Berry Cottages Alan Payne March 2023
Left to right; 1 to 3 Berry Cottages (Courtesy Varian Tye)
Berry Cottages are close to Box Quarries but distinctly separated from the stone quarry-faces and the dust and noise that went with the workings. The terrace of three neat cottages lies adjacent to footpath, Box 39, which leads onto Box Hill Upper Common. The footpath also passed near the large open field quarry at Rawlings Field (now filled in) and was probably used by quarrymen. Rising quarrymen, turned property developers, wanted to live in this rural area behind Tunnel Inn. This was certainly true of the Neate family who were associated with the house for many years.
Neate Family of Berry Cottages
The Neate family were similar to many villagers: hard-working labourers and miners who earned a living by risking their lives in the quarries of Box after 1841. John Neate (1840-1919) was a stone miner, listed in the 1871 and 1881 censuses as living in a couple of rooms at number 8 Boxfield Cottages. Life must have been badly overcrowded as John and his wife Mary Jane had eleven children. Having said that, their upbringing didn’t affect the children’s longevity, the first daughter Eliza lived to be 92, Ellen 79 and Fred 80.
The properties were probably built in the late 1860s and 1870s and, in the course of renovating number 1, under layers of wall plaster were old newspapers dating from that period. In the censuses from 1891 to 1911, John and Mary Neate lived at Berry House, which is what they called the first cottage. We don’t know who built the cottages but their artisan style of construction and isolated location makes it possible that a small, local developer built the row, possibly John Neate himself. The cottages date to the 1880s and we know they existed by 1889 when an advertisement was put in the local newspaper.[1]
The Neate family owned all three cottages and let them out to family members as the need arose. After John’s death in 1919, Mary let out four furnished rooms in the house.[2] The eldest son, William John Neate (1868-), joined the Metropolitan police force and in 1896 was commended for his bravery as a constable at the Marylebone police station and awarded a silver medal and a guinea.[3] It wasn’t the first time he had been commended because in 1892 he encountered a crooked policeman serving in the same division.[4] The bent officer tricked him into taking his helmet off and struck him before absconding. William gave evidence at the trial when the villain was later captured. Local residents remember Superintendent Neate came back to Box to live at number 1 Berry Cottages in the 1940s and 50s.[5]
By then, William’s younger brother, Frederick, had become the patriarch of the family and bought considerable land and buildings on Box Hill, living at Hillcrest, down from The Quarryman’s Arms. In a rather touching gesture, Fred organised memorial notices for his relatives giving their order of birth as children of John and Mary Neate. For many years all three cottages were owned and let out by the Hayward brothers until they started to sell them to private owner-occupiers in 2011.
The Neate family were similar to many villagers: hard-working labourers and miners who earned a living by risking their lives in the quarries of Box after 1841. John Neate (1840-1919) was a stone miner, listed in the 1871 and 1881 censuses as living in a couple of rooms at number 8 Boxfield Cottages. Life must have been badly overcrowded as John and his wife Mary Jane had eleven children. Having said that, their upbringing didn’t affect the children’s longevity, the first daughter Eliza lived to be 92, Ellen 79 and Fred 80.
The properties were probably built in the late 1860s and 1870s and, in the course of renovating number 1, under layers of wall plaster were old newspapers dating from that period. In the censuses from 1891 to 1911, John and Mary Neate lived at Berry House, which is what they called the first cottage. We don’t know who built the cottages but their artisan style of construction and isolated location makes it possible that a small, local developer built the row, possibly John Neate himself. The cottages date to the 1880s and we know they existed by 1889 when an advertisement was put in the local newspaper.[1]
The Neate family owned all three cottages and let them out to family members as the need arose. After John’s death in 1919, Mary let out four furnished rooms in the house.[2] The eldest son, William John Neate (1868-), joined the Metropolitan police force and in 1896 was commended for his bravery as a constable at the Marylebone police station and awarded a silver medal and a guinea.[3] It wasn’t the first time he had been commended because in 1892 he encountered a crooked policeman serving in the same division.[4] The bent officer tricked him into taking his helmet off and struck him before absconding. William gave evidence at the trial when the villain was later captured. Local residents remember Superintendent Neate came back to Box to live at number 1 Berry Cottages in the 1940s and 50s.[5]
By then, William’s younger brother, Frederick, had become the patriarch of the family and bought considerable land and buildings on Box Hill, living at Hillcrest, down from The Quarryman’s Arms. In a rather touching gesture, Fred organised memorial notices for his relatives giving their order of birth as children of John and Mary Neate. For many years all three cottages were owned and let out by the Hayward brothers until they started to sell them to private owner-occupiers in 2011.
