Rosebank Cottage, 15 The Moor

This page was written by Pamela Hider

Rosebank Cottage, 1970s [Courtesy of HER]

The Historic Environment Record for Bedfordshire describes 15 The Moor as follows:

C18. Plastered & colourwashed stone. 2 storey. Pantile roof, 2 3-light casements with glazing bars. Central red brick chimney stack. LH modern brick porch.

In 1927, property in Carlton was valued under the Rating and Valuation Act 1925 (DV1/C218). Every piece of land and building in the country had to be valued to determine the rates to be paid upon it. The Owner and Occupier was Henry Betts. The Cottage was described as follows: Brick & tile. Detached. Living Room. Stairs. Upstairs 2 bedrooms. Brick & tile barn & good washouse. Lean to porch - good.

Henry had been born in Chellington in 1860, but was found in the 1881 census living as a lodger in London and working as a postman. In 1884 he married Louisa Humphreys in Marylebone and censuses tell us they lived in London raising a family until at least 1911. Henry continued to be a postman, becoming Head postman at Hammersmith. By 1921, electoral registers tell us they were at The Moor in Carlton and they were still there, specifically at Rosebank Cottage, on the 1939 register when Henry was described as retired.  They must have moved shortly afterwards to Wycombe,Buckinghamshire, as both Louisa and Henry died there in 1942  and 1943 respectively.

We know that the next owner/occupier was a Miss Rowe as her name appears as an addendum to the above record referring to the property in 1946 and in particular to a newly added lobby (X408/68). The Valuer had added  "nice little country cottage but rather cramped". An unpublished memoir of Carlton & Chellington Historical Society tells us that Miss Rowe was much involved in village life and is remembered for her organisational skill.

Rosebank Cottage, 2024