This photograph was taken from just inside St Andrew’s churchyard, which had a wall and gate between it and High Street at that time. 69 High Street is in the centre of the photograph and 61 High Street is on the far left. RW noted that the wall between 69 High Street and 61 High Street had the garden of Manor House (71 High Street) behind it; the wall has since been demolished and bungalows built on the site. The brick and slate part of 69 High Street has also been demolished (or given a thatched roof and painted to look like the rest of the building?)
69 High Street is an early 18th century cottage and is mostly timber framed. Most of the windows are modern.
In the seventies the Robinson family lived here. Ray Alan Robinson ran RayAl Coaches from the premises. The garden used to be full of coaches and some were parked in the High Street opposite the church.
69 High Street in 2024. Left: View from the road. Right: View from top of St Andrew’s Church tower. The house in the front left is 68 High Street, once the Windmill Pub.
If you have any information or photos of 69 High Street, please leave a comment below.
I was born in Cambridge in 1948 and 69 High St. was my very first home. When we moved (to Queen’s Way) the house continued to be rented by my aunt and uncle from about 1956 until sometime in the 60’s. As a young child I remember planes going over the house so low that we thought they would take the chimney off. The outhouse in the back yard was not a pleasant memory, nor the outdoor plumbing which I recall freezing up on more than one occasion. The two little girls in the doorway of the house are my sister and myself, so presumably your photo was taken around 1953.
I’ve lived in Canada for many years but was in Oakington last September and walked around the village (with my daughter) and took photos of the house and proudly showed her where I started my life, my first school and we even walked through the church yard which used to frighten me as a child. Happy memories though!
The house is now so charming and full of character compared to when we lived there. Do you have any idea who took the old photo – and why?
I was born in Cambridge in 1948 and 69 High St. was my very first home. When we moved (to Queen’s Way) the house continued to be rented by my aunt and uncle from about 1956 until sometime in the 60’s. As a young child I remember planes going over the house so low that we thought they would take the chimney off. The outhouse in the back yard was not a pleasant memory, nor the outdoor plumbing which I recall freezing up on more than one occasion. The two little girls in the doorway of the house are my sister and myself, so presumably your photo was taken around 1953.
I’ve lived in Canada for many years but was in Oakington last September and walked around the village (with my daughter) and took photos of the house and proudly showed her where I started my life, my first school and we even walked through the church yard which used to frighten me as a child. Happy memories though!
The house is now so charming and full of character compared to when we lived there. Do you have any idea who took the old photo – and why?