62 Station Road Tempsford

62 Station Road February 2016

62 Station Road was listed by English Heritage in November 1986 as Grade II, of special interest. The house is thought to date from the 18th century and is of timber-framed construction with colourwashed roughcast render and a thatched roof. The cottage comprises one storey and attics and stands gable end on to the road.  The 1829 Survey of Tempsford [X1/41 and WY1036/12] tells us that the cottage belonged to the Stuart family’s Tempsford Estate and was leased by Thomas Smith.

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 cottage [DV1/C157/96] found it still owned by the estate and leased by H Musk, one of the estate employees. The cottage contained a parlour, living room and three bedrooms. Two barns stood outside and water came from an outside tap. The valuer thought it looked like two cottages knocked into one. He commented:. “Very bad shape. Good garden.”