Page 71

"Downing Arms" - Public House
William Simons and Wife
And a large family. He is a bricklayer also, and a very respectable man and his wife also bears a good character. Some of the sons are unruly. They seldom come to Croydon Church, but go, I believe, to Tadlow.

[1841 Census: William Simons (40) and Barbara Simons (40) , with children Jane Simons (20), William Simons (15), George Simons (14), Stephen Simons (10), Samuel Simons (8), Fredrick Simons (6), Elizabeth Simons (5), Susan Simons (3) and Emma Simons (2). Also living here at the time of the census was Thomas Randell (65), agricultural labourer P [pensioner?].]

Grave Stones in Croydon Churchyard.
(left) Emma Simons, daughter of William and Barbara Simon
died January 1892 in her 52nd year
also of Samuel Simons their son
died 15 September 1868 in his 56th year
(middle) Barbara, wife of William Simons
who died 15 June 1870, aged 78 years
(right) William Simons (much illegible)
1856 (?) aged 59 years.

[Frederick William Simons and his family went to Australia in 1858]



The "Downing Arms" was first licensed as a pub in 1827 There was previously a farm on the site and the barn at the back of the pub had a dairy. The farm (66 Acres) continued with the pub until 1947 when Downing College who owned a large estate of land from Tadlow, Croydon, East Hatley and Gamlingay, sold the estate.
The pub was originally established as part of a funding drive by Downing College. The college had come into being as a result of the will of the third Sir George Downing, the first having been granted the title to the land around the time of the restoration of the Monarchy. However his descendants had disputed the will for many years and the money for the college and the estates which were to fund it di not come into the hands of the University until circa 1805.
The college built a toll road on its land to join the Old North Road (Ermine Street) and the Great North Road. This road is now the B1042 and the toll cottage can be seen on the road at the junction with the turning for Shingay. The "Downing Arms" was conveniently situated on the Road and the college applied for a licence for it as a pub and it subsequently became the rent house of Downing College. This may in part be the origin of the name since the tenants on the Downing College Estate paid their rent at the pub each Michelmas and saw the coat of arms of the Downing family, which includes a griffin rampant , as a scratching cat which took their money.
One family, the Simons lived in the house and farm from before 1820 through to 1916, and the "Downing Arms" finally closed in 95/96. I have only one photograph of the pub in action with what appears to be the Cambridgeshire Hunt meeting outside for a stirrup cup. The hunt photograph is very apposite since one of the former bursars of the college Dr John Perkins used to hunt from the "Downing Arms" with his friend W G Grace, the cricketer.

Geoff Mason and adapted from the Lost Pubs Project Website

Page 72

In the Farm yard behind the "Downing Arms"
William and Ann Rayner
He works for Mr King of Tadlow. He can't read - his wife can - they mostly attend Tadlow church, they say, which is considerably nearer than Croydon.
She is a base-born daughter of Lucy Simpson (page 45).
1. William Rayner, aged 24. Works for and sleeps at Mr Jackman's - can't read. Attends Croydon Church.
2. Edward Rayner, aged 22. Works for Mr King with his father - can't read. Attends Tadlow Church.
3. Marianne Rayner, aged 17. In service at Cambridge.
4. Harriet Rayner, aged 14. In service at Cambridge.
5. Sarah Rayner, aged 12. Reads very little.
6. Elizabeth Rayner, aged 10. Reads very little.
7. Joseph Rayner, aged 7.
8. Alfred Rayner, aged 5.

Married at Croydon Church and children Christened there.

[1841 Census: William Rayner (aged 45), agricultural labourer, wife Ann Rayner (40), with William Rayner (20), Edward Rayner (20), Harriett Rayner (12), Sarah Rayner (10), Elizabeth Rayner (8), Joseph Rayner (6) and Alfred Rayner (3).]

Page 73

Last Farm on the Tadlow Road
Elizabeth White
About 45, unmarried. Her father who was for many years churchwarden, died about last June and was buried at Tadlow. She rarely attends Croydon Church.

