13 Church Road August 2009

The Bedfordshire Historic Environment Record [HER 13872] has an entry for 13 Church Road, as follows: "An 18th century brick construction with a thatched roof. It is built on a 3 bay plan with dormer windows to the first floor. 2 chimney stacks are visible to either end of the property. The building was probably originally detached but there is now a more modern building almost attached to the side elevation".

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every piece of land and building in the country was to be assessed to determine the rates to be paid on it. Westoning, like most of Bedfordshire, was assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting 13 Church Road [DV1/C135/11] found it owned by Howard Spensley and occupied by A. Higgs, who worked for Spensley since rent was "in wages".

The brick and thatch cottage comprised a living room, hall, kitchen, scullery, washhouse and coal barn with two bedrooms above. An earth closet stood away from the house. The washhouse and coal barn were in a corrugated iron lean-to at the rear. The valuer commented: "Neglect. Double-fronted. Terrible attic floor".