11 Cheyney Street, Homedale

Here is the history of 11 Cheyney Street and as it was a beerhouse for some years, it is also mentioned here The Plough, Cheyney Street

Origins

This house is on part of an historic dwelling site, originally an enclosure of about half an acre, believed to have been taken from the common land of Steeple Morden Manor. On the Enclosure Map 1817 the full plot is outlined in green and was in the single ownership of Thomas Strickland. Depicted are what appear to be four cottages with a house to their right, fronting Cheyney Street.

On the Tithe Map 1839, the whole original plot is again outlined in green. However, a small area of land had been sold off in 1835 for the Chapel and this is outlined in yellow and is number 83 [number illegible on map]. Plot 86 between the yellow and blue lines is four cottages by the roadside. Parcel 87 outlined in blue has a house on it and today this is 11 Cheyney Street, Homedale.  Plots 86 and 87 were still in the ownership of Thomas Strickland and details from the Tithe Apportionment are:

Thomas Strickland the owner was born in Steeple in 1796, although by 1835 he was resident at Potton and was a brewer and farmer. Confusingly, the tenant of parcel 87 with the same name was a different Thomas Strickland. They were , however, distant relations, with the exact relationship yet to be ascertained.

Construction and History

Whilst the original plot of land has all the indications of an ancient dwelling site, the house standing today is clearly not “ancient”, so may be considered a “modern” replacement. From appearance and documentary clues it is likely it was built for Thomas Strickland, not long after he acquired the land in 1832. A date of 1835 appears a good fit and in a Surveyors’ Day Book kept by Rowley Son & Royce of Royston there are detailed entries prepared on 30 April 1835 pricing carpentry work undertaken by Abraham Pearmain for Thomas Strickland.  There is reference to use of old roof joists, suggesting this was a replacement dwelling and the walls are said to be clay bat, which was a typical building material at that time. The new dwelling incorporated a shop and appears to have had two chimneys and two staircases. A warehouse and barn were built at the same time.

Initially, the property was home to tenant Thomas Strickland and housed a grocer’s shop from 1835 to 1842, when he moved to Hay Street. The new tenant was William Edwards, who was born in Ashwell and a tailor by trade. Sometime in the 1850s he returned to Ashwell and James Potton moved in and opened a beerhouse, known as The Plough.

James Potton was succeeded by George Lindsay, who was publican only briefly and when he left in 1882 the property became a private house and subsequent tenants are shown below.

In 1915 Homedale witnessed the tragic demise of John Jarman and that sad tale is told here Death of John Jarman

Listed Building

Listing details: Grade II since 18 November 1983

House. Early to mid C19. Possibly clay bat with roughcast render. Slated hipped roof. Two gault brick stacks. Plastered brick plinth. Asymmetric facade of two storeys. Four-panelled door with rectangular fanlight and C20 gabled canopy. Two flanking ground floor flush-framed sixteen-paned hung sash windows and three similar smaller, first floor windows. Included for group value.

Owners of 11 Cheyney Street, Homedale

This list is as complete as current information allows. The owners prior to 1902, also owned the four tenements to the west of Homedale. Homedale, itself, last changed ownership on 31 May 2022.

Owners

Occupiers of 11 Cheyney Street, Homedale

Since 1902 it is believed this property has been owner-occupied.

Occupiers

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