RSBS: (She has left the parish) [Received notice to quit in July 1843.]

[Above entries are crossed through]

[1841 Census: Richard White (aged 80), farmer, Elizabeth White (35), Francis White (male) (50). Also living here at the time of the census were: William Theobalds (30), agricultural labourer, Sarah Yarrow (15), servant, and Elizabeth Yarrow (14), servant.]

RSBS: (Later:
Mr and Mrs John King
live here now.
She is sister to Mr Ellis. He is son to Mr James King of Tadlow. She is a very pleasing, well principled young women. We used to see a good deal of her before her marriage, when she lived with her brother in the village. He also bears a very good character.
Mr John King is Overseer of the Poor this year.)

Page 74

On the Hill near Tadlow
Mary Casbourn
A widow - died in April 1846. She occupies a Farm partly in Croydon, partly in Tadlow. Is aged, and the road to her farm is scarcely passable in winter. She attends Croydon church occasionally regularly in summer and is a communicant. She has been twice married.

Christopher Lyon (page 36) sleeps on the farm and so does Alfred Presland (page 46). She keeps two maids who attend Croydon Church occasionally, those now being with her are not natives of this parish. Their names are Elizabeth and Sarah Harper.
[Above paragraph is crossed through]

[1841 Census: Mary Casburn (aged 65), farmer. Also living here at the time of the census
were: Phebe Watson (2), Sarah Harper (15), servant, and
James Spencer (20), agricultural labourer (see entry at page 51).]

RSBS: (She is about to leave this farm; and it will be occupied by Mr Elliston or his son - who now live at Wimpole and hold another estate in Croydon. The Ellistons are very respectable people - Mr Elliston, the father, was brother to Elliston [*] of Drury Lane.)

[Contribution: *ELLISTON, ROBERT WILLIAM (1774-1831), English actor and theatre manager, was born 1774 in London , the son of a watchmaker. He acted at Drury Lane from 1804 and leased the theatre from 1819, presenting Kean, Mme Vestris and Macready. Ill-health and misfortune culminated in his bankruptcy in 1826, when he made his last appearance at Drury Lane as Falstaff. Leigh Hunt compared him favourably with Garrick; Byron thought him inimitable in high comedy; Macready praised his versatility.]

Page 75

Mr Henry Mole
and Wife [Mary Ann] and 3 or four children.
Farmer, lately come into the parish from the neighbourhood of St Neots. They are very constant at church - seem to wish to be on friendly terms - he is Surveyor of Roads this year.

[Contribution: Henry Tingey Mole, born c1817 at Little Barford, Bedfordshire. Mary Ann, born c1817 at St Neots, Huntingdonshire. Their first two children, Henry (c1840) and John (c1842) were both born in Hail Weston, Huntingdonshire. The third, Sarah, was born (c1845) in Croydon-cum-Clopton. At the time of the 1851 census, they also had two servants living with them.]

Page 76

Croydon Wilds Farm - Mr Gape's
James and Sarah Law
1. David Law, aged 11. Reads a little.
2. Martin Law, aged 7. Reads a little.
3 Philip Law, aged 5.
4. Sarah Anne Law, aged 4.
5. An infant born 14 Sept 1842.

They were married at Croydon. They are very much inclined to dissent, and neither of them attend often at Croydon Church. She, I believe, is partly prevented partly by distance and bad roads. Their children have been baptised at Bassingbourn Meeting, all except the youngest and that has not yet been taken anywhere for baptism. He is brother to John William Law (page 10).

RSBS: (James Law died about two years since.)

[1841 Census: James Law (aged 25), farmer, Sarah Law (25), David Law (8), Martin Law (5), Phillip Law (3), Sarah Law (1). Also living here at the time of the census was: Phillip Gentle (15), agricultural labourer.]

