Hobhouchin Lane (Tennis Lane)
The map on the left is from 1978 but uses a road name which went out of fashion in the 1920s, and in an otherwise unrecorded spelling. There have been various theories about the origin of this apparently unique name.
1930: Buckingham Advertiser, 18 Jan: notes by A.J. Clear
... this water [running off Sheep Street at the foot of the slope on which the lane runs], formed a brook known according to ancient documents as Hobbesbourne and the land which still exists was known as Hobbesbourne Land. This in process of time became corrupted to Hoghowchin Lane, quite recently christened Tennis Lane. At the close of one of Mr. [Arthur] Bryant’s lectures last winter he was asked to explain the meaning of the world “Hobhowchin,” this, he declared, himself quite unable to do. Last week, however, the writer of this paragraph came across the word in a Dialect Dictionary for Bucks, where it was described as a species of heavy moth – sometimes used for the May Buzzard or Cockchafer – on making inquiries of a friend at North Marston, he was informed that “Hobhowchin” was a common name there for a heavy species of moth or butterfly. So, perhaps, after all the Lane in question might be called Butterfly Lane.
1908: Bucks Herald, 18 April
Apropos of the recent remarks in another column respecting the site of King Offa’s residence at Winslow, I learn that the road from the bridge at Shipton (or ford as it was anciently) ran across by Shipton Farm and out into what is now known as Hobhouchin-lane; then running into the ancient road past Winslow Hall into High-street, and so cutting off the Market-square and shortening the distance to Great Horwood and Buckingham.
The first written use of some form of the name Hobhouchin Lane is from 1703. The road was called Ivy Lane in the 1881 Census, and Dene Hill Lane in a 1902 sale notice. It was also corrupted orally to Hobgoblin. The name Tennis Lane is first recorded in 1910. The courts of the Winslow Private Tennis Club on land at the end of the lane belonging to Mrs Greaves seem to have started in 1903 or slightly earlier. Adoption of this name made life easier for the Post Office as there was no standard spelling of Hobhouchin.
The photo above may depict the Private Tennis Club, but tennis was played in Winslow before it opened: read more.
Hobhutchin Close is mentioned in 1638 as the property of the Fyge family. They sold it to John Kirby in 1646 when it was described as "a close of pasture containing 1½ acres" south of the king's highway. Presumably it later became part of what is now called Home Close. The adjacent lane probably began as an access route running between the houses and closes on the south side of Sheep Street to the open fields (Ryefurlong). The maps suggest that the close behind the house which is now Yew Tree Cottage was gradually divided into building plots.
The lane now contains two modern houses (Dalhousie and Appledene) and one old one which has been renamed The Thatched Cottage. It is shown in the photo on the right (by Ron Adams). It has this Grade II Listing description:
House. C17. Timber frame with partially whitewashed brick infill in west gable end, remainder has whitewashed roughcast. Thatched roof, half -hipped to left, brick stack to right, rendered stack to left. 2 storeys and attic, 2 bays. N. Front has small irregular c19 casements with C20 door in left-hand bay and blocked door with right. S front has C20 casements.
The maps below show how the number of dwellings in the road has gradually decreased from about 7 in 1880 to 5 in 1898 and 3 in 1925:
Unfortunately there seem to be no old photographs of the lane as a whole, and it is even missing from the various aerial photos. The following reconstruction of the history of the different properties is the best available at the moment, but as none of them was ever identified by a name it's not always clear which one is referred to in any particular document.
Christopher Bigg, blacksmith or yeoman, seems to have reunited the southern part of the block of property, as shown conjecturally in the map on the right.
- In 1733 he bought from Robert Tims a cottage in Hobhouching Lane then in the occupation of John Turner. This can be traced back to 1705 when Robert Tims of Salden, labourer, acquired from Michael Tims (probably his brother) "the reversion expectant on the death of Mary Tims widow of and in a cottage in which Mary now lives". In 1722 when it was in the occupation of Ann Cooke, Robert mortgaged it to Matthew Hobbs for £30. In 1731 the occupier was Matthew King. Robert's father Henry Tims (d.1702) sold some land on the future Winslow Hall site to William Lowndes in 1699 with a cottage which he removed (read more), so perhaps he rebuilt the cottage in Hobhouchin Lane. The manor court records for 1699 do not survive; Henry Tims could have bought a building plot then.
