Rose, Rustic and Undercliffe Cottages Alan Payne Date
Rose Cottage, Box Hill (courtesy Carol Payne)
Rose Cottage and Rustic Cottage are two of the older Box Hill properties, both built at right-angles to Beech Road, the old turnpike road, with only a narrow footpath between them. Their stories are difficult to trace because cottages in the area were generally not named until the twentieth century. The properties are interesting but not of architectural importance and, to a casual passer-by, they might be largely ignored. That would be a mistake because their exteriors hide a multitude of history about the residents of Box Hill.
Extract of 1840 Tithe Apportionment map (courtesy Wilts History Centre)
Both cottages existed before 1840 and are shown on the Tithe Apportionment map of that date. Both cottages were marked as 385 owned by Jefford (a spelling of Gifford) Head. Rustic Cottage (and apparently the next door Undercliffe Cottage) were tenanted by William Collett (1797-) and Rose Cottage Reference 385a was retained by Gifford Head who used it as a stables and garden. William Collett was sometimes described as groom and at other times as an agricultural labourer, born at South Wraxall who had married Ann Harding (1798-) from Ditteridge in 1818. William probably died in 1844 and the tenancy went to another family.
The Head family were one of the largest and most widespread Box families of the time and they constantly used the christian name Gifford. Identification of the precise Gifford Head who owned Rose and Rustic Cottages is almost impossible. However,
we can speculate about the uses of the properties. The retention of Rose Cottage as a stables was most convenient as it was at the connecting point of the old and new turnpike roads up Box Hill. The reference to William Collett being a groom and later as an agricultural labourer indicates the rural, farming nature of Box Hill before the extensive stone excavation later that century.
The Head family were one of the largest and most widespread Box families of the time and they constantly used the christian name Gifford. Identification of the precise Gifford Head who owned Rose and Rustic Cottages is almost impossible. However,
we can speculate about the uses of the properties. The retention of Rose Cottage as a stables was most convenient as it was at the connecting point of the old and new turnpike roads up Box Hill. The reference to William Collett being a groom and later as an agricultural labourer indicates the rural, farming nature of Box Hill before the extensive stone excavation later that century.
Extract of Northey Sale map 1923 (courtesy Bernard Ainsworth)
Northey Auction, 1923
At this point the story of the cottages goes quiet because the names of the houses weren’t recorded in the census records. We can speculate that the properties were owned by the Northey family and tenanted by quarry workers. In 1923 the Northey family decided that the houses were too expensive to improve and they auctioned the land in individual plots with sitting tenants on quarterly leases:
Plot 15 Edwin Hayward, detached cottage and garden (now called Rose Cottage)
Plot 19 Two Cottages: Westernmost RW Tilley (Undercliffe Cottage) and Easternmost H Dancey (Rustic Cottage). Using the auction details, we can work backwards to fill in the interim period.
At this point the story of the cottages goes quiet because the names of the houses weren’t recorded in the census records. We can speculate that the properties were owned by the Northey family and tenanted by quarry workers. In 1923 the Northey family decided that the houses were too expensive to improve and they auctioned the land in individual plots with sitting tenants on quarterly leases:
Plot 15 Edwin Hayward, detached cottage and garden (now called Rose Cottage)
Plot 19 Two Cottages: Westernmost RW Tilley (Undercliffe Cottage) and Easternmost H Dancey (Rustic Cottage). Using the auction details, we can work backwards to fill in the interim period.
Hayward Family at Rose Cottage 1901-76
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961) was the son of Alfred (1841-1904) and Emily Hayward (1831-1906) and he grew up with his parents at London Road, Box. Alfred came from Marshfield and was an agricultural labourer, finding work wherever it became available. Their eldest son, Edwin, was a stone sawyer at the age of 16 but again work became difficult in that industry. So, Edwin re-trained as a blacksmith. In 1897 Edwin had bought a piece of land at The Green, Colerne, presumably as a premises for his business but then offered 100 perches of the land for sale freehold.[1] The family moved to Box Hill before 1901, when 26-year-old Edwin called himself a shoeing and general blacksmith, suggesting that he worked predominantly with animals at their locations and had limited workshop facilities for other smithy work on Box Hill.
Edwin married Margaret Lord (19 August 1872-) from Croughton, Northampton at Brentford, Middlesex, in 1902 when he was probably working away from home and staying with Margaret and her step-mother where they ran a lodging-house. By 1911 both his parents had died and Edwin took over the tenancy of Rose Cottage.
