5 Pavenham Road
(formerly Yarmouth Terrace)
This page was contributed by Pamela Hider
Terrace of Cottages, Pavenham Road 1974 (Courtesy of HER)
The Historic Environment for Bedfordshire describes a terrace of "19th century cottages. Red brick, 2 storey, slate roof. 5 casement windows. 3 bracketed doorhoods with pent roofs".
19th century
The property had belonged to Robert Eyles, a yeoman of Chellington. His will (GA 1927-30), was made in the year of his death, 1836.
In 1852, a conveyancing document described this property as "Two cottages in Chellington, formerly one cottage, and lately part of the real estate of Robert Eyles, deceased, with adjoining barn and gardens, currently occupied by James Johnson and Thomas Parish". The cottages were being conveyed to Daniel Layton, a Chellington Farmer, who died in 1865.
In 1866, the two cottages were bought by James Covington Hensman, a builder, of Harrold. According to the conveyance document, an informal agreement had been made with the Laytons in which "James Covington Hensman had pulled down one of the cottages and built a new one in its place". Thomas Parrish still lived in one of them and James Hensman himself now occupied the other.
A conveyance document of 1882 tells us that since his ownership in 1866, James had built a third cottage, as the conveyance, to Charles Betts of Derbyshire, referred to "3 Freehold Dwelling Houses." They were occupied by Messrs. French, Loakes and Hicks. It is possible that the older of the 2 cottages referred to in1866 was pulled down and that James had built 2 new ones in their place as the conveyance refers to "All those 3 messuages or tenements erected by the Vendor several years since upon the site of two cottages". By 1882, James had left Chellington and was now living in Middlesex.
Charles Betts died in 1909. In his will he directed that the income from the cottages be used for the benefit of his wife during her lifetime. The 1910 Finance Act Valuation Records (DBV/1/25) showed the three tenants were now Joseph Riseley, Elizabeth Riseley & Sarah Stock and for the first time, the cottages are now described by the name 'Yarmouth Terrace'.
Charles had also stipulated in his will that after his wife's death, the properties be conveyed to the Trustees of the Baptist Meeting in Carlton for “the support of the Gospel” there. His wife Mary Ann died in February 1924 and two months later the properties were duly conveyed to the said Trustees. Joseph Riseley and Elizabeth Riseley were still tenants but Sarah Stock had been replaced by John Riseley.
In September 1924, the Trustees conveyed the properties to Mr. Frederick Banks. The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 (DV1/H18) specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The Terrace was described as follows: The '1st of 3' consisted of a Living Room and upstairs 1 Bedroom. Also a barn. Remarks: 'stand back from Road - Well Built'. It was tenanted by J.F.Mole. The next cottage consisted of a Living Room, Kitchen and upstairs 3 Bedrooms. Also a barn. It was tenanted by W. Banks. The 'Last of 3' consisted of Living Room, Kitchen and upstairs 2 bedrooms. Also a barn. It was tenanted by J. Riseley (who was there in 1910. Joseph died in 1934 aged 85).
No. 5 Pavenham Road 2020
Electoral Rolls, reflect the changing addresses over the years: 'Yarmouth Cottages' until the mid 1960s; nos 5/7 Pavenham Road until 1973; and no.3 Pavenham Road by 1979. Clearly alterations were occurring both inside and out. Frederick Banks died in April 1981 aged 77. The properties started life at the beginning of the 19th century as one cottage and was probably very small and basic. Today the properties form a single cottage again (with the address No. 5) though much modernised and greater in size.
References: The deeds of the property are in private hands. The writer was given access to them for the purpose of this article.