55 Main Road Biddenham

55 Main Road in 1962 [Z53/15/13]

55 Main Road was listed by English Heritage in August 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. The cottage dates from the 18th century and is built of limestone rubble covered in colourwashed plaster and has a thatched roof. The original cottage had two rooms downstairs and beds were in the attic.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The valuer visiting the cottage [DV1/C123/63] found that, like most of the older properties in the village, it was owned by the Wingfield family, Lords of the Manor of Biddenham.

The cottage was occupied by W. Dudley at an unspecified rent. His accommodation comprised a living room and kitchen downstairs with the attic subdivided to form three bedrooms. A barn and an earth closet stood outside. The valuer found the ceiling and roof “very low” and noted that water had to be fetched from a well.

55 Main Road March 2012