- In 1733 Bigg bought from Elizabeth Foster, widow, "All that her Barne & Orchard with the Appurtenances in Hobhouching Lane in Winslow The house & Ground now or late of Robert Tims South". Elizabeth's husband Thomas Foster had bought this in 1717 when it was described as having "the messuage of Robert Tims south, the land of Simon Hogson north". In 1703 John Robinson had given it to his wife Mary (later Mary Turnham) for her life with remainder to their son John; Mary and John jr were the vendors in 1717. John sr mortgaged it and other property to Richard Bigg in 1702.
- In 1748 he bought from Peter Goldsworth junior and Sarah Quarringdon "a Messuage (now two Tenements) in the occupation of John Bly and Richard Clements adjoining to Hob Houchin Lane west, with garden and backside as the same is now paled or fenced out with pales round". This had previously belonged to Thomas Hogson (d.1739), who probably inherited from his father Simon Hogson (d.1736), and mortgaged it and another house (which became Yew Tree Cottage) to Peter Goldsworth's father in 1738. The description from 1748 suggests that it had only recently been separated from Yew Tree Cottage, and it was presumably on Simon Hogson's land as mentioned in the 1733 purchase.
Christopher Bigg also acquired the land of Simon Hogson (as shown above) and probably built more houses on it. The only property in the lane which can't be linked to these is "a messuage in Hobhouchin Lane" which Henry Church of Winslow inherited in 1780 from his father Thomas Church (?d.1777). Henry died later in 1780, but his property is not mentioned in the manor court records.
Sarah Quaringdon in 1749 (will proved 1753) left all her real estate to her nephew Charles Bowler. He seems to have been responsible for building the present Yew Tree Cottage.
1775: Will of Christopher Bigg, yeoman (proved 1780; he was buried on 30 Dec 1789):
- He left to his nephew Thomas Wright (son of his sister Susanna Wright) "All my Copyhold Messuage or Tenament situate in Hobhouchin Lane ... and now [1775] in the Occupation of William Warner and John Glenister together with all Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens Orchards Backsides Hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging". Thomas Wright was admitted at the 1780 manor court.
- He left most of his real estate to his wife Mary, including (according to a special manor court on 7 March 1780) 3 cottages in Hobhouchin Lane in the occupation of Joseph Smith, Thomas King & John Bennett
- Mary died intestate (buried 26 Feb 1780) and her property passed to her sister Elizabeth wife of Hemens Jackman of Tingwick Labourer
Hemens and Elizabeth Jackman immediately sold to Thomas Yeates of Winslow gent "A messuage in Hobhouchin Lane in the occupation of John Bennett with Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Orchards Gardens Backsides."
The other two messuages "in the occupation of Joseph Smith and Thomas King or their undertenants" were to be held by Hemens and Elizabeth for their lives with remainder to Elizabeth's heirs.
Land Tax returns from 1781 to 1832 refer to properties which are shown by other evidence to be in Hobhouchin Lane. They have been arranged in north-to-south order.
1781: Land Tax [see map on right]
Owner: Thomas Wright; occupier: William Warner senr: 1s 6d
Owner: Thomas Wright; occupier: James Dodson: 1s 6d
Owner: Hemens Jakeman; occupier: Joseph Smith [and Thomas King]: 2s 0d
Owner: Thomas Yeates; occupier John Tombs: 1s 6d
In 1781 Hemens Jackman of Winslow Labourer and Elizabeth his wife sold to
Charles Bowler of Winslow Cordwainer:
2 messuages in Hobhouchin Lane in the occupation of Joseph Smith and Thomas King.
In 1783 Thomas Yeates sold to William Lowndes of Winslow Hall (who presumably wanted it because it adjoined his Home Close):
A messuage in Hobhouchin Lane now or late in occupation of John Bennett [now The Thatched Cottage]
At the 1784 manor court it was reported that Thomas Wright late of St Olave Southwark Linnen Draper held a messuage in Hobhouchin Lane; he died some time since. Thomas Wright of St Olave Southwark Linnen Draper was his eldest son and heir.
