27 School Lane Southill

27 School Lane January 2012

27 School Lane is an estate cottage built in 1796, the year after Samuel Whitbread I acquired the Southill Estate. It was also the year that he died.

The cottage was listed by the former Department of Environment in March 1985 as Grade II, of special interest. It is built of colourwashed roughcast render over a timber frame and has a clay tiled roof. It comprises one storey and attics. The e is a lean-to addition to the north gable end enlarging the original plan with just two rooms downstairs.

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 property [DV1/C32/112] found that it was occupied by R. Hale whose rent to the Southill Estate was £3/18/6 per annum. He had a  parlour, a kitchen and two bedrooms upstairs. Outside stood barn with a copper for heating water. The valuer commented:  "old cottage, no fireplace in parlour Built 1796".