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21-22 Bridge Street, Copyn Hall, 36 Thompson’s Lane

History of 21 Bridge Street

Properties on the corner of Bridge Street and Thompson’s Lane

19th century combined shop and dwelling houses in Cambridge

1959 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments Survey of Cambridge: are probably those described as ‘recently erected’ in the Cambridge Chronicle for 14 August 1835 , and by James Walter, architect. Though apparently built as  socio-economic unities of shops and dwellings, they have been cleared for a modern shop and rest is a hostel of Magdalene College. To Bridge Street and round unto the Lane the original timber shop-fronts remain little altered.

Early history of the site is from T E Faber, An Intimate History of St Clement’s Parish, 2006

The block of property now nos. 21-24 Bridge Street was given to Clare Hall early in the 16th cent. and sold to Magdalene in 1935.


(no.21) c. 1314: the Friars of the Blessed Mary

(no. 22) c. 1314: Gilbert de Chateres and his wife Leticia

(no. 22): 1366 held by Alan Brice of Cambridge

(no.22): 1366 deed of no. 22 refers to two properties to the south suggesting that no. 21 was divided. This would be tenements belonging to Robert de Brigham and William de Burton.

circa 1413: (no. 22 & 23) bought by Stepehn and Agnes Neel

1430: no. 21 held by Robert de Brigham but gave them to his brother when he went to France for the coronation of Henry VI.

1443: (nos. 22 & 23) sold as two shops to Henry Richard and his wife

1455: no. 21 bought by John Gryme and his wife from brother of Robert de Brigham for £12.

1467: (nos. 22 & 23) William Dak bought properties

1487: (no.21) purchased from Gryme family by William Bele

1492: (no. 21) Bele sells freehold to William Cappe

1498: (no. 21) freehold passes to William Adham. In  Adham’s will the property is called Copyn Hall suggesting it was a lodging for students

1504: will of William Adam made. Property left to wife Elizabeth and son Thomas.

1521: William Adam made Esquire Bedell of University. Died in 1555. Buried with father in All Saints.

1522: (no. 21) from Thomas Adham, son and heir of William Adham to Master of Clare Edmund Natures, and by him to Thomas Pomell, son and heir of Thomas Pomell and a Fellow of Clare

1528: (no.21) from Thomas Pomell to Christopher Bayly and several Fellows of Clare. This was  following instructions of Thomas Pomell’s will which laid down conditions for the establishment in Clare of a priest to be called ‘Mr Dack’s prest’ and of an annual service of nine lessons and mass, at which prayers are to be said for the souls of ‘William Dacke Clerke’, Thomas Pomell and his wife.

1621: (no.21) lease granted to Alice Frithe for 40 years

1631-53: John, later, Joan Blyton; ‘of Clement parish at ye sign of ye bull for selling less than a quart, £1 to be paid to Mr Tabor at his word’ in 1631.

1638: (no.22) occupied by Thomas Bland, cordiner

1656: (no.22) Thomas Bland died

1656-60: John Linsey

1661-64: Henry Gifford replaces John Linsey in Lent Book

1661: (no.22) widow Ann Bland still resident

1661: (no. 21) principal occupant was James Wendy, butcher

1664: (no.22) son Nicholas Bland resident. rent 13s 4d.

1670:-72: Thomas Enyon for Black Bull

1673: John Frohock for Black Bull with four hearths

1674-85: William later Alice Howlett for Black Bull in 1673

1676: Nicholas Tabor bequeaths Black Bull wherein Howlett lies

1681: (no.21) lease granted to Nicholas Tabor I. James Wendy still occupant sharing with John Linsey and family. Wendy’s part opened onto bridge Street; Linsey’s onto Thompson’s Lane.

1686-95: Richard Brady apparently Howlett’s successor

1796:  (no.21) let to someone in Saffron Walden and Linsey’s half had been further subdivided.

1851: pawnbroker


1861: (21 & 22)

Robert Cole, 41, silversmith, b London


1913:

Norman Bradley & Co Ltd, pawnbrokers and clothiers, Lombard House

J W Snelson, manager. Bradley & Co also had premises in Fitzroy Street.

 

Bridge Street Thompson’s Lane Junction circa 1900

 

Left ImageRight Image

 


1962:

(21) Norman Bradley, pawnbrokers

(22-23) John’s Ltd, house furnishers


2019:

North corner of Bridge Street and Thompson’s Lane

Cote Brasserie

36, 36b, 36c Thompson’s Lane

 

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