70 and 71 High Street Southill

70 and 71 High Street January 2012

70 and 71 High Street stand opposite the junction with School Lane and are built in a similar style to a number of properties in that lane. The pair was listed by the former Department of Environment in March 1985as Grade II, of special interest.

The cottages were built the year after Samuel Whitbread I acquired the Southill Estate – 1796. This was also the year in which he died. The cottages 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/C124/50-51] found that both contained a living room and a kitchen with two bedrooms above. Each had a barn outside and a washhouse was shared.

Number 70 was inhabited by Miss M. Samuel who paid annual rent of £3/17/8 to the Southill Estate. Number 71 was in the occupation of S. Faulkner whose annual rent was £3/19/2.