Cambridgeshire History On The Net

Information about Babraham circa 1900

BABRAHAM (anciently called Bradburnham) is a parish and village, in a quiet rural spot on the river Granta, at the foot of the Gog-Magog hills, 2 miles north from the Pampisford station on the Cambridge and Melford branch of the Great Eastern railway and 2 ½ north-east from the Whittlesford station (main line). 4 north west from Linton and 7 south-east from Cambridge, in the Eastern division of the county, hundred of Chilford union and petty sessional division of Linton, county court district of Cambridge, rural deanery of Camps, second division, and archdeaconry and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Peter, situated in the park, about 100 yards west of the Hall, is a building of rubble, chiefly in the Perpendicular style, and consists of chanced, clerestoried nave, aisles large north and south porches and an embattled western tower containing 2 bells: the chancel retains a piscina and sedilia, and has some Early. English windows; and on the south side of the chancel arch is a trefoiled niche: the tower is a very early structure, perhaps pre-Norman and has a rude arch: in the south aisle is a marble monument, with two figures, to Richard Bennet esq. ob. 1658 and Sir Thomas Bennet bart. ob. 1667, who were formerly owners of the parish; there are also several memorials to the Adeane family, bearing date 1802, 1847 1870 and 1853: the church affords 250 sittings, 200 being free. The register dates from the year 1561. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £84, with good Residence and including 3 acres of glebe , in the gift of Charles Robert Whorwood Adeane esq. and held since 1891 by the Rev. Thomas David Gray M.A. of Queens' College, Cambridge. Here are six almshouses and a school, with this inscription above the center doorway:-"This school and hospital were erected and endowed by the munificence of Mrs. Judith Bennett, daughter of Sir Levinus Bennett bart. And augmented by the liberality of James Bush esq. and L. Bush esq. his son Anno D. 1732:" the almshouses are for the benefit of six poor widows or spinster, with an allowance of 4s. 3d. per week each. Near the village standing in a park of about 200 acres, is Babraham Hall, a re-brick mansion with stone facings in the Elizabethan style, pleasantly situated in the center of the park, and surrounded by gardens and pleasure grounds which have been laid out with great taste: it was rebuilt by the late Henry John Adeane esq. (grandfather of the present owner) in the year 1832, and is the property and residence of Charles Robert Whorwood Adeane esq. D. L., J.P. lord of the manor and sole landowner. The soil is gravel and chalk; subsoil, chalk. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats. The area is 2,387 acres; rateable value, £1,942; the population in 1891 was 280.

Parish Clerk, A.B. Norman.

Post & M.O.O., S.B. & Annuity & Insurance office.-Alfred Unwin, sub-postmaster. Letters arrive from Cambridge at 6 a.m. & 2.40 p.m.; dispatched at 8 p.m. the nearest telegraph office is at Sawston, 3 miles distant.

Endowed Schools (mixed) erected in 1732, for 60 boys & girls; average attendance, 55; A.B. Norman, master

Adeane Charles Robert Whorwood D.L., J.P. Babraham hall
Gray Rev. Thomas David M.A. Vicarage
Briggs Henry John, farmer, Cott farm
Gay George, Carpenter & builder
Hill J. gardener to C.R.W. Adeane esq.
Lambert hy. Farmer, Reeded Barn farm
Norden john, blacksmith
Scard Frederick, gamekeeper to C.R. W. Adeane esq.
Robertson Robert Tait, farmer, Church farm
Unwin Alfd. Grocer, draper & post office
Unwin, George Robert, George inn
Webb Frederick Noel P.A.S.I. land & estate agent & agent for the Alliance Assurance Co. (fire & life)