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Picture Source: John Turner
The Britannia was situated at 119 East Road. This pub closed in 1971 and has now been demolished. The publican in 1916 was Joseph Day.
The Britannia Lodging House attached to the above establishment was notorious in mid 19th century Cambridge for lodging vagrants and vagabonds; its inhabitants regularly appear in police intelligence reports in the local press – the lodging house keeper went by the name of Elizabeth Machin aka Yorkshire Betty; in 1850 she entered into a bigamous marriage with one John Pointon alias James Palmer, a man about 30 years younger than herself and was confronted in 1852 by his first wife, also an Elizabeth, who was suing him for desertion. The ensuing newspaper report is both hilarious and sad.
Joan Salmon (June 2014)
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Other Photos
Britannia skittle club, 1936	Picture Source: David Potter
Joseph Day, publican 1916	Picture Source: Terry Lyon
Date of picture: 1858	Picture Source: Joan Salmon