Kettle's Yard Completed

[Sally-Jo]

I have discovered the surname Kettle in my tree. Elizabeth Kettle baptised at St Peter’s Cambridgeshire July 8th 1827. Her abode is given as Kettle’s Yard and her father William’s occupation is listed as a milkman.
By Googling, I know that Kettles Yard was refurbished in the 1920’s by Jim and Helen Ede and now belongs to Cambridge University. Has anyone any information of what Kettles Yard would have been like in the 1800’s?  I imagine my relatives would have been poor and it’s possible it could have been a slum area. Thank you in advance for anyone who can point me in the right direction for more information.

[gortonboy]

i believe it was originally 4 cottages,,that were converted,,you can see an image here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KettlesYard.jpg

[Selina]

Hi Sally-Jo,

Looking at an 1888 map, Kettle's Yard was a little larger then with between 14 and 20 buildings of some sort and depending on whether a couple of bits off are included.

It was a very old part of Cambridge but wouldn't say it was a 'slum' , there were undoubtedly poor people around there but it was an area with many trades people and craftsmen.

On this map and not too far from Kettle's Yard is a Mustard and Vinegar Factory which always intrigues me!

Selina

[Sally-Jo]

Thank you Selina and gortonboy for your helpful replies. I’m intrigued by the fact that my ancestor’s name is Kettle and they live in Kettle’s Yard. Thanks again.

[matron123]

Hello Sally Jo, my grandmother was born in Kettles Yard Grace Wolfe. I went into the Cambridge Folk museam and there is or was a photo of Kettles Yard with children playing outside. Possibly around the early 1900
Sheila

[charlotteCH]

Kettle's Yard is bang in the middle of the closely built up centre of  Cambridge.

charlotte

[J from Canada]

Hi Sally-Jo,

I too have ancestors living in Kettle's Yard during the 1841-1861 period. I've done a bit of research on the area and the families who lived there and my sense is that this was quite a poor area but perhaps not a slum. Cambridge University just completed a continuing education course on Kettle's Yard and I have been in contact with the instructor. I sent him census data and information about my ancestors and he will be sending me some course information about the area that he distributed to his students. If you would like me to forward the information to you once I receive it , I would be happy to. Just send me a pm.

By the way, I only see Elizabeth Kettle living in Kettle's Yard in 1841 and her name (or that of any other Kettle) does not appear in later census that I have found.

J from Canada

[Selina]

Hi J from Canada,

I had quite a bit of correspondence on pm with Sally-Jo and we established that her Elizabeth Kettle was not the one from Kettle's Yard or from Cambridge at all.

I have relatives on my family tree that lived in close by streets for many years.

Selina

[J from Canada]

Hi Selina,

Thanks for the heads-up!  I'm intrigued about your previous message about a mustard and vinegar factory nearby- where was it located? Also, which streets did your relatives live on? My relatives ( members of the German family) also lived on neighbouring streets as well- namely Northampton Street, Honey Hill and Diamond Court.

Best regards,
Joanna