
BRIDGE STREET No.6, THOMPSON SQUARE or CUNNINGHAM’S CUTE COTTAGE
The story of No 6 Bridge Street tells of the lives of ordinary people who led “little-big” lives. “Little”, because they had no power, political or otherwise; and “big”, because their lives formed the fabric of their own families and thus of Thompson Square itself. They are the story of “us”.
In 1913 an obituary appears in the Windsor & Richmond Gazette which tells not only of the death of one of Windsor’s old stalwart residents but also of a cottage, specifically No 6 Bridge St. Thompson Square. The obituary tells of the passing of Mrs Eliza Hopkins, aged 84, and who had lived in No 6 Thompson Square for many years, first with her brother, George Cunningham and his wife, Elizabeth Humphries and then with her husband, Daniel Hopkins ( who died in 1868 ) up until the time of her death in 1913.
To trace this story we need to return to the year of 1829 when a John Cunningham, an orphaned Currency Lad, married a Mary Cupitt. They already had two sons – John, born in 1825 and George, born in 1827 and then came Elizabeth ( Eliza ) in 1830, Mary Ann in 1832 and James in 1836. The Cunningham family lived on a farm on the Freeman’s Reach side of the River in the days before the bridge was built and when produce and traffic of all kinds were taken across the water on a punt. People from the Kurrajong side used to leave their horses and vehicles at Cunningham’s and cross the river in Cunningham’s boat to get to Windsor. On the farm there were two enormous mulberry trees which later were to be especially favoured by the young ladies from Miss Hopkins’ school....but we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves...
Eliza lived on the farm with her family until her parents died – Mary died in 1852 and John in 1856. The farm was sold and the children moved on.
George Cunningham, Eliza’s brother, had made his home with his wife in a cottage in Thompson Square, No 6, to be exact. Eliza went to live with George who was a Dealer. James became a farmer on the Wilberforce road and John appears to have owned several properties in Windsor. Mary Ann took up a very special vocation/ profession which will be discussed later.
The cottage at No 6 Thompson Square may have been built by Mr James Atkinson , the builder, for John Cunningham as an investment property. John lived in Church Street, Windsor and in 1857 was desirous of quitting Windsor so he advertised his various properties for sale. He is recorded in the newspapers as selling his own home in Church street and two cottages nearby as well as three Lots on the Windsor Terrace.
He also has another property. On the 23rd Dec. 1857 in the SMH he advertises for sale, the following :- “Superior Brick Cottage at Thompson Square, Windsor. John B. Laverack has received instructions from Mr John Cunningham who is removing from Windsor, to sell by public auction.....at Mr James B. Ridge’s Hotel, Windsor that newly erected brick-built cottage, containing 4 rooms, detached kitchen, out-offices etc. and with verandah in front and rear, situated in Thompson Square at present rented to Mr James Atkinson, builder, at 50 Pound per annum. This cottage being situate in the most healthy and pleasant locality in the town of Windsor commanding a splendid view of the River Hawkesbury and the adjacent country is strongly recommended to invalids or parties in want of a comfortable and superior residence; the cottage stands on an allotment of land having 70 foot frontage to Thompson Square by a depth of 100 foot.”
In the Freeman’s Journal, May 1858 the following notice appears :- “ 20 May, 1858, at her residence, Thompson Square, Windsor, Mrs George Cunningham of a son.” George and Elizabeth Humphries had married in Windsor in 1856. It seems likely that George brought No 6 Thompson Square from his brother and about 6 months later, his son, John G. Cunningham was born there. Perhaps Eliza,as yet not married and now with no family home of her own, moved in to help the young couple with their first born.
And Eliza lived there until 1913.
TO BE CONTINUED.........
The story of No 6 Bridge Street tells of the lives of ordinary people who led “little-big” lives. “Little”, because they had no power, political or otherwise; and “big”, because their lives formed the fabric of their own families and thus of Thompson Square itself. They are the story of “us”.
In 1913 an obituary appears in the Windsor & Richmond Gazette which tells not only of the death of one of Windsor’s old stalwart residents but also of a cottage, specifically No 6 Bridge St. Thompson Square. The obituary tells of the passing of Mrs Eliza Hopkins, aged 84, and who had lived in No 6 Thompson Square for many years, first with her brother, George Cunningham and his wife, Elizabeth Humphries and then with her husband, Daniel Hopkins ( who died in 1868 ) up until the time of her death in 1913.
To trace this story we need to return to the year of 1829 when a John Cunningham, an orphaned Currency Lad, married a Mary Cupitt. They already had two sons – John, born in 1825 and George, born in 1827 and then came Elizabeth ( Eliza ) in 1830, Mary Ann in 1832 and James in 1836. The Cunningham family lived on a farm on the Freeman’s Reach side of the River in the days before the bridge was built and when produce and traffic of all kinds were taken across the water on a punt. People from the Kurrajong side used to leave their horses and vehicles at Cunningham’s and cross the river in Cunningham’s boat to get to Windsor. On the farm there were two enormous mulberry trees which later were to be especially favoured by the young ladies from Miss Hopkins’ school....but we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves...
Eliza lived on the farm with her family until her parents died – Mary died in 1852 and John in 1856. The farm was sold and the children moved on.
George Cunningham, Eliza’s brother, had made his home with his wife in a cottage in Thompson Square, No 6, to be exact. Eliza went to live with George who was a Dealer. James became a farmer on the Wilberforce road and John appears to have owned several properties in Windsor. Mary Ann took up a very special vocation/ profession which will be discussed later.
The cottage at No 6 Thompson Square may have been built by Mr James Atkinson , the builder, for John Cunningham as an investment property. John lived in Church Street, Windsor and in 1857 was desirous of quitting Windsor so he advertised his various properties for sale. He is recorded in the newspapers as selling his own home in Church street and two cottages nearby as well as three Lots on the Windsor Terrace.
He also has another property. On the 23rd Dec. 1857 in the SMH he advertises for sale, the following :- “Superior Brick Cottage at Thompson Square, Windsor. John B. Laverack has received instructions from Mr John Cunningham who is removing from Windsor, to sell by public auction.....at Mr James B. Ridge’s Hotel, Windsor that newly erected brick-built cottage, containing 4 rooms, detached kitchen, out-offices etc. and with verandah in front and rear, situated in Thompson Square at present rented to Mr James Atkinson, builder, at 50 Pound per annum. This cottage being situate in the most healthy and pleasant locality in the town of Windsor commanding a splendid view of the River Hawkesbury and the adjacent country is strongly recommended to invalids or parties in want of a comfortable and superior residence; the cottage stands on an allotment of land having 70 foot frontage to Thompson Square by a depth of 100 foot.”
In the Freeman’s Journal, May 1858 the following notice appears :- “ 20 May, 1858, at her residence, Thompson Square, Windsor, Mrs George Cunningham of a son.” George and Elizabeth Humphries had married in Windsor in 1856. It seems likely that George brought No 6 Thompson Square from his brother and about 6 months later, his son, John G. Cunningham was born there. Perhaps Eliza,as yet not married and now with no family home of her own, moved in to help the young couple with their first born.
And Eliza lived there until 1913.
TO BE CONTINUED.........