A History of Preston
in Hertfordshire
The junction of Crunnells Green and School Lane
Cottage on east (left as viewed) side
1664 -
Rent 1/8d
1665 -
1701 -
1713 -
3 August 1708, John and Mary’s only child.
1727 -
? -
1768 -
1770 -
1785 -
1793 -
1799 -
1801 -
plait with six in household.
1812 -
Cottage on the west (right) side
1664 -
Rent 1/8d
1691 -
1696 -
? -
1713 -
1723 -
1725 -
1771 -
1802 -
1805 -
1808 -
1812 -
Using manorial documents, eighteenth century maps and awards, wills and census details it is possible to trace the majority of owners and occupiers of Preston’ homes.
The records indicate that several of the cottages that stood at the beginning of the twentieth century were built at least three hundred years earlier. Also, many had been divided and
altered to provide more homes as demand increased -
(many of the whom were ‘absentees’) sought more rent.
In the first half of the nineteenth century, there was a determined attempt by the Darton family
at Temple Dinsley to buy cottages in the village. During the early twentieth century,
the face of Preston changed dramatically as tumble-
For the purpose of this exercise, Preston has divided into small sections.
The maps featured are from (1) 1811 -
Occupiers of Crunnells Green House since 1918:
From 1918 until at least 1930 -
1951 Henry R Townshend and Alethea S Townshend.
1961 Anthony R Thompson and Elizabeth A Thompson.
1965 to 1996 Richard J L Altham and Rowena J Altham.
Cottages along School Lane
Red Lion
1
2
3
1
2/3
4
1
2/3
4
Old School
Cottage 1
Tracing the ownership of these cottages was a challenge. The cottage on the corner
of School Lane and Preston Green (in the foreground of the above photograph) was
probably owned by Thomas Browne in 1664 -
Then, in the late 1660s,Thomas Browne gave up part of his land and had two properties built on it, one of which which he gave/sold to Robert and Catharine Brown together with 16 poles of land. The other cottage came into the possession of ‘the widow, Browne’. These had evidently been erected before 1670, as both Robert and the Widow Browne were exempted from Hearth Tax in that year.
In turn, both of these two cottages were sold to Andrew Bowstred in 1681. He sold the larger property, which had been converted into three homes, to John Austin in around 1697. The smaller cottage was later purchased by Mary Browne before 1714.
Thus, the ‘Survey of Temple Dinsley Rents 1714’, shows Mary Brown owning two properties
with rents of £1 1/-
Cottage 1 on the corner of School Lane and Preston Green -
1662 -
1663 -
manorial rent of £1 17s 4d. Paid Hearth Tax for two chimneys.
1691 -
1692 -
1714 -
1719 -
? -
1769 -
1793 -
by Jeremiah Gazeley and Joseph Ward and now by William Ward’ (1793). Rent
still £1 1/-
1795 -
1811 -
1835 -
Morgan Pierson for £100.
1835 -
1873 -
A comparison of the maps above and their awards tells the story of these cottages along School Lane, all of which had been constructed by the 1660s.
On the 1811/16 map, there were just three holdings (consisting of four cottages which
are labelled above) which were occupied by five households -
By 1898, after some alterations, seven households lived along this lane. Ladies from two different households occupying 1 are shown in the photograph at their front doors. So, how could so many live in so few homes?
The answer can be found in the 1911 census and the Inland Revenue Survey of 1910.
Cottages 2, 3 and 4 had been sub-
1
3
4
2
The outline of the property and its gardens is clearly shown on the 1898 map. There was also a well in one garden. In 1910, each property (which was owned by RDV Pryor) was described thus:
3755 -
3756 -
3757 -
All were in poor condition.
Cottage 2/3
This (3751/2) was owned by Joseph Darton in 1811, but the earlier history of its owners is unclear.
In 1898, the sub-
The 1910 Inland Revenue survey noted this:
3753 -
J Nash.
3754 -
Both properties were owned by RDV Pryor.
Cottage 4
The position of this cottage in relation to Preston School is shown on the 1898 map (left, however, part of this cottage should be labelled 3752 as this number is missing on the map).
The 1910 Inland Revenue survey noted this:
3751 -
3752 -
This property was owned by RDV Pryor.
Known occupiers of School Lane cottages from 1800 to 1919
It is impossible to state exactly in which of the cottages the following villagers lived, but the following is a list who who lived in them with an approximate date of their occupancy.
Thomas Horton -
William Gentle -
Thomas Woodley -
William Joyner -
Richard Osbourne (a tailor) -
William Ward and Mrs snr -
Peter Poulter -
Mary Andrews -
Joseph Sharp -
Samuel Morgan -
William Ward jnr and wife -
Thomas Caines -
Samuel Morley -
John Sharpe -
William George -
J Godfrey -
Daniel Pratt -
James Fitzjohn -
John Mead -
William Palmer -
James Buckingham -
William Crawley and wife -
Robert Thrussell -
Melton -
Daniel Ward -
James Hornett -
Thomas Palmer -
George Freeman -
William Mead -
George Cranfield -
Joseph Sharpe -
George and Mary Freeman -
James Freeman -
James Jenkins -
William Saunders 1873 -
Mary Palmer -
John Palmer -
Thomas Sharpe -
Charles and Hannah Crewe -
Rebecca and Robert Crawley -
Samuel Peters -
Elijah Peters -
George Andrews -
William Thrussell -
William Jenkins -
Elizabeth and John Nash -
Mary Ann Palmer -
George Turner -
William Boston -
Frederick Nash -
? Palmer -
Leonard Peters -
The tumbledown cottages along School Lane were demolished in 1919 and were partly replaced by four bungalows in 1920 which were built by Douglas Vickers of Temple Dinsley.