Tenants of Berry Cottages
When the Neate family didn’t occupy any of the cottages for their personal use, they rented them out to provide an income. The cottages were in a good location and highly desirable but they weren’t large (in 1911 described as number 1 five rooms, numbers 2 and 3 both four rooms). The convenience of the location was enhanced in 1895 when a road 200 yards in length leading from Clift Cottage to a road running from Tunnel Inn was adopted by the council.[6]
The area was deeply rural before the Second World War and Berry Cottages were a convenient location to keep horses. In 1922 William George Houkes died at Berry House at the age of 81.[7] He was a well-known saddler and harness-maker from Bath who had only lived there for a short time after 1920. In 1933 a horse trough near Berry Cottages and the nearby road required repair with stone from the dump at a nearby airshaft.[8] In 1934 an Act for the Protection of Footpaths was discussed concerning the paths marked on Box Hill by FG Neate of Hillcrest.[9] A path leading to Berry House was repaired by hand (manual labour).
Often families occupied the cottages for a long number of years and the tenancies sometimes taken over by children. It says much about the Neate owners that the cottages were held by families over many years.
When the Neate family didn’t occupy any of the cottages for their personal use, they rented them out to provide an income. The cottages were in a good location and highly desirable but they weren’t large (in 1911 described as number 1 five rooms, numbers 2 and 3 both four rooms). The convenience of the location was enhanced in 1895 when a road 200 yards in length leading from Clift Cottage to a road running from Tunnel Inn was adopted by the council.[6]
The area was deeply rural before the Second World War and Berry Cottages were a convenient location to keep horses. In 1922 William George Houkes died at Berry House at the age of 81.[7] He was a well-known saddler and harness-maker from Bath who had only lived there for a short time after 1920. In 1933 a horse trough near Berry Cottages and the nearby road required repair with stone from the dump at a nearby airshaft.[8] In 1934 an Act for the Protection of Footpaths was discussed concerning the paths marked on Box Hill by FG Neate of Hillcrest.[9] A path leading to Berry House was repaired by hand (manual labour).
Often families occupied the cottages for a long number of years and the tenancies sometimes taken over by children. It says much about the Neate owners that the cottages were held by families over many years.
Various of the Ettles family (courtesy Bob Hancock).
Middle Row: Jean Diffle, Mildred Cousins, Freda Dancey, Percy Ettles, Mrs Cogswell, Lauri Hancock
Front Row: Vi Sumner, Mrs Spring, Nellie Pinker, Robbie Ettles, unknown, Nellie Wilkins
Ettles Family at number 1
Percy and Margaret Ettles and their daughter lived in number 1 Berry Cottages from the 1950s to 80s. Percy (1903-) came from Alcombe and later Upper Rudloe. He was a leading member of the United Free Chapel and ran the Sunday school there for many years. Local resident Richard Pinker recalls that Percy Ettles would make wooden toys for sale in the fundraising Methodist annual Christmas Bazaar. Many children got only handmade presents in the 1950s.
Percy and Margaret Ettles and their daughter lived in number 1 Berry Cottages from the 1950s to 80s. Percy (1903-) came from Alcombe and later Upper Rudloe. He was a leading member of the United Free Chapel and ran the Sunday school there for many years. Local resident Richard Pinker recalls that Percy Ettles would make wooden toys for sale in the fundraising Methodist annual Christmas Bazaar. Many children got only handmade presents in the 1950s.
