Meadow Cottage - 5 Warden Road March 2010

5 Warden Road was listed by the former Department of Environment in March 1985 as Grade II, of special interest. The department dated the property to the 18th century. It has a timber framed construction, partly exposed, with colour washed
roughcast render and a rear wall rebuilt in colourwashed brick. The cottage has a thatched roof, one storey and attics. There is a 20th century single-storey addition to left hand gable.

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. Ickwell was assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting 5 Warden Road [DV1/C44/89] found it owned by Charles William Shelton, who lived at 7 Warden Road, and occupied by Mrs. Sarah Summerfield at a rent, set in 1915, of £2/5/- per quarter. She was the mother of Private Joseph Summerfield who died of wounds on 19th May 1916 whilst serving with 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He was 36 years old and was probably wounded on 17th or 18th whilst the battalion was in the front line near the canal at Ypres.

Accommodation comprised a parlour, kitchen and one bedroom downstairs with two bedrooms above. A washhouse, coal barn and earth closet lay outside. There was a small garden and water came from an outside tap.