Bawtree Family at Woodstock Cottages Stephen Bawtree November 2024
Woodstock Cottages in the 1980s (courtesy Stephen Bawtree)
My father, Leslie Bawtree, lived at Woodstock for more than 40 years with my mother Kay and their two sons, Stephen (me) and Mark. Leslie met Kay during the Second World War when he was stationed at Bower Hill, Melksham where he was undergoing further training between tours as an RAF electrician, having seen action in the Middle East.
Following the war the newly-wed couple moved to Box Hill and Leslie started his village barber’s shop. Initially he traded from a room within (but separate from) the Queen’s Head before moving to The Parade where he built up a faithful customer base among the men and boys, many of whom would return to the village for their trim and natter. The shop was certainly one of the village focal points.
Following the war the newly-wed couple moved to Box Hill and Leslie started his village barber’s shop. Initially he traded from a room within (but separate from) the Queen’s Head before moving to The Parade where he built up a faithful customer base among the men and boys, many of whom would return to the village for their trim and natter. The shop was certainly one of the village focal points.
Leslie’s hairdressing business started in the annex of the Queen’s Head (courtesy Gordon Hall)
The Bawtrees moved to No.1 Woodstock in the early 1950s before moving to No.3 which offered more space, initially for their first son Stephen and then Mark. The tenants who moved into No.1 were Mr & Mrs Mansfield and their daughter together with a large German Shepherd dog, all living in the smallest cottage. No.2 was occupied by Mr & Mrs Fletcher, the former keeping an immaculate vegetable garden, retreating to his garden shed for a quiet moment or two or three, and turning off his hearing aid for extra relaxation! No.4 was lived in by Mr Barnet, a road maintenance “old country boy”.
The plots acquired by Leslie Bawtree in 1963 (courtesy Mike (Jake) Jacobs)
Life in the cottages was fun for the two Bawtree boys in that it offered immediate access to the countryside and a large garden. However, it has to be said that the cottages were basic and it would have been hard work for my mother. There was no heating other than the open fire in the sitting room and the toilets were outside. Bath time was a once-a-week affair in a galvanised tin bath brought in for the occasion in front of the fire in winter. The order for the family was the youngest boy first, then oldest, mother and finally father. The boys were sent to bed before the parents were able to use the bath so goodness knows how cold the water would have been at the end of the process.
Leslie had the opportunity to purchase the cottages in the early 1960s. This is likely to have been precipitated by the need for investment to improve the amenities in the cottages. A series of Government Acts had been passed aiming to improve the quality of the housing stock. The 1959 Housing Act started a programme of grants for the improvement of privately owned housing. Successive legislation gradually added to this. The 1959 House Purchase and Housing Act made it mandatory for Local Authorities to make grants of up to £150 to improve dwellings by adding bathrooms or showers, a sink with hot water, a WC and food storage. The 1964 Housing Act gave Local Authorities powers in some circumstances to compel landlords to make improvements.
Leslie had the opportunity to purchase the cottages in the early 1960s. This is likely to have been precipitated by the need for investment to improve the amenities in the cottages. A series of Government Acts had been passed aiming to improve the quality of the housing stock. The 1959 Housing Act started a programme of grants for the improvement of privately owned housing. Successive legislation gradually added to this. The 1959 House Purchase and Housing Act made it mandatory for Local Authorities to make grants of up to £150 to improve dwellings by adding bathrooms or showers, a sink with hot water, a WC and food storage. The 1964 Housing Act gave Local Authorities powers in some circumstances to compel landlords to make improvements.
|
Having purchased No.3 Woodstock, one of the first improvements undertaken by Leslie was the installation of a new bathroom on the ground floor. The good news was that there were hot baths, the bad news was that trips still had to be undertaken to visit the external toilets. The luxury of an internal lavatory had to await the purchase by Leslie of the remaining cottages as a block. This enabled the integration of No.4 (then vacant) with No.3 whilst Nos. 1 & 2 remained separate. Leslie then undertook a programme of improvements, fitting new internal bathrooms and WCs in each of the cottages and a much-improved kitchen in No.3 which became a three bed cottage. Further major works continued with the complete re-roofing of the cottages helped by a grant from North Wiltshire District Council. Cotswold stone tiles were, of course, used. The cottages became Grade II Listed Buildings in 1985. Right: Leslie and Kay Bawtree getting ready for Box Revels in 1988 (courtesy Stephen Bawtree) |
|
All these works were carried out sympathetically by Leslie to respect the heritage and character of the cottages. He was thrilled to uncover the original stone fireplaces in Nos. 2 & 3 and proudly sat on a stone seat inside the large fireplace admiring the view down the Box Valley. His interest in local history and his position in the village meant that many old items were brought into the shop where Leslie would purchase brass coal scuttles, old clocks, coach horns, ale jugs and brasses, all of which were brought home to the cottages, polished and put on display. Alongside the improvements to the cottages which took place over some 20 to 25 years, as funds and time permitted, my father acquired various parcels of unwanted garden land around the cottage to create a larger setting for the Bawtree home.
Leslie and a visitor from USA outside his shop at number 5 The Parade (courtesy Stephen Bawtree)
Leslie at work in number 5 The Parade in the 1980s (courtesy Stephen Bawtree)
Leslie carried on working as the village barber until he died, aged 71 in 1992. Mark Bawtree moved into No.2 and lived there happily alongside his parents until his death at an early age. Kay continued to live at No.3 for many years, enjoying contented hours in a new conservatory built on the site of the old privies. To help fund her retirement land was sold for a new house, Woodstock House. No.1 was let to various tenants but became vacant and stood empty for a considerable period. Eventually, when Kay died the cottages were sold at auction and a new chapter began. Mike Jacobs purchased No.3 and started a new phase of modernisation which was by then much needed, and new occupants moved into Nos.1 & 2.
Looking back now I remember my early life in Woodstock Cottages with great affection and I can understand that Leslie must have felt a great responsibility and satisfaction to be custodian of such an interesting, old building.
Looking back now I remember my early life in Woodstock Cottages with great affection and I can understand that Leslie must have felt a great responsibility and satisfaction to be custodian of such an interesting, old building.