Tooth Family at number 2
The Tooth family lived in number 2 for almost a century from 1911 to 2008, starting with George and Phoebe Tooth (nee Hudd) (1845-1914), the widow of George Tooth (1841-1898). In turn Phoebe’s son Tom Tooth (1876-1951), freestone sawyer, took over the tenancy. Tom Tooth was born in Corsham and he signed up to join the 3rd Wiltshire Regiment for 6 years when he was 18 years old in 1895. He bought himself out after only 76 days and returned to quarry work, possibly to look after his family at Paul Street, Corsham, after his father became ill before dying in 1898.
Tom was an avid cricketer for Corsham Cricket Club, originally selected for his bowling but he improved as a batsman, albeit either scoring quickly or soon getting out. His breakthrough years were in the early 1900s and in 1904 he bore the brunt of the bowling, taking 68 wickets at an average of 9.14 runs.[10] He married Edith Emily Clifford (1892-1969) from Millsplatt at the United Methodist Church, Box Hill in 1915.
After Edith’s death in 1969, their son John Tooth and his wife Patricia lived in number 2 for many years until 2008. John worked for the Bath Academy of Art at Corsham Court.
The Tooth family lived in number 2 for almost a century from 1911 to 2008, starting with George and Phoebe Tooth (nee Hudd) (1845-1914), the widow of George Tooth (1841-1898). In turn Phoebe’s son Tom Tooth (1876-1951), freestone sawyer, took over the tenancy. Tom Tooth was born in Corsham and he signed up to join the 3rd Wiltshire Regiment for 6 years when he was 18 years old in 1895. He bought himself out after only 76 days and returned to quarry work, possibly to look after his family at Paul Street, Corsham, after his father became ill before dying in 1898.
Tom was an avid cricketer for Corsham Cricket Club, originally selected for his bowling but he improved as a batsman, albeit either scoring quickly or soon getting out. His breakthrough years were in the early 1900s and in 1904 he bore the brunt of the bowling, taking 68 wickets at an average of 9.14 runs.[10] He married Edith Emily Clifford (1892-1969) from Millsplatt at the United Methodist Church, Box Hill in 1915.
After Edith’s death in 1969, their son John Tooth and his wife Patricia lived in number 2 for many years until 2008. John worked for the Bath Academy of Art at Corsham Court.
Greenland Family at number 3
Arthur William Greenland (3 December 1882-) and his wife Sarah A Wilkins (10 June 1883-) lived at number 3 Berry Cottages in 1939. It was just around the corner from Arthur’s family home in Tunnel Inn. Living with them in 1939 were their sons, Francis William H (11 June 1902-18 June 1954), market gardener, Cyril (22 February 1920-97) and Desmond (11 April 1926-1999). The family later moved to Mill Lane, Box.
Cyril was a well-known, semi-professional footballer who had played for Trowbridge, Chippenham, Box Hill and Box Rovers. He ran a car repair business in a garage in Mill Lane opposite the WOMAD sheds. He married Violet Mildred Ashley from Atworth in 1942. Desmond also played football locally and the Box Hill Sports Football Club were the guard of honour when he married Barbara Curtis on 17 March 1951. An older brother, William Greenland (1902-54), was a leading light in the Box Hill Institute since 1937.[11] The Greenland family were still living at number 3 in the 1950s.[12]
Arthur William Greenland (3 December 1882-) and his wife Sarah A Wilkins (10 June 1883-) lived at number 3 Berry Cottages in 1939. It was just around the corner from Arthur’s family home in Tunnel Inn. Living with them in 1939 were their sons, Francis William H (11 June 1902-18 June 1954), market gardener, Cyril (22 February 1920-97) and Desmond (11 April 1926-1999). The family later moved to Mill Lane, Box.