1786: Land Tax
Owner: Thomas Wright; occupier: William Warner senr: 1s 7½d
Owner: Thomas Wright; occupier: James Dodson: 1s 7½d
Owner: Charles Bowler; occupiers: Kitty Brum & Francis Savage:
1s 7½d
Owner: William Selby; occupier John Toms: 1s 7½d
In 1786 Thomas Wright of Southwark linen draper by James Burnham his attorney sold to Charles Bowler of Winslow cordwainer:
A messuage in Hobhouchin Lane, now or late in the occupation of William Warner and James Dodson. Quit-rent 4d.
1795: Land Tax
Owner: Charles Bowler; occupiers: Dodson & Warner senr: 3s 3d
Owner: Charles Bowler; occupiers: Savage & Warner junr: 1s 7d
Owner: William Selby; occupier John Toms: 1s 8d
In 1802 the manor court reported that Charles Bowler, cordwainer, deceased, held (among other things):
2 messuages in Hobhouchin Lane formerly in the occupation of Joseph Smith & Thomas King, now of William Warner & Edward Taylor. Quit-rent 4d.
+ A messuage in Hobhouchin Lane formerly in the occupation of William Warner & James Dobson, now of Widow Warner & James Dobson. CB admitted at court on 30 Oct 1786 on surrender of Thomas Wright. Quit-rent 4d.
They passed to Charles’ son Thomas Bowler, but were transferred to Charles’ 2nd wife Mary for her life, with reversion to Charles’ daughters Sarah West and Mary Bowler.
1805: Land Tax
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Dodson & Phillips: 3s 3d
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Taylor & Warner: 1s 7d
Owner: William Selby; occupier John Toms: 1s 8d
1814: Land Tax
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: James Dobson & W. Edwin: 3s 3d
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Edward Taylor & Warner: 1s 7d
Owner: William Lowndes Selby; occupier: John Goodger: 1s 8d
1823: Land Tax
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Wm Edwin & James Dobson: 3s 3d
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Samuel Taylor & Widow Warner: 1s 7d
Owner: William Selby-Lowndes; occupier: John Goodger: 1s 8d
1832: Land Tax
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Wm French & Teagle: House & garden, 3s 3d
Owner: Mrs Bowler; occupiers: Thomas Yeates & S. Warner: House & garden, 1s 7d
Owner: William Selby-Lowndes; occupier: Thomas Goodger: House, 1s 8d
1833: manor court
On decease of Mary widow of Charles Bowler, admission of Mary Bowler spinster (to 1/2), Mary Elizabeth West (to 1/4), Harriet Turner to (1/4) (among other things) to:
2 messuages in Hobhouchin Lane heretofore in occupation of William Warner & Edward Taylor, now of Sarah Warner & Thomas Yates
+ messuage in Hobhouchin Lane heretofore in occupation of Widow Warner & James Dobson, now of William French & Thomas Dayell
From this point 7 households are recorded. The order in which they are listed varies slightly.
1838: Charity recipients, Queen Victoria’s coronation
Sheep Street
30 Wm. Teagle Wife & 2 Children
31 Wm. French Wife & Son & 2 Children - his Brothers
32 Samuel Warner Daughter & his sister [Sarah Warner]
33 John Benbow Wife & 3 Children - this is an addition to the houses in the Land Tax, presumably a subdivision of one of them
34 Thomas Yeates Wife & 7 Children
35 Willm. Goodger Wife & 2 Children & his mother Hannah Goodger
36 George Verney [senr] Wife & 6 Children - this is an addition to the houses in the Land Tax, presumably a subdivision of one of them
1841 Census: Sheep Street [ages are rounded down; see map on right]
There were 41 residents at this point, the largest number recorded.
- Will(ia)m Teagle, 35, Agricultural Labourer + wife, 3 children
- Will(ia)m French, 50, Agricultural Labourer + wife, ?mother-in-law, 2 children
- Sam(ue)l Warner, 40, Mason + Sarah Warner, 50, Lace School + 2 children
- Thomas Goodger, 65, Ag Lab + William Goodger, 25, Groom & wife, 4 children
- John Benbow, 35, Agricultural Labourer + wife, 3 children
- Thomas Yeates, 40, Agricultural Labourer + wife, 7 children
- George Verney, 50, Agricultural Labourer + wife, 4 children
Clear 1888: Coming down Sheep Street, in the lane dignified by the name of "Hobhouchin," stood two or three more cottages than at present, in one of which was an old Dame School kept by one Sally Warner, where some of our old Winslow boys received their eddication.
