Church Cottage - 48 Church Road Wootton

Church Cottage - March 2010

48 Church Road is an attractive old cottage. It was listed by English Heritage in August 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. The structure is 18th century and is timber-framed with colourwashed brick nogging (infill). It is L-shaped and comprises one storey and attics beneath an old clay tiled roof.

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. Like most of the county, Wootton was largely assessed in 1927 and the valuer visiting the property [DV1/C50/89] found that it belonged to Mrs. Doyne-Ditmas, who had bought her father, Sir Philip Payne’s, Wootton Estate in 1923 [D264].

The tenant was Mrs. Doyne-Ditmas’ gardener at Wootton House, P. Wadsworth. His accommodation comprised a living room, a front room, a parlour and a scullery with three bedrooms above. Outside stood a barn and an earth closet and he got his water from next door – . The valuer commented: “Very good cottage and garden (rather old)”. Another hand has written: “Very bad up low” meaning that the roof made the attic bedrooms very low.

At nearly the same time as the cottage was being valued it was put up for sale as part of the Wootton Estate. The sale particulars [Z375/1] described it as: “A Picturesque Cottage and Garden Immediately opposite ST. MARY’S CHURCH, at the corner of the road leading to Causeway End. Of brick, timber and tile construction, containing Three Bed Rooms, Sitting Room, Living Room, Scullery, Larder and Pantry. E. C. CAPITAL KITCHEN GARDEN. The total Area being about 2 roods, 7 poles. At present in the occupation of the Gardener to Wootton House, but POSSESSION MAY BE OBTAINED ON COMPLETION OF THE PURCHASE”.