20 Cheyney Street

Also known as The Old Police House. Its origins and more about policing generally may be found on this Policing page

As early as 1920 the Cambridgeshire County Council on behalf of the Police Authority were negotiating to buy land in Steeple Morden upon which to erect a police house. It is not known which plot the Council had its eye on, but it appears that nothing came of these negotiations.

By the early 1950s the need for a police house was becoming pressing. Policing had long been structured round the “village bobbies” responsible for maintaining law and order in a parish or two and they needed to live on their patch. After the South Cambridgeshire Council acquired land in Cheyney Street for housing, now Russell Close etc., the County Council applied pressure to have a couple of plots for their Police House. However South Cambs stood firm and told them to look the other side of Cheyney Street, which they did and bought a plot directly opposite!

The land on which this house stands was originally part of The Bell and was sold 20 January 1954 by J & J E Phillips, brewers of Royston and owners of The Bell. to Cambridgeshire CC.

Bearing mind that The Bell and The Diggings were  both to close within three years, it is amusing that Phillips bothered to have this covenant included in the conveyance:

“For the benefit and protection of properties owned by the Vendors
situate at Steeple Morden aforesaid and known as “The Bell” Public
House and “The Diggings” Beer House and each and all the Vendors’ other
licensed properties situate in the County of Cambridge and so as to
bind the property hereby conveyed into whosesoever hands the same may
come (but not so as to render the Council personally liable after they
shall have parted with the property hereby conveyed) the Council hereby
covenant with the Vendors that they the Council and those deriving
title under them owner or owners and occupiers for the time being of
the property hereby conveyed will at all times hereafter observe and
perform the covenant and stipulation following namely:-

Not to use the property hereby conveyed or any part thereof or any
buildings to be erected thereon for the purpose of manufacture sale or
supply of beer, wines, spirits, cider, mineral waters or ice cream nor
permit the same to be used as a registered club”

As policing methods changed the village bobby was no longer a key part of the structure and village police houses became redundant. In 1984 the house was sold and acquired by Roger F and Ruth M Smith. On 27 September 2005 they sold to Christopher Mark Blackburn and Tracy Catherine Blackburn the current owners (2024).

In 1984 planning permission was granted for an extension, porch and garage and the work was duly carried out. In 2007 the current owners were granted permission for extensions and a re-modelling of the appearance, which work was carried out, creating the house as it appears today.

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