1847: Manor court
Admission of Mary Elizabeth West as heir of Mary Bowler (inter alia) to:
2 messuages in Hobhouchin Lane heretofore in the occupation of Sarah Warner and Thomas Yates, now of William French and Sarah Warner
+ messuage now divided into two in Hobhouchin Lane heretofore in the occupation of William French and Thomas Dayell, now or late of William Teagle and another
Mary Bowler was admitted 28 Oct 1833 on surrender of Thomas Bowler.
1851 Census: Sheep Street
- Elizabeth Elliott, widow, 81, Pauper Assistant Laundress + daughter, grandson
- William Teagle, 44, Ag Lab + wife, daughter
- John Warner, 33, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children, aunt Sarah Warner 61
- William French, married, 63, Ag Lab + niece, granddaughter
- John Spooner, 33, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- John Benbow, 48, Ag Lab + wife, 2 sons, dau-in-law, granddaughter
- George Verney, widower, 61, Ag Lab + 2 sons, dau-in-law
1861 Census: Sheep Street [south-to-north]
- John Benbow, 58, Carpenter + wife
- William French, 30, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- John Spooner, 43, Ag Lab + wife, 5 children
- Richard Verney, 63, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- John Warner, 43, Ag Lab + wife, 4 children
- Thomas French, 25, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- Joseph Evans, 60, Ag Lab + wife
1862: will of Mary Elizabeth West (proved 1878)
Leaves her (unspecified) real estate to her niece Louisa Harriet Dudley for her life, then to her great-niece Louisa Mary Dudley.
1871 Census: Sheep Street [the northernmost two cottages had apparently gone out of use although they are still shown on the 1880 map]
- John Warner, 53, Ag Lab + wife, son, father Samuel Warner
- William Verney, 32, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- John Spooner, widower, 53, Ag Lab + 3 children, granddaughter
- William French, 40, Ag Lab + wife, 3 children
- 1 uninhabited
1881 Census: Ivy Lane
- John Warner, 63, Ag Lab + wife
- George Warner, widower, 35, Rural postman + 6 children, housekeeper
- John Spooner, widower, 63, Gen Lab + daughter
- Emanuel G Carter, 33, Signalman + wife, 4 children
- John Grace, 60, Bricklayer + wife
1881: the cottages occupied by John Warner and George Warner were mortgaged by Samuel Burnham Dudley.
1883: CBS, D/WIG/2/7/1902/38
Agreement for Thomas Rowe to rent from Mrs Dudley from 12 March "House premises and garden situate in Hobhouschin [sic] Lane Winslow late in the occupation of George Warner" at 1s 6d a week payable monthly. Thomas Rowe is not to underlet the premises or keep a pig. All rates and taxes payable by Mrs Dudley. Signed by Thomas Rowe, witness John Hathaway.
1891 Census: Sheep Street
- John Warner, widower, 73, general labourer, b. Winslow + grandson (2 rooms)
- Thomas Rowe, 36, ag. labourer, b. Hollingdon + wife, 7 children (4 rooms)
- John Spooner, widower, 73, on parish allowance, b. Winslow, + daughter, granddaughter (3 rooms); he died in 1893 aged 75
- John Benbow, widower, 88, living on own means, b. North Marston (3 rooms); he died in the first quarter of 1892 aged 89
- John Grace, widower, 72, bricklayer, b. Whitchurch (4 rooms); in 1893 John Grace married Sarah Spooner; he died in 1901 aged 82
1891: Buckingham Advertiser, 20 June
There are residing in Hobhowchin Lane, Winslow, four inhabitants, the sum of whose ages amounts to 300 years, the oldest being Mr. Benbow, in his 90th year.
1894: Buckingham Advertiser, 1 Sep [this refers to two parts of The Thatched House]
PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29.