In 1923 the property was put up for auction by the landlord, the Northey family, described as having sitting room, living room, washhouse and two bedrooms. Like most of the properties being sold, it was let on a quarterly tenancy subject to three months’ notice and most Box Hill properties had virtually no modernization (no bathroom or internal plumbing) with repairs and improvements being undertaken by the tenants at own cost. Tenants rarely undertook improvements as there was little security of tenure before the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act and no legal entitlement to compensation for tenants’ improvements before 1927. Because the family stayed there for such a long time, it is possible that Edwin bought the house at that time but more likely that they just continued to rent it.
By 1939 Edwin had ceased as a sole trader and was in employment, described as foreman blacksmith. Edwin’s wife Margaret was in poor health (incapacitated) and she died in 1942. Edwin continued to live at Rose Cottage until 1961, when he died, leaving £298.13s and appointing his son Edwin Hartwell as executor. Even then the family continued at the cottage because the tenancy was taken over by the youngest daughter Elsie (27 June 1912-19 February 1990) until her death in 1990. Elsie worked as a messenger at Copenacre and never married. She was the auntie of Chris Francis. Peter Woolford lives at Rose Cottage now.
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961) was the son of Alfred (1841-1904) and Emily Hayward (1831-1906) and he grew up with his parents at London Road, Box. Alfred came from Marshfield and was an agricultural labourer, finding work wherever it became available. Their eldest son, Edwin, was a stone sawyer at the age of 16 but again work became difficult in that industry. So, Edwin re-trained as a blacksmith. In 1897 Edwin had bought a piece of land at The Green, Colerne, presumably as a premises for his business but then offered 100 perches of the land for sale freehold.[1] The family moved to Box Hill before 1901, when 26-year-old Edwin called himself a shoeing and general blacksmith, suggesting that he worked predominantly with animals at their locations and had limited workshop facilities for other smithy work on Box Hill.
Edwin married Margaret Lord (19 August 1872-) from Croughton, Northampton at Brentford, Middlesex, in 1902 when he was probably working away from home and staying with Margaret and her step-mother where they ran a lodging-house. By 1911 both his parents had died and Edwin took over the tenancy of Rose Cottage.
In 1923 the property was put up for auction by the landlord, the Northey family, described as having sitting room, living room, washhouse and two bedrooms. Like most of the properties being sold, it was let on a quarterly tenancy subject to three months’ notice and most Box Hill properties had virtually no modernization (no bathroom or internal plumbing) with repairs and improvements being undertaken by the tenants at own cost. Tenants rarely undertook improvements as there was little security of tenure before the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act and no legal entitlement to compensation for tenants’ improvements before 1927. Because the family stayed there for such a long time, it is possible that Edwin bought the house at that time but more likely that they just continued to rent it.
By 1939 Edwin had ceased as a sole trader and was in employment, described as foreman blacksmith. Edwin’s wife Margaret was in poor health (incapacitated) and she died in 1942. Edwin continued to live at Rose Cottage until 1961, when he died, leaving £298.13s and appointing his son Edwin Hartwell as executor. Even then the family continued at the cottage because the tenancy was taken over by the youngest daughter Elsie (27 June 1912-19 February 1990) until her death in 1990. Elsie worked as a messenger at Copenacre and never married. She was the auntie of Chris Francis. Peter Woolford lives at Rose Cottage now.
Rustic Cottage (courtesy Carol Payne)
Rustic Cottage
Rose A Archer (born 5 December 1852 in Farringdon, Berkshire-1948) had two families: first with Henry Stroud (1838-), a quarryman from Melksham, with whom she had at least seven children: Frances E (1878-), Florence T (1880-), Henry H (1883-), Blanch S (1885-), Lemuel Joseph B (1888-1954), Charlie (1890-), a miller, and Lily (1891-). Henry was a private in the 44th Foot Regiment, serving 21 years until 1878, most of which were in the East Indies. He was a problematic character, thirty times charged with an offence, imprisoned multiple times and once cleared of a Courts Martial offence. His discharge papers hint that he was poorly educated: not in possession of a certificate of education (an understatement for a poor or nil level of literacy). It is difficult to see if Henry and Rose were ever married and they were an odd couple separated in age by 14 years.
