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19 High Street Clophill

19 High Street March 2010
19 High Street March 2010

19 High Street was listed by English Heritage in January 1985 as Grade II, of special interest. They dated the building to the 18th century, noting that incised in brickwork above the doorway was the date 1764 and the initials S.B., A.B., F.B., W.B. and I.S. The house is built of red brick with a clay tile roof and two storeys.

The granary lying immediately south-west was listed as Grade II at the same time. It is probably late 18th century, having a date of 1771 incised in its brickwork. It, too, is built in red brick with a clay tile roof. It is rectangular and has a gabled roof and plank doors. Garage doors were inserted in the 20th century. It was listed "for group value".

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed as to its rateable value. Clophill was assessed in 1927. The valuer visiting 19 High Street [DV1/C46/34] found it owned and occupied by W. Taylor - perhaps the William Taylor, corn dealer, listed in Kelly's Directory for 1928.

The brick and tile detached house comprised a parlour, living room and kitchen downstairs with three bedrooms above. Two attics lay above them. The scullery stood outside was did a weather-boarded and slated earth closet and weather-boarded and tiled "two seater garage (poor) on opposite side of road". The valuer commented: "Farm House by look. No Bath" and "Nice - narrow house".

The granary was included in a description of farm buildings owned and used along with 19 High Street by W. Taylor [DV1/C45/33]. It was described as a brick and tile stable for two, harness room, chaff house and corn shed with a loft over all. Other buildings included a weather-boarded and slated cow byre with six standings ("good shed") and a weather-boarded and tiled barn used for corn. On the opposite side of the road were:

  • A weather-boarded and corrugated iron range of three bay cart shed of which one bay was housed a Bentall grinder with a Massey Harris 4.5 horsepower engine. A loft was over all;
  • A weather-boarded and tiled range of cow byre for three, two loose boxes and a tie-up for two beasts;
  • A weather-boarded, corrugated iron and thatched hay barn;
  • A weather-boarded and corrugated iron loose box;
  • A weather-boarded and corrugated iron implement hovel and two pigsties;
  • Two weather-boarded and corrugated iron hen houses;
  • A weather-boarded and tiled food mixing shed.

Barn at 19 High Street March 2010
Barn at 19 High Street March 2010