Before G. R. Greaves, Esq., C. M. Prior, Esq., and M. S. Lowndes, Esq. [summarised]
Martha Sleigh was charged with assaulting Sarah Grace, at Winslow, on the 8th August.- Complainant said she was the wife of John Grace. On June last, her husband let a cottage to defendant’s husband, and since then there has been a little disagreement between them. On the 8th August, about 10 in the morning, Mrs. Warner, defendant’s mother, came to witness’s house. After she left witness heard her talking outside the door, and telling defendant she had been ordered out. Defendant came to the door, and witness, who had heard her outside, went to shut it, when defendant slapped her in the face. After a few remarks, defendant went away. Witness was very much upset, and has been under the doctor’s hands ever since.- Defendant had ever since been trying to provoke a quarrel.- Cross-examined: Witness did not slap defendant, nor scratch her hand.- Clara Spooner, daughter of complainant, gave corroborative evidence.- For defence, Mrs. Sleigh said her brother and Clara Spooner were quarrelling, and she went to complainant to tell her it was Clara’s fault, when complainant came at her and clawed her face, and scratched her hand.- Fined 5/-, no costs.
John Grace, husband of complainant in last case, was then charged with assaulting Martha Sleigh - Complainant said she was the wife of Edward Sleigh, and lived in Hobowchin Lane, Winslow. On 8th August, she was in the garden taking her line down, while defendant came into the garden and ordered her out. Witness told him she paid rent for the garden, and he said she shouldn’t hang her clothes there. He used bad language and said he would throw her over the hedge. He then turned round and punched her in the chest and caught hold of her, and was about to throw her over the hedge, when witness’s mother caught hold of him and dragged him away.- Cross-examined by Mr. Stimpson, of Bedford (who appeared for the Grace’s in each case): The garden belonged to defendant, who gave her permission when they took the house, to hang her clothes there - he did not tell her a week before he would not have her there. She did not scratch a piece out of defendant’s hand. She waited three weeks before taking out the summons because her husband was at camp; she did not take out the summons until after she had received the one from Mrs. Grace. A man named Chandler and her mother witnessed the assault, but she did not call either of them.- The Bench said there were six of one and half-a-dozen of the other, and they should dismiss the case.
Joseph Warner pleaded guilty to assaulting John Grace, on the 24th August. Mr. Stimpson said defendant was the father of Mrs. Sleigh, and it was no doubt through the relationship the assault arose. There was no doubt defendant was in liquor (or he would not have been so cowardly as to assault a much older man than himself), and he did not want to press the case unduly, but the rather serious part of it was that when Grace was down defendant gave him some nasty kicks.- Fined 2/6 and 9/6 costs.
EJECTMENT,- Grace v. Sleigh.- Mr. Stimpson asked for an order of ejectment against the Sleighs, and having proved the necessary service, a twenty-one days’ order was made.- The Bench then addressed the parties in these cases, and said they had been seriously considering whether they should not bind the whole of them over to keep the peace and if it had not been for adding to the expenses they would have done so. They considered the parties were as bad as one other all round, and they advised them to keep away from one another, and leaving off squabbling.
1897: Winslow Hall estate sale
Lot 21. Three Half-Timbered & Thatched Cottages & Gardens [shaded on the plan on the right]
Situate in Hobhouchin Lane , off Sheep Street ... covering an area of about 30 Perches.
One contains Parlour, Kitchen and 2 Bed Rooms with an outside Wood House, &c. Let to Mr. John Grace, on a Yearly (Lady-day) Tenancy, at a Rental of £2 12s.
Another contains parlour, large Kitchen, Bed Room and Store Room with an outside Wood House, &c. Let to Mrs. Mary French, on a Yearly (Lady-day) Tenancy, at a Rental of £2 12s.
And the Third, a Parlour, Kitchen and 2 Bed Rooms with a Store Room over. Let to Mr. Horace Lee on a Yearly (Lady-day) Tenancy at a Rental of £4.
The whole thus yielding a total Rental of £9 4s. per Annum
This lot is Tithe free. The Land Tax, for the present year, amounts to 4s. 4d.
1897: Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 31 July
Lot 21 – Three cottages in Hobhouchin Lane were purchased by Mr T. Walker at £82 10s.
