11 George Street Woburn

9 and 11 George Street March 2012

11 George Street was listed by English Heritage in March 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. The house dates from the 18th century, though the listing notes this was a “reworking of earlier, probably 17th century structure”. The house is built of colourwashed brick, partly replacing and partly encasing the original timber frame. It has a 20th century tiled roof. The house has two storeys and attics and was built with a two-room plan, that is two rooms up and down.

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. Woburn, like much of the county was valued in 1927 and the valuer visiting 11 George Street (then numbered 6 George Street) [DV1/C137/139] found that, like much of Woburn, it was owned by the Duke of Bedford’s London and Devon Estates Company.

The tenant was Harold J. Poate whose rent was two shillings per week. The house contained two living rooms and a kitchen downstairs with three bedrooms above. A barn, washhouse and W. C. stood outside. The valuer commented: “On road” and “Neglect attic”.