Bedford Estates Cottages in Leighton Street

The Dukes of Bedford built numerous estate cottages in the various parishes in which they owned land from the mid 19th century into the 20th century. There were a number of different types but all are instantly recognisable as Bedford Estates properties. Fittingly the highest number was built in Woburn.

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 the Bedford Estate cottages described them and their occupiers as set out below.

9 and 10 Leighton Street March 2012

9 and 10 Leighton Street

These are noted as “3rd Type” but bigger than 11 to 16 Leighton Street - built in 1911

• 9: occupier Robert Preece whose rent was included in his wages; living room, kitchen, scullery and three bedrooms; coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 10: occupier: John Langton whose rent was six shillings per week; living room, kitchen, scullery and three bedrooms; coal barn and W. C. outside.

11 to 16 Leighton Street March 2012

11 to 16 Leighton Street

These properties were built in 1904

• 11: occupier Frederick Blackwell whose rent was included in his wages; living room; kitchen; scullery; three bedrooms with a coal barn and earth closet outside; water came from the mains;
• 12: occupier Alfred White whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details were as Number 11;
• 13: occupier Joseph Osborn whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details were as Number 11;
• 14: occupier John Newbury whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details were as Number 11;
• 15: occupier Arthur White whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details were as Number 11;
• 16: occupier Albert Ernest Norman whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details were as Number 11.

25 to 30 Leighton Street March 2012

25 to 30 Leighton Street

These properties were built in 1851.

• 25: vacant, lately occupied by Percy Baldock whose rent had been 1/7 per week; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 26: occupier Frederick Thomas Clapham whose rent was 19/6 per quarter; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, with a coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 27: occupier Josiah Ring whose rent was £1/0/7 per quarter; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, with a coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 28: occupier John Burnage whose rent was included in his wages; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, with a coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 29: occupier Walter Barden whose rent was 1/3 per week; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, with a coal barn and W. C. outside;
• 30: occupier George Prestidge whose rent was 31/0/7 per quarter; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside.

34 and 35 Leighton Street March 2012

34 and 35 Leighton Street

These two, distinctly different, properties were built in 1904

• 34: occupier Thomas Birch whose rent was 2/6 per week; living room, kitchen, parlour, three bedrooms with a coal barn, washhouse including a W. C. and pigsty outside; gas lighted;
• 35: Alfred Caines whose rent was in his wages; living room, kitchen, parlour, three bedrooms with a coal barn, pigsty and washhouse with a W. C. outside; gas lighted.

40 to 45 Leighton Street March 2012

40 to 45 Leighton Street

These properties were some of the earliest Bedford Estates houses, built in 1846.

• 40: William Drewitt whose rent was £1/3/10 per quarter; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighted with mains water and drainage;
• 41: Alfred Rutland whose rent was 1/7 per week; other details as Number 40;
• 42: John Bosworth whose rent was 1/7 per week; other details as Number 40;
• 43: George Robinson whose rent was 1/7 per week; other details as Number 40;
• 44: Frederick Thomas Waldock whose rent was 3/6 per week; other details as Number 40;
• 45: William Showler whose rent was 18/6 per quarter; other details as Number 40.

46 to 49 Leighton Street March 2012

46 to 49 Leighton Street

These properties were built in 1849

• 46: Arthur Summerfield whose rent was 1/3 per week; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 47: John Large whose rent was in his wages; other details as Number 46;
• 48: John Coats whose rent was 1/3 per week; other details as Number 46;
• 49: John Sibley whose rent was 1/3 per week; other details as Number 46.

50 to 56 Leighton Street March 2012

50 to 56 Leighton Street

These properties were built in 1849.

• 50: Albert Payne whose rent was 1/7 per week; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 51: Frederick Scott whose rent was 1/6 per week; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 52: Miss Susan Hall whose rent was 16/3 per quarter; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 53: James Burridge whose rent was 1/3 per week; living room, kitchen and two bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 54:Mrs. Mary Claydon whose rent was 1/5 per week; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 55: Mrs. George Smith whose rent was 1/5 per week; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 56: Walter Cook whose rent was in his wages; living room, kitchen, three bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;

57 to 60 Leighton Street March 2012

57 to 60 Leighton Street

These properties were built in 1849

• 57: William Brown whose rent was 1/4 per week; living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with a coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water and drainage;
• 58: Mrs. Elizabeth Cripps whose rent was 1/4 per week; other details as Number 57;
• 59: Fred Gilkes whose rent was 1/4 per week; other details as Number 57
• 60: Alfred Grimes whose rent was in his wages; other details as Number 57.

62 and 63 Leighton Street March 2012

62 and 63 Leighton Street

“Type different in style to usual Estate Cottages” – built 1904

• 62: John Todd whose rent was in his wages; living room, kitchen, scullery, three bedrooms with coal barn and W. C. outside; mains water and drainage;
• 63: George Battams whose rent was 2/6 per week; living room, kitchen, scullery, three bedrooms with coal barn and W. C. outside; mains water and drainage.

64 to 67 Leighton Street March 2012

64 to 67 Leighton Street

• 64: Henry Charles Boston whose rent was 2/6 per week; living room, kitchen, scullery, three bedrooms with coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains drainage and water;
• 65: James Stanford whose rent was 2/6 per week; living room, kitchen, scullery, three bedrooms with coal barn and W. C. outside; gas lighting, mains water;
• 66: Mrs. Amos Scott whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details as Number 65;
• 67: William Tearle whose rent was 2/6 per week; other details as Number 65.