Bedford Estate Cottages in Steppingley

Steppingley was an estate village, almost wholly owned by the Duke of Bedford’s London and Devon Estates Company. There are a number of blocks of the typical Bedford Estate cottages in the village. 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 various cottages described them as follows:

 
The rear of 4 to 9 and 10 to 15 Peaks End December 2016

4-9 Peaks End

• 4 Peaks End - occupied by Walter Brightman whose rent was 18/5 per quarter for a living room, kitchen and three bedrooms with a barn and earth closet outside;
• 5 Peaks End - occupied by Frederick Askew whose rent was 16/3 per quarter for a living room, scullery and two bedrooms with a barn and earth closet outside;
• 6 Peaks End - occupied by Miss Scott - details as for Number 5;
• 7 Peaks End - occupied by Charles William Shearwood - details as for Number 5;
• 8 Peaks End - occupied by Herbert Robinson - details as for Number 5;
• 9 Peaks End - occupied by Mrs Martha Saville - details as for Number 4.

 10 to 15 Peaks End December 2016

10-15 Peaks End

• 10 Peaks End - occupied by George Harry Smith, whose rent was 18/5 per quarter for a living room, kitchen and three bedrooms with a barn and earth closet outside;
• 11 Peaks End - occupied Ephraim Askew at a rent of 16/3 per quarter for a living room, scullery and two bedrooms with a barn and earth closet outside;  
• 12 Peaks End - occupied by Mrs Sarah Farmer - details as for Number 11;
• 13 Peaks End - occupied by John Farmer - details as for Number 11;
• 14 Peaks End - occupied by James Biggs - details as for Number 11;
• 15 Peaks End - occupied by Alfred Smith - details as for Number 10.

The valuer discovered that a pump from a well, a soft water tank and a cesspool served all twelve cottages

25 to 30 Rectory Road December 2016

25-30 Rectory Road

• 25 Rectory Road - occupied by Richard B Holmes at a rent of 16/3 per quarter for a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, barn and earth closet;
• 26 Rectory Road - occupied by James Phillimore at a rent of 14/1 per quarter for a living room, a scullery, two barns and an earth closet;
• 27 Rectory Road - occupied by George White - details as for Number 26;
• 28 Rectory Road - occupied by Charles Wilson - details as for Number 26;
• 29 Rectory Road - occupied by James Briggs - details as for Number 26;
• 30 Rectory Road - occupied by Mrs Scott - details as for Number 25.

 
31 to 36 Rectory Road December 2016

31-36 Rectory Road

• 31 Rectory Road - occupied by Henry Warren - at a rent of 19/3 per quarter for a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms, barn and earth closet;
• 32 Rectory Road - occupied by Mrs Elizabeth Saville - at a rent of 14/1 per quarter for a living room, scullery, two bedrooms, barn and earth closet;
• 33 Rectory Road - occupied by William Warner - details as for Number 32;
• 34 Rectory Road - occupied by George Lock - details as for Number 32;
• 35 Rectory Road - occupied by George Wilson - details as for Number 32;
• 36 Rectory Road - Charles Battams - details as for Number 31.

The valuer noted that a well and a cesspool served all six cottages.

 
49 and 50 Rectory Road December 2016

49-50 Rectory Road

• 49 Rectory Road - occupied by Thomas Redman at a rent of 26/- per quarter for a parlour, a living room, a washhouse, three bedrooms, a barn and an earth closet;
• 50 Rectory Road - occupied by R Battams at a rent of two shillings per week for the same details as Number 49.

 
21 to 24 Church Road December 2016

21-24 Church Road

• 21 Church End - occupied by James Wilson at a rent of 26/- per quarter for a living room, kitchen, pantry, washhouse, three bedrooms, barn and earth closet;
• 22 Church End - occupied by Elezar Knowles - details as for Number 21;
• 23 Church End - occupied by Harry White - details as for Number 21;
• 24 Church End - occupied by Mrs F Rogers - details as for Number 21.

55-58 Church End

• 55 Church End - occupied by Levi Warner at a rent of 32/6 per quarter for a living room, kitchen, pantry, washhouse, three bedrooms, barn and earth closet;
• 56 Church End - occupied by Arthur Askew at a rent of 26/- per quarter - details otherwise the same as Number 55;
• 57 Church End - occupied by Thomas Gudgin at a rent of two shillings per week - details otherwise the same as Number 55;
• 58 Church End - occupied by Lewis Brightman at a rent of 2/6 per week - details otherwise the same as for Number 55.