When Preston School was also flattened in 1977, new houses were built on the vacant land.
‘The Institute Room’ aka
The Women’s Institute, ‘The School House’ Bungalow 2 aka The Bungalow
The Village Hall ‘Juniper’
and Preston Nursery
1928
Fanny Louisa Deed
Thomas and Eliza Tuley
Frank and Margaret Wray
1951
Emilie M Gardner (The Bungalow)
William A and Helen Alexandra Moffoot
Kathleen Myers
Herbert and Eileen G Wilson (School Bungalow)
1961
James C Ashworth
Philip A Jacobs
William A and Helen Alexandra Moffoot
FA and Joan E Douglas (School Bungalow)
Alan F Petrie
John R Vince
1971
Gwladys E Harris (Bungalow 2)
Patrick R Lamond
Malcom and Margaret Newell (School Bungalow)
Occupants of School Lane bungalows 1928 -
1981
Hugh B Davies (The Bungalow)
Gwladys E Harris (now ‘Juniper’)
John G and Doreen M Sansom (Old School Bungalow)
1987
Huw G and Celia M Thomas (The Bungalow)
Mary A Tear (No 2)
John G and Doreen M Sansom (Old School Bungalow)
1991
Edwin F and Karen LA Thomas (The Bungalow)
Robert J and Ruth Grierson (‘Juniper’)
John G and Doreen M Sansom (Old School Bungalow)
1996
Anna M Morley (The Bungalow)
Christopher P Mennie and Suzanne P Currie ( ‘Juniper’)
John G and Doreen M Sansom (Old School Bungalow)
2001
Christina E Needs and John H Nurthen (The Bungalow)
Jean M Davies (‘Juniper’)
John G and Doreen M Sansom (Old School Bungalow)
‘Dinsley Field’
‘Dinsley Field’ was built between 1961 and 1971 on land previously taken up by allotments. It was demolished a few decades later and the existing home was built in 2000.
Occupants:
1971 -
1981 -
2001 -
‘School House’ and ‘Tilehouse’
‘School House’ (below, left) and ‘Tilehouse’ were built on the site of Preston School between 1981 and 1987
Occupants:
‘School House’
1987 -
1991 -
Occupants:
‘Tilehouse’
1987 -
2001 -
Top left, 1811c; middle, 1844; right, 1898
Maps. Left 1811c; above, 1844; below 1898
Thus, in 1805, Henry Mardlin owned both cottages. By 1807, he had mortgaged them to William Sheaf of Kings Walden.
In 1810, Henry again mortgaged the property to John Hawkins of Hitchin for £110. It was to be held in trust to Joseph Darton who became its new owner.
1821 -
When Thomas Darton sold the Temple Dinsley estate to the Pryor family in 1873, these cottages were included in the sale. However, it is impossible to pinpoint their occupiers until 1910, but its owner was Ralston de Vin Pryor.
There were two cottages -
On their plot, in 1918, Crunnells Green House was built for the manager of the Temple Dinsley estate. Although not boasting the typical Lutyens chimney stacks, this impressive detached house is listed as being designed by Lutyens. Indeed, when sold in 1945 as part of the Minsden Estate, the Sale Particulars described it as having been ‘designed by the late Sir Edward Lutyens’.
In 1945, the ground floor comprised: a porch with tiled floor; a hall; a dining room (18’ by 14’) with an open grate; a lounge (14’ by 17’ 3’’) with an open grate and double fitted cupboards; a drawing room (18’ x 6’’ by 13’ 9’’) with open brick grate; an office (17’ x 14’ 3’’); a gentleman’s cloakroom; a kitchen with a tiled floor; and a scullery, butler’s pantry and larder. On the first floor were six bedrooms, a bathroom with w.c. and another bathroom with a separate w.c. Attached to the house was a tiled verandah, a wash house and a brick and tiled garage (10’ by 18’ 3’’)
Middle Cottage 2
Built in the late 1660s, probably by Thomas Browne, on the site of an orchard.
1670 -
1673 -
1681 -
1685 -
1697 -
1714 -
1727 -
1754 -
1797 -
1801 -
1811 -
and Samuel Morgan.
Middle Cottages (with ivy) 3
Built in the late 1660s, probably by Thomas Browne, on the site of an orchard.
1670 -
1673 -
1681 -
1695 -
1704 -
1714 -
1717 -
Green’.
1730 -
? -
1754 -
1785 -
1801 -
1805 -
1811 -