19 School Lane March 2008

19 School Lane is one of a number of pretty thatched estate cottages in Southill. It was listed in 1966 by the former Department of Environment who considered it to be 18th century; this suggests it was built during the Byng family ownership if Southill Park and its estate (1693-1795).

The building has a timber-framed construction with a rendering of colour-washed roughcast and has a thatched roof. Inside the house has a three room plan and has one storey, with attic bedrooms in the roof. Unlike a number of the buildings in Southill it carries no external dating plaque.

In 1927 Southill was 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 19 School Lane [DV1/C32/100-102] noted that the house was owned by the Whitbread Estate and occupied by James William Hammond at a rent of £7/3/- per annum. The property comprised a parlour, kitchen, scullery and wash-house with three bedrooms upstairs; outside was a barn and earth closet. The valuer commented: "Sloping roof; old but fair repair; water laid on; bad slope".