Cyril was a well-known, semi-professional footballer who had played for Trowbridge, Chippenham, Box Hill and Box Rovers. He ran a car repair business in a garage in Mill Lane opposite the WOMAD sheds. He married Violet Mildred Ashley from Atworth in 1942. Desmond also played football locally and the Box Hill Sports Football Club were the guard of honour when he married Barbara Curtis on 17 March 1951. An older brother, William Greenland (1902-54), was a leading light in the Box Hill Institute since 1937.[11] The Greenland family were still living at number 3 in the 1950s.[12]
Berry Cottages are tucked away in a rural location on Box Hill without a distinctive hamlet to identify them. Like many Box Hill houses, they have quarrying origins and were let to quarry workers for many years and are now being respectfully modernised. Their rural location makes them special, a jewel with a fabulous social history – little wonder that the Neate family wished to keep them for so long.
Neate Family Tree
John Neate (1840-19 February 1919) married Mary Jane Tinson (1846-). Children:
John Neate (1840-19 February 1919) married Mary Jane Tinson (1846-). Children:
- Eliza (1864-1956), unmarried;
- Emma J (1866-);
- William John (29 June 1868-) policeman;
- Daniel (1871-72);
- Annie (1873-), parlourmaid at a school at 10 Lansdown Crescent, Bath in 1891;
- Selina Mary, often called Lena (31 December 1875-1902); [13]
- John (26 January 1878-1955) married Amy Louisa Hanham in 1900 at Bath was a carpenter and joiner who moved to Ealing, London;
- Frederick George (1880-22 May 1960);
- Alice Beatrice (6 November 1881-);
- Ellen Margaret (1884-1963) worked as a nurse in a large Bath drapers shop at 35-36 Stall Street before her marriage to William Edward Head in 1908;
- Albert (1886-30 October 1949) died at Roundway Hospital, Devizes whilst living with his brother Frederick at Hillcrest, Box Hill. He left £5,519.17s.10d.
Residents in Census Records
In 1891
Berry House: John Neate (1840-9 February 1919), quarryman, wife Mary Jane (b 1846) and children John (1878-); Frederick George (1880-), scholar; Alice B (1882-); Ellen M (1884-); Albert (1887-).
2 Berry Cottages: Henry Butler (1841-), Quarryman stone, wife Matilda (1835-), nurse with children Henry Charles (1870-), quarryman; Thomas (1875-), quarryman; Edwin Arthur (1877-), baker; Elizabeth A (1882-).
3 Berry Cottages: David Dancey (1856-), quarryman, wife Sarah (1855-) with children Mendlo (1881-); Sidney (1883-); Herbert Moulds (1888-), adopted child; and Stephen Moulds (1827-), lodger.
In 1901
Berry House: John Neate (1840-1919), stone quarryman miner, living at Berry House with wife Mary (1846-) and children Selina Mary (1876-); Frederick George (1880-), stone quarryman; Albert (1887-), carpenter's apprentice.
Berry Cottage: Daniel Sheppard (1828-), stone quarryman miner, wife Jane (1824-) and Ernest Hancock (1881-), boarder.
Berry Cottage: Owen Bishop (1872-), stone quarryman miner, Sarah (1871-) and child Wilfred (1898-).
In 1911
Berry House (5 rooms): John Neate (1840-1919), old age pensioner, with wife Mary (1846-) and child Frederick George (1880-), freestone sawyer.
Berry House (4 rooms): Phoebe Tooth (1845-1914), son Tom Tooth (1876-1951), freestone sawyer, and Phoebe’s niece, May Tooth (1893-), companion help from Sheffield.
In 1921
Berry House: William George Houkes (1842-1922) and wife Alice (1851-1931)
Berry Cottages: Tom Tooth (1876-1951), Cureman, Avon Rubber with wife Edith Emily (1893-) and children Pansy Irene (1918-); Maisie Marion (1921-).
Berry Cottages: Henry Simpkins (1852-), General labourer, Agaric Ltd, Mushroom Growers and wife Ann Zebudah (1854-), child Ada (1899-) and visitor Doris Greenland (1910-).
In 1939
Berry Cottage: Tom Tooth (22 October 1876-1951), gardener, his wife Edith E (21 June 1891-) and children Pansy (23 November 1918-), glove worker, and Maisie (6 February 1921), glove ironer.
