2 Brook End Potton
The Post Office, 2 Brook End February 2013
2 Brook End, like its next door neighbour, 21 Market Square, was listed by the former Ministry of Public Buildings and Works in October 1966 as Grade II, of special interest. It was formerly one dwelling along with its neighbour and dates from the 17th century, with an 18th century front. It is built from dark red brick with lighter brick dressings above the windows, for example. It has a clay tiled roof. The property comprises two storeys and attics.
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. Like much of the county, Potton was rated in 1927. The valuer visiting 2 Brook End, then with a Market Square address [DV1/C12/103] found that it was owned and occupied by Stanley Rainsford Fennemore. Kelly’s Directory for Bedfordshire for 1928 lists S. Fennemore and Sons, painters, in the Market Square.
The family had been at the property since at least 1894 when Kelly’s lists Thomas Fennemore, plumber. He is also listed in the directories for 1898 and 1903. The directories of 1906, 1910, 1914 and 1920 list S. Fennemore, painter, plumber, paperhanger, house decorator and contractor; that of 1924 lists F. Fennemore, painter. Those from 1928 until the last Kelly’s for the county, in 1940, list S. Fennemore and Sons, painters.
The ground floor contained the shop itself measuring 14 feet by 14 feet 9 inches, a parlour measuring 12 feet by 8 feet, a dining room measuring 12 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 6 inches, a kitchen and scullery and a glass lean-to. The first floor comprised a sitting room measuring 14 feet square and two bedrooms measuring, respectively, 12 feet 9 inches by 21 feet 9 inches and 8 feet by 10 feet. The second floor had two attics used as box rooms. At the rear was a brick and corrugated iron workshop and a wood and tiled stables used as stores. The valuer commented: “Position bad. Just misses it”.
Today the property is Potton’s sub post office. For the last quarter of the 19th century and a good part of the 20th the post office was next door at 21 Market Square.
2 Brook End February 2013