Camden House 25 Stratton Street Last week we left Camden House School under the leadership of Mrs Frances Satchell, with a rival school, Wilber House, run by the Bird sisters. Mrs Satchell died of heart disease on December 19, 1903 aged 58 years. The a

Camden House

25 Stratton Street

Last week we left Camden House School under the leadership of Mrs Frances Satchell, with a rival school, Wilber House, run by the Bird sisters.

Mrs Satchell died of heart disease on December 19, 1903 aged 58 years.

The advertisement on the right appeared in the local press on May 31, 1905 when the Birds effectively moved their operations to Camden House and enlarged the schoolroom in Crab Lane.

Camden House School was successful with a good reputation in Biggleswade and taking boarders from further afield.

Ann Bird died in 1911 followed by her sister Charlotte in 1921.

Mrs Dutton of West Norwood took over the school for a short period and indications were that the school would continue, but Camden House was sold to Parker Herbert early in 1922.

Parker Herbert was in business as a newsagent and stationer. He produced a series of pictorial postcards that are much sought after today.

He also sold toys, Meccano and Hornby trains.

I went to work for him in June 1940 as a paper boy. During the London Blitz daily newspapers always came out, but arrived late and we delivered them during the school dinner hour.

Soon afterwards Mr and Mrs Binder took over and I continued as one of their paper boys, collecting newspapers from the early train a short distance away as well as delivering in London Road.

Mr and Mrs Binder expanded the business, taking over Larkinson's Market Square shop in 1943, also opening a bookshop at the Market House in 1945. They retired in 1948, selling both newsagents shops to Horace Marshall and Son Ltd.

The High Street shop has changed hands many times. It was Chopsticks in 1957 and it is now Sunflower takeaway.

WILBER & CAMDEN HOUSE

AMALGAMATED SCHOOLS

THE MISSES BIRD

Have now completed the necessary repairs and alterations of Camden House.

A large schoolroom has been built on to the present one which gives a teaching accommodation of 71 feet, besides two good sized cloakrooms. The MISSES BIRD are therefore in a position to receive fresh pupils (day & boarding)

PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS PREPARED FOR

TERMS MODERATE

Up my street

FAIRFIELD ROAD

Fairfield Road leads off of Sun Street in the north west of the town.

It leads to Fairfield House.