3 Berry Cottages: Arthur W Greenland (3 December 1882), underground stone quarryman (heavy worker), his wife Sarah A
(10 June 1883-) and children Francis WH (11 May 1902), market gardener; Cyril (22 February 1920), general labourer, and Desmond (11 April 1926-).
In 1891
Berry House: John Neate (1840-9 February 1919), quarryman, wife Mary Jane (b 1846) and children John (1878-); Frederick George (1880-), scholar; Alice B (1882-); Ellen M (1884-); Albert (1887-).
2 Berry Cottages: Henry Butler (1841-), Quarryman stone, wife Matilda (1835-), nurse with children Henry Charles (1870-), quarryman; Thomas (1875-), quarryman; Edwin Arthur (1877-), baker; Elizabeth A (1882-).
3 Berry Cottages: David Dancey (1856-), quarryman, wife Sarah (1855-) with children Mendlo (1881-); Sidney (1883-); Herbert Moulds (1888-), adopted child; and Stephen Moulds (1827-), lodger.
In 1901
Berry House: John Neate (1840-1919), stone quarryman miner, living at Berry House with wife Mary (1846-) and children Selina Mary (1876-); Frederick George (1880-), stone quarryman; Albert (1887-), carpenter's apprentice.
Berry Cottage: Daniel Sheppard (1828-), stone quarryman miner, wife Jane (1824-) and Ernest Hancock (1881-), boarder.
Berry Cottage: Owen Bishop (1872-), stone quarryman miner, Sarah (1871-) and child Wilfred (1898-).
In 1911
Berry House (5 rooms): John Neate (1840-1919), old age pensioner, with wife Mary (1846-) and child Frederick George (1880-), freestone sawyer.
Berry House (4 rooms): Phoebe Tooth (1845-1914), son Tom Tooth (1876-1951), freestone sawyer, and Phoebe’s niece, May Tooth (1893-), companion help from Sheffield.
In 1921
Berry House: William George Houkes (1842-1922) and wife Alice (1851-1931)
Berry Cottages: Tom Tooth (1876-1951), Cureman, Avon Rubber with wife Edith Emily (1893-) and children Pansy Irene (1918-); Maisie Marion (1921-).
Berry Cottages: Henry Simpkins (1852-), General labourer, Agaric Ltd, Mushroom Growers and wife Ann Zebudah (1854-), child Ada (1899-) and visitor Doris Greenland (1910-).
In 1939
Berry Cottage: Tom Tooth (22 October 1876-1951), gardener, his wife Edith E (21 June 1891-) and children Pansy (23 November 1918-), glove worker, and Maisie (6 February 1921), glove ironer.
3 Berry Cottages: Arthur W Greenland (3 December 1882), underground stone quarryman (heavy worker), his wife Sarah A
(10 June 1883-) and children Francis WH (11 May 1902), market gardener; Cyril (22 February 1920), general labourer, and Desmond (11 April 1926-).
References
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 5 September 1889
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 March 1920
[3] Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 12 January 1896
[4] Illustrated Police News, 31 December 1892
[5] Courtesy Maureen Nixon
[6] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 16 February 1895
[7] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 30 August 1922
[8] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 29 April 1933
[9] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 October 1934
[10] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 22 September 1900 and 10 September 1904
[11] See article about Greenland family at The Lamb Inn and The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1937
[12] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 3 July 1954
[13] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 6 March 1902
[1] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 5 September 1889
[2] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 March 1920
[3] Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 12 January 1896
[4] Illustrated Police News, 31 December 1892
[5] Courtesy Maureen Nixon
[6] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 16 February 1895
[7] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 30 August 1922
[8] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 29 April 1933
[9] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 6 October 1934
[10] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 22 September 1900 and 10 September 1904
[11] See article about Greenland family at The Lamb Inn and The Wiltshire Times, 13 March 1937
[12] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 3 July 1954
[13] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 6 March 1902