Former park-keeper's lodge

Image: © Tiger Taken: 19 Apr 2018

This house of white-painted brick at 53 Carlyle Road was formerly a lodge for the custodian of the adjacent Alexandra Gardens, which were created in 1905 on the site of a former brickworks and named in honour of Queen Alexandra, consort of the reigning monarch Edward VII. Research with local deeds and recorded conversations with the late brothers John and Ted Hibbitt (recalling their father's memories from 1890) indicate that it was originally built in the 1880s by the owner of the brickfields, a Mrs Gurney, as accommodation for the works manager. It is thus an important part of the industrial history of the area, much of which was built up with the products of those very brickfields. A planning application to Cambridge City Council (17/2161/FUL) for demolition of the historic building and erection of eight studio flats with associated storage met with strong opposition from local residents and councillors, and was withdrawn in January 2018. By April 2018 a let for the existing premises had been agreed. Update: a revised planning application was submitted to the council in November 2018, again proposing demolition of the premises but with the replacement building scaled down to provide only five studio flats. For a side view from Alexandra Gardens see Image

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