1901 Census: Hobhouchin Lane [south-to-north]
- Joseph Warner, married, 57, general labourer, 57, + wife, son; 4 rooms
- Christopher Stairs, married, 37, gas stoker, + wife, 5 children; 4 rooms
- 1 uninhabited
- Horace Lee, married, 39, harness maker, + wife, 3 children; more than 4 rooms
1902: sale by Geo. Wigley, 16 June, by direction of the administratrix of the late Mrs Louisa Harriet Dudley
... 2 cottages and gardens in Dene Hill Lane [shaded on the plan on the right]
Described in the sale brochure (CBS, D/WIG/2/7/1902/38) as:
Lot 7. 2 brick & thatched cottages, with gardens, situate in Hobhouchin Lane, let to Joseph Warner, at an apportioned rental of 1s. 6d. per week, the other being let to Christopher Stairs at 1s. 9d. per week. Copyhold of the manor of Winslow.
Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News, 21 June
Lot 6 [Yew Tree Cottage] was also purchased by Mr. McCorquodale for £470, and Lot 7, two brick and thatched cottages with gardens, adjoining Lot 6, was likewise purchased by him at £150.
1907: Bucks Herald, 16 Nov
There is a capitally preserved specimen of a Tudor cottage with the bricks in between the wooden panels set herring-bone fashion, just on the brow of Shipton Hill, Winslow, and there are others in the quaintly-named Hobhouchin (query abouching – Norman-French) Lane.
1908: Joseph Warner was murdered by his son Richard, who then killed himself. Read full report.
Their cottage was said to have been occupied by the Warner family for 200 years, and to belong to Winslow Hall. It was described as "the first of a pair of cottages in the lane, and is thatched and whitewashed, with the wood-work gas-tarred, giving it a Swiss-like appearance, and it is approached by a side garden gate, with a door to the cottage at the rear".
1910: Assessment:
Tennis Lane
Christopher Stairs occupier, N. McCorquodale owner (2 houses)
Thomas Walker owner & occupier (garden)
Horace Lee occupier, Thomas Walker owner (house)
James Holt occupier, Thomas Walker owner (house)
Tennis Court, Dean Hill: owner Mrs Greaves, agent Geoffrey Barker
1911 Census: Hobouchin Lane
- Christopher Stairs, married, 47, building labourer, + wife, 7 children; 9 rooms
- James Holt, married, 48, carter + wife, 2 children, 2 nephews; 4 rooms
- Emily Watson, widow, 63; 4 rooms
1914: Assessment (TNA, IR58/2351)
no.
534
Situation Tennis Lane
Description House
Extent 7 perch
Gross Value: Buildings £4 – 17 - 6 Rateable Value: Buildings £3 – 12 - 6
Occupier Horace Lee
Owner Thos Walker
Interest of Owner Freehold
Occupier’s tenancy Term Month
Actual (or Estimated) Rent £5 - 17
Who pays (a) Rates and Taxes (b) Insurance }
Who is liable for repairs } Owner
[red] Reserved on T Walker Esq Market Sq Winslow 14.11.14
[stamp] SEP 30 1914
Particulars, description and note made on inspection
Brick & Thatch Cottage
2 up & 2 down
Brick & Corrugated iron E(arth) C(loset) barn 5 poles
[stamp] 1 FEB 1923 [green] P32591 T Walker dec see a/c
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition £55
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land £5
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c. £50
GROSS VALUE £55
no.535
Situation Tennis Lane
Description House
Gross Value: Buildings £4 – 7 - 6 Rateable Value: Buildings £3 – 5
Occupier James Hall
Owner Thos Walker Winslow
Interest of Owner Freehold
Occupier’s tenancy Term Month
Actual (or Estimated) Rent £5 - 17
Who pays (a) Rates and Taxes (b) Insurance }
Who is liable for repairs } Owner
[red] Reserved on T Walker Esq Market Sq Winslow 14.11.14
[stamp] SEP 30 1914
Particulars, description and note made on inspection
Brick & Thatch Cottage
2 up & 2 down
Garden & barn in lane 10 poles
[stamp] 1 FEB 1923 [green] P32591 T Walker dec see a/c
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition £60
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land £10
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c. £50
