25 and 26 School Lane Southill

25 School Lane January 2012

25 and 26 School Lane are a pair of estate cottages built in 1796, the year after Samuel Whitbread I acquired the Southill Estate. It was also the year that he died.

The cottages were listed by the former Department of Environment in March 1985 as Grade II, of special interest. They are built of colourwashed roughcast render over a timber frame and have a clay tiled roof. They comprise one storey 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. The valuer visiting the properties [DV1/C32/110-111] found that Number 25 was occupied by E. M. Harris who paid an annual rent of £3/18/6 to the Southill Estate. His accommodation comprised a parlour, a kitchen and two bedrooms above. He had a barn outside with a copper for heating water but had  "No fire in parlour"

26 School Lane was occupied by Joseph Whaley who paid rent of £7/16/- per annum – double that of his neighbour. The only difference was that he had a fireplace in the parlour. Both cottages had water laid on from the main.

26 School Lane January 2012