Page 77

Next door farm
William and Sarah Wilkins
They were bred as Baptists. He is first cousin to Mrs Jackson. Neither he nor his wife often attend Croydon Church, but the boys come most Sundays.
1. Ivatt Wilkins, aged 21 [more probably 17]. Works as a Miller at Sandy.
2. Susan Wilkins, aged 16.
3. John Wilkins, aged 13.
4. David Wilkins, aged 10.
5. Henry Wilkins, aged 8.
6. James Wilkins, aged 6.
7. Sarah Anne Wilkins, aged 5
8. Jane Wilkins, aged 4.
9. Marianne Wilkins, aged 4 months.
The children, I believe, were all baptised at Eversden Meeting.

John Blowes sleeps on the premises as Horsekeeper.
[Above sentence is crossed through]

Wilkins acts as gamekeeper for Mr Gape.

[1841 Census: William Wilkins (aged 40), farmer, wife Sarah Wilkins (40), children Ivett Wilkins (15), miller, Susan Wilkins (14), John Wilkins (12), David Wilkins (9), Henry Wilkins (7), James Wilkins (5), Ann Wilkins (3), and Jane Wilkins (1). Also living here at the time of the census were: Mary Wilkins (25) and Elizabeth Mims (15), servant.]

Page 78

Widow Larkins
Rather deaf - a very respectable person. Goes out as Nurse, is an excellent cook and has lived as housekeeper to Mrs Yorke [**].

She has
One son, a very wild one.
One daughter [Jane] married to Simons, the bricklayer's eldest son.
Two daughters unmarried and both in service.

RSBS: (She now lives in the farm lately occupied by Mr Jackson.)

[1841 Census: Charlotte Larkins (aged 35), and Charles Larkins (15).]

[* Contribution: 'Widow Larkins' is Charlotte Larkins, born Maidstone Kent, wife of James Larkin(s), a cattle drover. The 'wild one' son was Charles Larkins born Croydon-cum-Clopton 1823. One of the unmarried daughters was Sarah Larkins (born Croydon-cum-Clopton 1830. James and Charlotte Larkins had many children: William (1820), Charles (1823), Sarah (1830), Jane (see entry below), Elizabeth, Caroline, Louisa and Violetta are known.]

[** Contribution: Mrs Yorke was probably Lady Elizabeth Yorke (d.1858) at nearby Wimpole Hall, wife of the 3rd Earl of Hardwicke until his death in 1834.]

Simons and Wife
[John and Jane] Simons, and three children. Bricklayer - son of the man at the "Downing Arms". His wife a shocking dawdle and bad health. He is a civil man, but said to like sitting in a public house much better than at home.

RSBS: (His wife is said to be in fault. She is daughter of Widow Larkins above.)

[1841 Census: John Simons (aged 20), bricklayer, Jane Simons (15), and child Emmelia Simons (3 months).]

[Contribution: John Simons, bricklayer, born Gamlingay of parents William and Barbara, wife is Jane (nee Larkin), Eldest child is daughter Emmelia (or Emmeley) Simons 1841, then William Simons 1843 and George Simons 1848.]

Page 79

Edward and Maria Thomas
([Maria] Dead)

He can read a little, works for Mr Pearman, is son to Widow Thomas (page 17). She can read. She is of a querulous disposition. They are very regular at Church.
1. Edward Thomas, aged 4. Christened at Croydon Church.
2. William Thomas, aged 7 months. Christened at Croydon Church.

Edward Thomas has been laid up for near two years with swellings and ulcers, supposed to be the effects of bad typhus fever - of which also his wife died.

RSBS: (He is now bedridden, has received the sacrament. I have attended him for a long time. His brother lives with him. she is of a querulous disposition [?].)

RSBS: (Later note: Edward Thomas died in October, and his Mother and children are about to be moved out, and the Lowrings from the Brick Kilns are going into the house.)

[1841 Census: Edward Thomas (25), agricultural labourer, Maria Thomas (20), Edward Thomas (2) and Rebecca Thomas (3 months).]