 31, drapers assistant, b Guilden Morden
Hartie Raffey, 26, drapers assistant, b London
Edith Girling, 28, drapers assistant, b Lincs
Florence Benstead, 22, drapers assistant, b Yorks
Elizabeth Graves, 19, drapers assistant, b Cottenham
Hayes Edith, 30, practical dressmaker, b Lincs
Edna Perry, 19, drapers assistant, b Longstanton
Francis Jelley, 21, drapers assistant, b Bedford
Louise Mason, 17, drapers assistant, b Waterbeach
Ethel Geeson, 26, drapers assistant, b St Ives
Maggie Markham, 24, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
Florence Andrews, 22, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
Irene Westley, 18, drapers assistant, b Stretham
Alice Colman, 22, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
Harriet Bateman, 23, drapers assistant, b Lincs
Amey Clipper, 30, drapers assistant, b London
Ethedreda Preece, 22, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
Janet McKerrow, 33, practical mantlecutter, b Northants
Rosa Simpkin, 22, drapers assistant, b Waterbeach
Arthur French, 20, drapers assistant, b Herts
Stonewall Jackson, 23, drapers assistant, b Rangoon
Metson Herbert, 30, drapers assistant, b Essex
Albert Bridges, 30, drapers assistant, b Suffolk
Arthur Ada, 19, drapers assistant, b Berks
Charles Richardson, 27, drapers assistant, b Essex
Frank Kennington, 19, drapers assistant, b Lincs
Thomas Winter, 31, drapers assistant, b Wisbech
Victor Hayes, 19, drapers apprentice, b London
Reginald lambert, 16, drapers assistant, b Yorks
Peck Frederick, 27, drapers assistant, b Oxford
Arthur Simons, 22, woollen salesman, b Glos
William Mace, 23, drapers assistant, b Dorset
George Willy, 16, apprentice drapers clerk, b Suffolk
Richardson Bales, 24, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
George Hockley, 24, drapers assistant, b Elm
Francis Sanders, 43, woollen salesman, b Devon
John Gee, 22, drapers assistant, b March
Walter Thurgood, 22, drapers assistant, b Brinkley
Ernest Marchant, 25, shop walker, b Norfolk
Cater Frederick, 22, drapers assistant, b Norfolk
Frederick Baxter, 27, drapers assistant, b Bedford
Walter Gotobed, 20, drapers assistant, b Littleport
Kate Barrett, 24, servant, b Waterbeach
Ada Coe, 27, cook, b Cherry Hinton
Emma Northrop, 26, cook, b Cambs
Lizy Anderson, 24, cook, b Fulbourn
Jane Harvey, 17, cook, b Cambridge
Martha Fuller, 23, cook, b Burwell
Rose Gibson, 19, cook, b Bottisham
Basil Fabb, 15, cook, b Fulbourn
1911 ?
1913 (12-17)
Robert Sayle & Co
1919 becomes a private company, Robert Sayle and Co Ltd.
1934
Sold to Selfridges Provinical Stores
1940
Sold to John Lewis Partnership
1962 (12-17)
Robert Sayle & Co
1842 Robert Sayle (1816-1883) opened his drapery business at 12 St Andrew’s Street. He had moved from Norfolk to London to learn the drapery trade at Hitchcock, Williams and Co near St Paul’s Cathedral.
His business in Cambridge sold Irish linen, sheeting, hosiery, haberdashery, furs, shawls, handkerchiefs, ribbons and fancy goods. The store was cutting edge for its time having large plate glass windows. The shop expanded until by 1888 it reach no.17.
Robert Sayle died of a heart attack in 1883 but the business continued until Selfridges bought it in 1934. In 1939 it was bought by the John Lewis Partnership.
https://robert-sayle-memory-store.ccan.co.uk
The Grand Arcade excavation report (2019) p.328f has transcriptions of several interviews carried out with former Robert Sayle employees.
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