52 to 56 Cause End Road Wootton

52 to 56 Cause End Road March 2012

The numbering of these cottages is quite confusing as 52 and 54 Cause End Road are adjacent but Number 56 adjoins Number 52 to the rear. Each of the three dwellings was listed by English Heritage in August 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. They all date from the 17th century. 52 and 56 form an H-plan and are pebbledashed beneath an old clay tiled roof. The front wing was remodelled in the 19th and early 20th centuries when it was refaced in brick and the roof clad in fishscale tiles. The rear wing, Number 56, still shows its half timbering.

Number 54 is also timber-framed and has plaster infill. The roof is made of modern machine-made tiles. It comprises a single storey and attics with a modern south-west facing two storey extension at the rear.

52 and 56 Cause End Road March 2012

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 52 to 56 Cause End Road [DV1/C51/91-94] found that they were owned by Mrs. Doyne-Ditmas, who had bought the Wootton Estate from her father, Sir Philip Payne, in 1923. There was an additional cottage directly to the right of Number 52 which has since been demolished. This was occupied by Mrs. Doyne-Ditmas’ chauffeur D. W. Creighton. His accommodation comprised a living room, a kitchen and a parlour with two bedrooms above and a washhouse, coal place and earth closet outside. Water came from a well. The valuer commented: “Very good cottage, bad repair”. A later hand has added: “Very good, double front”.

Number 52 was then in the occupation of P. Cox who paid rent of £1/15/- per half-year, set in 1921. He had a living room and a kitchen downstairs with two bedrooms above. Outside stood a barn and water came from a pump. The valuer commented: “Awful place”. A later hand has added: “Bad position, awful slope” meaning that the roof to the first floor sloped considerably into the rooms on that floor.

Number 54 was occupied by W. Euston who worked for Mrs. Doyne-Ditmas. Accommodation comprised a living room and a kitchen with two bedrooms above. Outside stood a barn and an earth closet. The valuer commented: “Awful place, fair garden”; water came from a well. A later hand has written “Bad slope” meaning that the roof sloped considerably in the attic bedrooms and “Very Poor”.

Number 56 was occupied by E. Redman whose rent was two shillings per week, again set in 1921. He had a living room and a kitchen with two bedrooms above and a barn and earth closet outside. The valuer commented: “Very, very poor place, all falling down”. A later hand has added: “Bad slope and position”. The Wootton Estate has been in severe financial difficulties for about a century and so maintenance of its cottages would not have had the highest priority.

These four cottages were, at nearly the same time as they were being valued, put up for sale by auction as part of the Wootton Estate, along with an adjoining close of pasture. The sale particulars [Z375/1] describe them as follows: “Four Cottages and Gardens and 8¾ Acres of Old Pasture Land Situated at CAUSEWAY END IN THE VILLAGE OF WOOTTON having a Road Frontage of about 630 feet.

• No. 1 – A Detached Cottage with rough-cast elevation, containing Four Rooms, Wood Shed and E. C. in Garden, at present Vacant, but of an Estimated Rental Value of £4/5/-.
• No. 2 – A Brick and Tile Double-fronted Cottage with ornamental rough-cast elevation, containing Four Rooms, Wash-house with copper and sink, Coal, Wood Shed and E. C. in Garden. In hand, at present occupied by Mr. Crichton as service Tenant, but Vacant Possession will be given after 1st February, 1928. It is of the Estimated Rental Value of per annum £6
• Nos. 3 and 4 – A Pair of Brick and Tile Cottages adjoining. Each containing Four Rooms. Wood Shed and E. C. in Garden. One let to P. J. Cox on a Yearly tenancy at the rent of per annum £3/10/-. The other let to Mr. J. Frossell on a Yearly Tenancy at a Rent of per annum £3/10/-.
• No. 61a – Pasture Land is let to Mr. J. Frossell [of Manor Farm] on a Yearly (Michaelmas) Tenancy together with other Property comprised in Lots 15 and 25, at a total Rent of £200, the Apportioned rent payable in respect of this lot being per annum £13.

54 Cause End Road March 2012