When they settled in Box, they lived at Saltbox Farm in 1891 and 1901 but by then Rose and he had separated and she had started a second relationship, culminating in her marriage in 1910 to Harry Dancey (1870-), stone mason, with whom she appears to have already had three children: Herbert (1896-), Jack (1898-) and Evelyn (1900-). They were living at Woodbine Cottage in 1911 but by 1923 Henry had taken the tenancy of Rustic Cottage. By 1939 Rose was living there alone as a widow, surviving on her old age pension. During and after the Second World War, Ivor Leslie Sumner, a rubber tyre worker, lived in the cottage with his family until Ivor died died in 1948 at the Winsley Sanatorium, Bradford-on-Avon, of tuberculosis. Later, Pat Bennett lived at Rustic Cottage.
Undercliffe in 1923
The old Undercliffe Cottages adjoined Rustic Cottage until they were demolished and entirely rebuilt in modern times. In 1923 the lords of the manor, the Northey family, auctioned their remaining properties on Box Hill as individual holdings. Some properties, such as the Primitive Chapel and next door Upway Cottages, were already in private hands and the Northey family probably hoped that some tenants would buy out their own freeholds. The auction Sale Details give us a marvellous view of the tenants of the properties at that time: 19 Two Cottages: Westernmost RW Tilley (Undercliffe Cottage) and Easternmost H Dancey (Rustic Cottage)
The ownership of Undercliffe by Robert Wilton Tilley (1878 at Shepton Mallet-15 May 1952) is perhaps the most interesting. Robert had nothing to do with the stone industry; he had enjoyed a public school education and for some years boarded at Queen’s College, Taunton. He was an agricultural auctioneer and estate valuer, a founder partner in Tilley & Culverwell at Chippenham Market. He and his family didn’t live in Beech Road. Instead, they lived at Rudloe House north of the A4 (sometimes called Rudloe Cottage or Rudloe Farm). We can speculate that Undercliffe was an investment property at that time, held because it was suitable for later development.
The first time that Undercliffe was named was in 1939 when it was tenanted by Henry Maslen (25 August 1890-24 December 1962), his wife Mary Elizabeth Perrett (26 August 1884-1949) from Bath, who lived there together with Henry’s mother Harriett (23 August 1860-). Henry and Mary were married in 1915. Henry’s father was William Maslen (1863-), one-time quarry manager and later postmaster on Box Hill, and his mother was Harriet Louisa Hillier (23 August 1860-). Henry was their third child, an upholsterer, who was brought up in some comfort at Tisbuts House. In 1921 they had taken over Tisbuts House and Henry was recorded as working for his uncle Charles WB Oatley in the shop at Quarry Hill. They downsized and moved to Undercliffe Cottage before the Second World War from where Henry was able to report in July 1942 that a bomb had fallen at Tutton Hill, Colerne.[2] In 1953 he married Madeleine M Milsom. In later years the house was owned by Mr and Mrs Bright.
The properties at Undercliffe were in a poor state of repair and were completely demolished and rebuilt in 2007 by a property developer from Radstock.
Rose A Archer (born 5 December 1852 in Farringdon, Berkshire-1948) had two families: first with Henry Stroud (1838-), a quarryman from Melksham, with whom she had at least seven children: Frances E (1878-), Florence T (1880-), Henry H (1883-), Blanch S (1885-), Lemuel Joseph B (1888-1954), Charlie (1890-), a miller, and Lily (1891-). Henry was a private in the 44th Foot Regiment, serving 21 years until 1878, most of which were in the East Indies. He was a problematic character, thirty times charged with an offence, imprisoned multiple times and once cleared of a Courts Martial offence. His discharge papers hint that he was poorly educated: not in possession of a certificate of education (an understatement for a poor or nil level of literacy). It is difficult to see if Henry and Rose were ever married and they were an odd couple separated in age by 14 years.
When they settled in Box, they lived at Saltbox Farm in 1891 and 1901 but by then Rose and he had separated and she had started a second relationship, culminating in her marriage in 1910 to Harry Dancey (1870-), stone mason, with whom she appears to have already had three children: Herbert (1896-), Jack (1898-) and Evelyn (1900-). They were living at Woodbine Cottage in 1911 but by 1923 Henry had taken the tenancy of Rustic Cottage. By 1939 Rose was living there alone as a widow, surviving on her old age pension. During and after the Second World War, Ivor Leslie Sumner, a rubber tyre worker, lived in the cottage with his family until Ivor died died in 1948 at the Winsley Sanatorium, Bradford-on-Avon, of tuberculosis. Later, Pat Bennett lived at Rustic Cottage.
