Murfet's Bakery next door to the Baptist Church

The business in Clay St was started by Robert Murfets mother Hephzibah nee Owers, who after the death of her husband William in1855 of Tuberculosis was left with three young children ,Robert, Eleanor and Edward.  On the 1861 Census she had started up a Grocers shop in Clay St.  Later that year in June 1861 she married again to a Miller John Littleproud from Norfolk and had another child Alfred Littleproud.  Sadly she also died of Tuberculosis in March 1862.  Robert went to live with his Uncle ,Frederick Owers until his marriage to Rebecca Whymer in June  1873. It seems he then took over the family business in Clay St as a bakery.  John Littleproud had by this time married again in 1867.

As it looks today

The Bakery closed in 1973 having served Soham for over a Century, afterwards it was sold and became a Blacksmith, Ironmongery establishment, now it is a private residence, The Bakery stood next to the Baptist Church in Clay Street Soham, it can be found listed in Directories from 1875 onwards, Mr Murfet was well known for his delicious Cakes and Bread. The Bakery was handed down to Roberts Son Albert Edward in 1922 who successfully ran the business until 1952 When he in turn handed down the business to his eldest son Albert Edward jnr. He ran the bakery until 1973 when it finally closed.

The 1891 Census shows Robert and his Family as follows,
Clay Street Soham.
Robert Murfet, Head, 39, Marr, Baker & Confectioner, Born Soham,
Rebecca Murfet, Wife, 40, Born Soham,
Fred J Murfet, Son, 16, Butchers Assistant, Born Peckham Surrey
Albert E Murfet, Son, 12, Scholar, Born Soham
Herbert U Murfet, Son, 9, Scholar, Born Soham
John R Fordham, Nephew, 1, Born Soham.

Source of information, photo's & newspaper cutting kindly supplied by
Margaret Blackshaw nee Murfet. (Email).
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