This building is at the beginning of a track between it and Peasey Cottage, which used to lead to the privvies which served the Crocker Cottages, Sunnyview and Rose Cottages.
Of blue lias construction with one room up and one room down.
In 1836 listed as a shop which was run by Richard and Charles Crocker, owned by John Crocker. We assume the shop was a cobbler’s shop as this was the profession of both Richard and Charles.
1841 Tithe Award shop Richard and Charles Crocker.
1861 census Richard Crocker aged 66 boot and shoemaker
1871 census Richard Crocker, aged 76 shoemaker.
No listing on 1881, 1891 or 1901 census returns.
1924 recorded in the Poor Rate as being “uninhabitable” and the rate was paid by William Conduit, the then owner of Rose Cottage. However, early deeds for Rose Cottage do not show this building as belonging to it. No earlier information has come to light except for a story that the last person to live there was a tall man who had to come outside to put on his hat and coat. This building has been the subject of some renovation work in recent time. The building was sometimes referred to as The Fish House, although we have no idea why.
Proceed along Church Road, past the new Kingsmoor House. Just past this house on the left-and side was the site of the
Old Smithy, Tithe No. 187a
The Tithe Award 1841 gives the tenant at Charles Maber and the owner John Brice. This was not a dwelling house and Charles Maber was residing at Back Lane, Bradney at the time of the 1841 census. By the time of the 1851 and 1861 censuses the Smithy had moved to Crandon Cottage at Knowle.
John Staples was the blacksmith here between 1871 and 1901.
1914 Henry Job was the occupier.
The sheds which were either part of the remains, or replaced, the Smithy, were removed in 1976. See Rose Cottage photo.
Next on the left and no longer standing used to be the
Village Shop, Tithes 187 and 188.demolished 1976
Village Shop 1951
This building stated life as two back-to-back dwellings, erected by or during Thomas Brice’s later life c. 1820 and left in his Will to his daughter Harriet in 1838 “I give and bequeath my two dwelling houses, garden and premises in the occupation of John Williams and Ann Palmer to my daughter Harriet, who now lives with me”.
Tithe No. 187
1831 Ann Palmer, owner Thomas Brice
1838 Ann Palmer and John Williams, owner Thomas Brice
1841Tithe Award and census George Brewer, aged 48 a farm labourer, residing with his children Frederick 11, Amelia 5
1851 census George Brewer aged 58, owner of houses, wife Sarah (nee Brice) aged 55, Amelia aged 17.
Tithe No. 188
1831 John Williams, owner Thomas Brice
1838 John Williams, owner Harriet Brice
1841 Tithe Award and census George Barnett 50, farm labourer and Fanny 50, his wife. Owner John Brice.
1851 census George Barnett 68, farm labourer, Fanny 72, farm labourer. Caleb Reading 73, widower and farm labourer. John Stone 25, farm labourer It would appear from this entry that this part of the house was tied to a farm (probably Brice’s) as all the occupants are farm labourers.
c.1896 John Conduit, owner William Parkhouse
As one dwelling – converted to a shop in 1924 and run by Lovell Baker. After his death in 1967, his wife Marion took over. She closed the stores in 1969.
Mrs Marion Baker, owner of shop
The property was condemned in 1975 and sold for demolition. It was demolished in 1976 and a new house built on the site. During the Bakers’ occupation, room were rented out to:-
1934 Annie Lumber, who was Mrs Bakers’ mother
August 1974 Frank and Violet March
1951-1962 nurses from Uplands
25 Church Road, Tithe 186
Thomas Brice’s will dated 1831 refers to this property as “the newly erected dwelling house occupied by George Barnes, together with garden opposite extending eastward, adjoining garden called Poor House Garden”
We have to assume, therefore, that the building cannot be much older than late 18th century, early 19th century.
In 1838 the property was bequeathed to Thomas’s daughter Elizabeth Brice under his Will.
1841 Tithe Award and census owned by John Brice[1] and occupied by William Crocker 35, a farm labourer and his wife Lydia 30 and their children Mary 7, Jane 7, Sarah 5, John 1.
1851 John Brice aged 43, wife Elizabeth aged 36, children Mary 9, Charles 6, Richard 2, servant Sarah Perry 19, servant.
1861 John Brice does not appear on the census for Bawdrip
1924 George Pentecost lived here and, on his death, the property was bought by Mrs Elizabeth Way.
1949 Mrs Goodyer, the eldest sister of Elizabeth Way, lived here with her husband Charles and 2 farmworkers Paddy Mathews and Gilbert Pollard.
1959-1961 Albert Davey
1965 David and Maureen Hurley
1971 onwards Edwin and Mary Crane.
[1] John Brice was the son of Thomas and step-son of Phoebe Brice. Phoebe was Thomas’s second wife, having first married her sister Elizabeth (nee Slocombe) who died in childbirth. At the time of the 1841 census John Brice was the leaseholder of Church Farm, which was owned by John Fry, by the time of the 1861 census he had moved to Church St, Martock.
The History Articles reproduced are owned and were researched and produced by Suzie Lewis and her father (now deceased), John Jenkins.
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