Number 30 Polstead Road is the St Margaret’s Institute, originally a large house funded by the local community for community use. A hall was added in 1928. The top flat was intended for a caretaker responsible for the maintenance of the Institute.
A post from Australia
This post was written by Janet Gunstone (nee Quarterman), submitted August 2026. She added:
“The information is from the memoirs of my Auntie Isabel (dec.) and my own family history research.”
My grandparents (1924-35)
My Grandparents, Harry & Mary Quarterman, lived at 30 Polstead Road between 1924 -1935, with their two young children, Billy & Isabel, who attended the local school.
Harry Quarterman
Harry was a professional gardener, having served an apprenticeship to the Bishop of Oxford at the Bishop’s Palace in Cuddesdon (now Ripon College).
He was employed as the Caretaker for St Margaret’s Working Men’s Institute around 1924 and was also the Handyman/Gardener for St Margaret’s Church. A large on-site flat went with the job, which was a welcome relief, especially for my grandmother, after a few difficult years.
The Institute (30 Polstead Road)
The Institute’s new hall was built in 1928 and officially opened by Princess Marie Louise, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Harry & Mary’s daughter Isabel, aged 8, was chosen to present her with a bouquet – but the little girl was very disappointed as the Princess was an elderly woman and not the fairy princess she had imagined! The photo of the family below was, I believe, taken on that occasion in 1928.
1 thought on “30 Polstead Road (1924)”
This is great! So lovely to have personal family recollections to add colour to the history narrative.
Thank you, Karen (No. 21).