Vine Cottage Wootton
Vine Cottage March 2012
Vine Cottage was listed by English Heritage in August 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. It dates from the 17th century and is of timber-framed construction with red brick nogging (that is, infill). The house comprises a single storey, with attics, beneath an old clay tiled roof. The left hand bay is a later addition in local light red, mottled bricks and has a 20th century one storey wing to the rear.
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 Vine Cottage [DV1/C50/114-115] found that it was then two tenements under the same roof, both owned by Sir Philip Payne, whose family, and the Monoux family before them, had been Lords of the Manor of Wootton since the mid 17th century.
The front section was occupied by H. Hutchins whose rent, set in 1923, was £4/17/6 per annum. Accommodation comprised a living room and a kitchen with two bedrooms upstairs. A barn and earth closet stood outside. The rear portion was in the occupation of J. C. Smith, whose rent and accommodation were identical.
The valuer wrote “Fair cottages, good gardens”. He also noted: “Water from well 1 mile away”.
In 1927 the cottage was, with the rest of Sir Philip Payne’s holdings, put up for sale by auction. The particulars [Z375/1] list the cottage as Lot 50: “Another Pair of Picturesque Cottages and Gardens of brick, timber and tile construction, each containing Four Rooms, and Wood Shed and E. C. in Garden. Included with these Cottages is the Triangular-shaped Garden on the opposite side of the road, Numbered 51 on Plan”.
Sale particulars from the early 21st century [Z449/2/31] noted: “the cottage is in need of some general updating and refurbishment with the front north-eastern boundary wall in need of underpinning. Note: this would need to be confirmed with instructions to the "Listing" authority. Thus unique property would ideally suit those for [sic] an equestrian interest as there is an extensive array of stables, barns and outbuildings. The property has a large spinney area which provides a natural stream and pond running through the grounds".
The ground floor comprised: a sitting room (measuring 24 feet 10 inches by 14 feet 6 inches); a dining room (measuring 13 feet 7 inches by 14 feet 3 inches); a family room (measuring 20 feet 1 inches by 14 feet 2 inches); an L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room (measuring 15 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 1 inches); a rear hallway and a cloakroom. The first floor contained three bedrooms (one en-suite), a bathroom and a walk-through dressing area. The grounds extended to sixteen acres with two acres of cultivated garden, two detached portakabins, a pond, a stream, a patio and a one room detached brick built annexe.