Broom Council Houses [Z1306/106]

The council houses in Bancroft Avenue were built by Biggleswade Rural District Council at some time between 1901 (they do not appear on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25 inches to the mile map published in that year) and 1927 when they were valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; according to this act every piece of land and building in the country had to be assessed to determine the rates to be paid on it. The houses, with their inside bathrooms, must have been a revelation at the time, certainly they were considered to merit a postcard, as can be seen from the picture at the top of the page.

The valuer visiting Bancroft Avenue in 1927 [DV1/C153/16-45] noted that each house contained a living room, kitchen, scullery, bathroom ("v.small") and three bedrooms. The rent was 7/6 per week and the valuer noted: "No outside conveniences". The tenants were as follows:

1 - D.J.Head (semi-detached);
2 - Rose Cooper (semi-detached);
3 - S.Chambers (terrace);
4 - A.G.Cooper (terrace);
5 - J.Roberts (terrace);
6 - D.A.Smith (terrace);
7 - D.Bygraves (semi-detached);
8 - D.G.Rook (semi-detached);
9 - A.Berridge (semi-detached);
10 - J.J.Fletcher (semi-detached);
11 - A.G.Stock (semi-detached);
12 - C.E.Wells (semi-detached);
13 - E.A.Pepper (semi-detached);
14 - W.Redman (semi-detached);
15 - J.Bean (semi-detached);
16 - R.Wells (semi-detached);
17 - A.G.Brown (semi-detached);
18 - Vacant (semi-detached);
19 - Vacant (semi-detached);
20 - Mrs.H.Holmes (semi-detached);
21 - J.Killeen (semi-detached);
22 - W.Heald (semi-detached);
23 - J.Impey (semi-detached);
24 - A.W.Clarke (semi-detached);
25 - W.Peach (terrace);
26 - E.Woodward (terrace);
27 - L.Chambers (terrace);
28 - J.Bentley (terrace);
29 - A.Wells (semi-detached);
30 - E.Peck (semi-detached).