20 and 22 King Street Potton

20 and 22 King Street February 2013

20 and 22 King Street were listed by English Heritage in November 1986 as Grade II, of special interest. The pair date from the 18th century and are timber-framed with colourwashed roughcast render over the exterior. The left hand gable is cased in red brick in a chequerboard pattern with vitrified bricks. They have clay tiled roofs and comprise two storeys and attics. The listing notes: “included for group value”.

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. Potton, like much of the county, was assessed in 1927. The valuer visiting 20 and 22 King Street found both properties owned by Sarah Anne Bartle. Number 20 was occupied by Francis George Carington whose rent was £11 per annum for a living room, a kitchen and two bedrooms above with two attics above that. A wood and coal shed with a room over it stood outside.

Number 22 was leased by Elizabeth Gray Raynes for £18 per annum, though this has been annotated to read “Vacant” so she presumably moved out or died some time around the time of the inspection in 1927. The house comprised two reception rooms, a kitchen and scullery on the ground floor with three bedrooms above and two attics above that. Six wood and tiled former stables stood outside, now used as wood and coal stores and the block had a loft over. A small glass house stood outside.

Directories for Bedfordshire were not published every year but every few years from the early to mid 19th century until 1940. The occupancy of 22 King Street can be traced in directories for nearly a century. Kelly’s Directory for 1931 and 1936 lists market gardener Mary Jane Armond at the premises. Directories for 1890, 1894, 1898, 1903, 1906, 1910, 1914, 1920, 1924 and 1928 list Elizabeth Gray Raynes. Those for 1839, 1847, 1852, 1853, 1862, 1864, 1869, 1876, 1877 and 1885 list Henry Raynes who, like the occupants of 9 King Street, was a surgeon.