Undercliffe in 1923
The old Undercliffe Cottages adjoined Rustic Cottage until they were demolished and entirely rebuilt in modern times. In 1923 the lords of the manor, the Northey family, auctioned their remaining properties on Box Hill as individual holdings. Some properties, such as the Primitive Chapel and next door Upway Cottages, were already in private hands and the Northey family probably hoped that some tenants would buy out their own freeholds. The auction Sale Details give us a marvellous view of the tenants of the properties at that time: 19 Two Cottages: Westernmost RW Tilley (Undercliffe Cottage) and Easternmost H Dancey (Rustic Cottage)
The ownership of Undercliffe by Robert Wilton Tilley (1878 at Shepton Mallet-15 May 1952) is perhaps the most interesting. Robert had nothing to do with the stone industry; he had enjoyed a public school education and for some years boarded at Queen’s College, Taunton. He was an agricultural auctioneer and estate valuer, a founder partner in Tilley & Culverwell at Chippenham Market. He and his family didn’t live in Beech Road. Instead, they lived at Rudloe House north of the A4 (sometimes called Rudloe Cottage or Rudloe Farm). We can speculate that Undercliffe was an investment property at that time, held because it was suitable for later development.
The first time that Undercliffe was named was in 1939 when it was tenanted by Henry Maslen (25 August 1890-24 December 1962), his wife Mary Elizabeth Perrett (26 August 1884-1949) from Bath, who lived there together with Henry’s mother Harriett (23 August 1860-). Henry and Mary were married in 1915. Henry’s father was William Maslen (1863-), one-time quarry manager and later postmaster on Box Hill, and his mother was Harriet Louisa Hillier (23 August 1860-). Henry was their third child, an upholsterer, who was brought up in some comfort at Tisbuts House. In 1921 they had taken over Tisbuts House and Henry was recorded as working for his uncle Charles WB Oatley in the shop at Quarry Hill. They downsized and moved to Undercliffe Cottage before the Second World War from where Henry was able to report in July 1942 that a bomb had fallen at Tutton Hill, Colerne.[2] In 1953 he married Madeleine M Milsom. In later years the house was owned by Mr and Mrs Bright.
The properties at Undercliffe were in a poor state of repair and were completely demolished and rebuilt in 2007 by a property developer from Radstock.
Conclusion
We should be careful of judging these people from our perspective, praising Edwin Hayward for working and looking after his incapacitated wife and castigating Rose Dancey for her seemingly-promiscuous lifestyle. The lifestyle of some Box Hill families could be tempestuous and abusive and we might today find them to be unpleasant people. At the same time, their education
was severely limited and their childhoods often brutal and uncompromising in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Their characters were forged by their upbringing.
We should be careful of judging these people from our perspective, praising Edwin Hayward for working and looking after his incapacitated wife and castigating Rose Dancey for her seemingly-promiscuous lifestyle. The lifestyle of some Box Hill families could be tempestuous and abusive and we might today find them to be unpleasant people. At the same time, their education
was severely limited and their childhoods often brutal and uncompromising in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Their characters were forged by their upbringing.
Hayward Family Tree
Alfred Hayward (1841-1904) from Marshfield married Emily (1831-1906). Children:
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961)
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961) married Margaret Lord (19 August 1872-) from Croughton, Northampton in 1902. Children:
Alfred Hayward (1841-1904) from Marshfield married Emily (1831-1906). Children:
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961)
Edwin Hayward (10 December 1874-6 December 1961) married Margaret Lord (19 August 1872-) from Croughton, Northampton in 1902. Children:
- Ethel Margaret (3 December 1903-1945), unmarried;
- Edwin Hartwell Hayward (11 September 1906-), an engineer, married Florence Louise Eyles (1903-) of Myrtle Grove in 1936, where they brought up their family, including Ann J Hayward (1939-) who married Michael Gover, lecturer at Leeds University, in 1961.[3]
- Alice Emily (19 March 1908-1947), unmarried, who was still living with her parents in 1939;
- May (1910-);
- Gladys (1910-); and
- Elsie (27 June 1912-19 February 1990) was the youngest daughter. Elsie worked as a messenger at Copenacre and lived at Rose Cottage in 1976. She never married but was the aunt to Christine Francis.
References
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 28 August 1897
[2] See Air Raids on Box - Box People and Places
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 17 October 1936
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 28 August 1897
[2] See Air Raids on Box - Box People and Places
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 17 October 1936