GROSS VALUE £60
1914: Assessment (TNA, IR58/2349 no.306)
Situation Tennis Lane
Description Garden
Extent 11 perch
Gross Value: Buildings £1 Rateable Value: Buildings £1
Occupier }
Owner } Thomas Walker
Interest of Owner Freehold
Estimated Rent £1
Owner’s Estimate Gross Value [red] Reserved on T. Walker Market Sq Winslow 14.11.14
[stamp] SEP 30 1914
Particulars, description and note made on inspection a piece of useful garden ground 11 perch
[stamp] [..] FEB 1923 [green] P32591 @ Walker dec see A/C
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition £15
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land £11
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c. £4
Divided as follows:-
Other things growing on land £4
GROSS VALUE £15
1914: Assessment (TNA IR58/2350 no.483)
Situation Tennis Lane
Description House
Gross Value: Buildings £3 – 8 - 6 Rateable Value: Buildings £2 – 12 - 6
Occupier Christopher Stairs
Owner Norman McCorquodale
Interest of Owner Freehold
Actual (or Estimated) Rent £7 – 16/- including Return 484 [484 is marked “House” but gives no further details; presumably two houses had been merged]
Outgoings - Land Tax 13/6 paid by Owner including 484, 487
Who pays (a) Rates and Taxes (b) Insurance }
Who is liable for repairs } Owner
Owner’s Estimate Gross Value Small & Barker Solicitors Winslow
Site Value Deductions Claimed Yes
[stamp] SEP 30 1914
Includes 484
Particulars, description and note made on inspection
Brick & Thatch Cottage
2 sitting rooms & kitchen
3 bedrooms & 3 attics
Wood & Slate shed
Wood & Corrugated iron W.C. 18 poles 11 yards
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition £100
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land 5000 sq feet £20
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c. £80
1916 Parochial Lists
Hobouchin Lane
Mr & Mrs Stairs church 3 children, all baptised
Mrs [Sarah] Holt nonconformist 1 daughter (1 son soldier)
Mrs Watson nonconformist
The Rowe family outside their cottage, c.1921. This is the building now called The Thatched Cottage. On the left are Sidney Rowe (b.1890) and his wife Florence May, nee Jennings (b.1896) with their son Roderick (b.1919). The woman on the far right is probably Sidney's mother Lucy Ann Rowe, nee French (1856-1941), and the other two are probably his sisters Frances (b.1886) and Annie (b.1896). Thanks fo Philip Rowe for the photo.
1921 Census: Sheep Street
- Christopher Stairs, married, 57, bricklayer's labourer for LNWR, + wife, 4 children, boarder; 7 rooms
- Sarah Susannah Holt, widow, 55; 4 rooms
- Sidney J. Rowe, married, 31, roadman for Bucks CC + wife, son; 4 rooms
1934: Buckingham Advertiser, 21 July
Death of Mrs Holt of Tennis Lane aged 68.
1936: Northampton Mercury, 11 Sep
Death of Sidney J. Rowe of Tennis Lane aged 46.
1937: Bucks Herald, 8 Oct
James Grant of Tennis Lane fined for riding a cycle without a light on Bierton Road, Aylesbury
1939: Hillier’s Almanack
Tennis Lane 1-3: Mrs F.M. Rowe
1939 Register: Tennis Lane
Rowe, Florence M b. 11 July 1895 widow
Rowe, Roderick T. b. 18 June ?19 single Shop assistant, grocery
Rowe, Jocelyn F. b. 23 Feb 23 [name changed to Poole]
Rowe, Derek J. b. 25 Feb 25 at school
Rowe [changed to Wakefield], Ray K. b. 21 June 25 at school
1 record closed
One of the cottages bought by Thomas Walker in 1897 was demolished before 1910 and became a garden. The land was used by his granddaughter Phyllis Cubbage to build a post-WW2 house, Appledene. His other two cottages were reunited to form what is now The Thatched Cottage. The bungalow called Dene Rise was built in the 1960s on part of the garden.
The two cottages bought by Norman McCorquodale in 1902 were apparently combined before 1910 to form Christopher Stairs' house. They seem to have been demolished in the 1930s. The post-WW2 bungalow, Dalhousie, was built on this land and some more which previously belonged to Yew Tree Cottage.