Jun 26 – On this day in Cambridgeshire history

Each weekend, Mike Petty and I look at the archives of the Cambridge News and recount some of the stories that occurred on this day in history.

Pub on the Great Ouse could be yours for 200k

1986

The Royal Oak, just off the A10 at Stretham Ferry, is on the market for £200,000.

It is a freehouse with a bar, five bedrooms and nine acres of land including a frontage on the Great Ouse with moorings, a holiday caravan park and a shop.

Now it may be extended and upgraded by Unicorn Inns of Royston, taking it up-market and offering a wide range of traditional beers.

'Freak storm' causes flooding on Campkin Road

1970

A freak storm hit without warning and, for more than two hours, Cambridgeshire was lashed by rain and gale-force winds.

Two-and-a-half feet of water gushed into houses in Campkin Road, Cambridge, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Every house from 68 to 78 was flooded.

And, just as householders began to win the battle with the water, heavy vehicles, forcing their way back way through, sent shockwaves of water cascading back into their houses.

At number 68, residents stood in the middle of a running river of water flowing through their front door and out the back.

The husband cast a baleful look over the brand new deep pink wallpaper in the hall. It was slowly changing colour as the water crept up.

“We decorated the place only a couple of weeks ago. We managed to get out carpet up in time. But we don’t think we have lost anything”, he said.

A widow said: “Everything is soaking. We are using bed covers and any material to mop up and keep the water out.”

Several neighbours formed bucket chains to remove water. At the Jenny Wren public house on the corner of Saint Kilda Way, water burst into the cellars and the landlady was worried her beer stocks might suffer.

At the Kingsway Flats, underground garages were swamped and, at Ferrars Way, the subways to the lock up garages were impossible.

On the McManus Estate, Chatsworth Avenue was one of the worst hit points. Householders in shorts and swimming costumes battled to keep the flood water out.

Dozens of calls for help were sent out by people to the fire service and police but, because of the situation throughout the county, no help came until the floods abated around 6pm.

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End of the line for Bottisham Lode train station

1964

Bottisham Lode railway station, once used by dairy farmers as a centre for milk distribution, is to close under the Beeching plan.

The old waiting rooms, station master’s office and lamp room will be turned into office accommodation.

James Beard, who has worked as porter for 45 years, remembers when there was also a station master, three clerks, two signalmen and an assistant porter. Now only he remains.

The once gleaming rails are becoming rusty and the British Railways sign creaks on ancient hinges.

Three times a week freight trains pass through but these will stop on July 13.

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'Total wreck' – council breaks up Fenland barge

1953

A recent decision by St Ives Council to break up and dispose of an historic Fenland lighter – presented last year – has had serious repercussions.

Before donating it as a museum piece, Mr R. Cory of Brinkley had received several offers for its purchase from people wishing to convert it into a house-boat.

The hatches were not perfect but it could easily have been repaired.

There was a considerable ‘bash’ in the bow as a result of an accident on its last trip when carrying sugar beet.

It had sunk because of heavy rain, strong winds and a lack of interest and attention.

A half-hearted attempt had made to raise it at the worst possible time.

The barge is at present a total wreck outside the Norris Museum.

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Independent reaches audience in Canada and Oz

1942

A correspondent, writing of the Cambridge Independent Press, says: "An old lady, in pre-war days, bought a copy of the Independent every week and, after reading it, she loaned it to four neighbours.

"Later on, the paper was sent to a son in Newcastle, who then forwarded it to a brother at Plymouth.

"From Plymouth it went to a brother in Melbourne, in Australia, who then sent it to a brother in Canada."

The itinerary, or programme, was carried out weekly for several years and, according to the correspondent, each copy of the Independent must have travelled quite 18,000 miles.

Read Mike Petty's Cambridgeshire Scrapbook to search for other stories.

A 200lb sturgeon caught in Hundred-Foot River

1906

A sturgeon weighing 200lb and measuring eight feet long is reported to have been caught in the river at Oxlode.