32 High Street March 2008

32 High Street is one of a number of attractive thatched estate cottages in Southill. It was listed by the former Department of Environment in 1966 as Grade II, of special interest. It was built in the 18th century and so was probably built by the Byng family who owned the Southill Estate from 1693 to 1795. The house was formerly a pair of dwellings and has colour-washed rough-cast rendering over a timber frame.

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 32 High Street [DV1/C32/119] noted that it was owned by the Whitbread Estate and tenanted by Samuel Huckle at £5/15/6 per annum. The house stood in just over a third of an acre and comprised a downstairs bedroom, a parlour, kitchen and scullery with a copper for heating water; upstairs were a good bedroom and "three small rooms with no fire places". Outside were a brick and tile wash-house, a barn and earth closet and a barn and pigsty. The valuer commented: "Was 3 Cottages now one; old place; pretty; water laid on; steep sloping roof".