133 to 136 Ireland March 2008

At first glance this terrace of four cottages looks like a typical range of Duke of Bedford estate cottages, then one notices the Whitbread crest. These Whitbread estate cottages were built in 1850 and are simply numbered 133 to 136 Ireland.

In 1927 the dwellings in the parish of Southill were valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; every piece of land and building in the country was assessed to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer visiting the cottages discovered the following details [DV1/C32/66-69]:

• 133: tenanted by G.Thompson, built on 0.133 acres and comprising a parlour, kitchen, three bedrooms; outside were a "small garden", barn and earth closet; The valuer commented: "Note Difficult to measure but tenants and Estate Office say all four the same. Well built. Good". Rent was £6/15/6 per annum;
• 134: tenanted by Mrs.Chapman; built on 0.398 of an acre and comprising a parlour, small room, kitchen and copper and two bedrooms. Rent was £6/0/8 per annum.
• 135: tenanted by S.Buckingham; built on 0.398 of an acre and comprising a parlour, small room, kitchen and copper and two bedrooms; outside were a barn and earth closet and one rood of garden. Rent was £4/126 per annum;
• 136: tenanted by F.Cox; built on 0.398 of an acre and comprising a parlour, kitchen and copper and three bedrooms; outside were a barn and earth closet and a small garden. Rent was £6/8/0 per annum.