This history of the building of Alpha Terrace is based on a contribution given at the On the Street Where You Live meeting of the Local History Group on 31 March 2011. The talk was prepared by Shirley Brown with contributions by Peter Dawson and Sheila Glasswell.
Alpha Terrace, with Trumpington Free Church, n.d. Cambridgeshire Collection.
Trumpington High Street showing Mr Cummings School, extract from Richard Baker’s map of Cambridge, 1830. Source: Cambridgeshire Collection.
1903 Ordnance Survey map showing the first houses in Alpha Terrace and the Free Church (built by Nathan Scott and opened on last day of 1899, debt free). Source: Cambridgeshire Collection.
Sheldrick’s Saw Mill, set back from Alpha Terrace. The Saw Mill was demolished after noise annoyed Mr Todd who lived in St. Mary’s (built about 1880 on site of Cumming’s School). Source: Cambridgeshire Collection, included in Trumpington Past & Present, p. 103.
Hammerton: this house was there, facing the back of Alpha Terrace, before the terrace was built. Large room in the house has been used by boys from school, by Dissenters and Band of Hope and finally as a reading room. Originally detached, it now is attached to the next house. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Scotts’ builder’s yard, next to the Free Church, Alpha Terrace. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Scotts’ builder’s yard, next to the Free Church, Alpha Terrace. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Aboyne Cottage and the next two houses, Alpha Terrace. Originally four cottages, built in 1908 by (or for) Charles Forbes, who was Head Gardener at Anstey Hall. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Aboyne Cottage, Alpha Terrace. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Four Council Houses, Alpha Terrace, probably built in 1924. Also in 1924, the Free Church Schoolroom was added. Photo: Stephen Brown.
House Numbering – original numbers on house shape. Hammerton not numbered. Re-numbering after Trumpington became part of city in 1934. Source: Cambridge City Council.
Many houses in Alpha Terrace have plaques with useful information, such as number 82, built for Louisa Edwards in 1907. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Example of stained glass in doors and fanlights. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Example of stained glass in doors and fanlights. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Careless Wedding Party outside 52 Alpha Terrace, 30 May 1903. Source: Howard Slatter.
Charlie Seekings delivering milk in the 1930s. Source: Martin Seekings.
Cecil Galley and children, Ann and John, building an air-raid shelter at the beginning of World War Two. Source: John Galley.
Aerial view of Alpha Terrace and allotments. Source: Shirley Brown.
Plan of the allotments that had been to the rear of Alpha Terrace, showing the area where Monkswell was built and the smaller area used for Ely and Salisbury Places. Source: Cambridge City Council.
The last house to be built, 48 Alpha Terrace. Photo: Stephen Brown.
Horrors of parking in Alpha Terrace. Photo: Stephen Brown.
