Home Ownership - 4-6 Bury End

The table below gives details about who owned and occupied the house. The sources for information vary; the records pre 1800 are mainly manor court rolls. Every time a property changed hands, even between family members, the transaction had to be recorded at the manorial court. The names of those who surrendered and those who were admitted and the entry fines they paid were written in the rolls of parchment by the clerk. An entry fine was paid to the lord of the manor and the new owner was given a written copy of the transaction, hence the term copyhold.

All records were in abbreviated medieval latin until 1752 except for a short period during the commonwealth between 1650 and 1660.Freehold property is rarely mentioned but can sometimes be found in the manor rentals. It is difficult to trace the history of a house as addresses are never given ad therefore the only way is to use the owners name or very occasionally the name of the house.

Post 1800 there are many more sources of information although actual addresses are not used until mid 20th century. One method of identifying a house in the records is by the description of the land that went with it or the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor which often didn’t change over a hundred years.

The table is arranged over five columns. The first gives the year of the record and the second is the source document sometimes with a reference number. The next two columns record the transfer of ownership and the occupier of the property. Click on the names to link to the people database. Sometimes there is no link to the database so go to the people page on the top navigation bar and simply type in the name you are searching for. The search function returns all documents where the name searched for appears in that document. Click on a name match to view the document in which that name appears. When viewing a record that contains other names, it is possible to perform a new search on that name by clicking on the name link.

The last column shows information about the property and any comments.

It is exceedingly difficult to trace the history of these houses before 1811 and the table may be inaccurate. I know that this area of the village belonged to the Manor of Pirton. Information about these houses was only recorded in Manorial Rolls when the whole estate changed hands unlike copyhold houses. Looking at manorial rentals and estate papers leads me to think that the Lord of the Manor Docwra, Warburton and later Radcliffe sublet, which is more difficult to trace. All these properties then passed to Priory Estates in Hitchin because the Delme Radcliffes lived at the Priory. After 1811 the pre-enclosure plan and book the properties identifies owners and tenants

date source owner/buyer occupier comment
1504 VCH Thomas Docwra    Bought the manor and estate
1597 lay subsidy national archives Thomas Docwra Thomas Docwra
1599 VCH Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra    Docwra married Jane Periam
1617 Court roll/HALS Agnes Richte transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra  Chepyng Grene
1620 VCH Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Periam Docwra    Thomas died father to son
1642 VCH Periam Docwra transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra    Died and left to his son Thomas
1680 VCH Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Martha Warburton    It passed from Thomas to his only daughter Martha wife of Sir Peter Warburton of Cheshire. Martha died 1707 and the Pirton estate passed to her son George.
1706 Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Dorothy Docwra
1726 VCH George Warburton transferred ownership to Ralph Radcliffe    Ralph Radcliffe bought the manor of Pirton and its estate
1740 Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS Elizabeth Burrell transferred ownership to Ralph Esq Radcliffe Joseph Howe Tenements South Side Of Green 2 tenements adjoining on east to a messuage owned by Radcliffe [mess occupied by Howe carpenter.] Howe leases tenements for 21 years at 40s a year
1740 HALS Ralph Esq Radcliffe Tenement Chipping Grene John Radcliffe-Joseph Howe: Copies of Lease for 21 years of tenements on south side of Great Green, Pirton (endorsed: Not executed). tenement now divided into 2
1811 HALS Emilius Radcliffe
1818 Enclosure award/HALS Emilius Henry Delme Radcliffe House and gardens   1 rood 10 perch
1841 Census 1841 William Taylor  Great Green.  William  Taylor – Agricultural labourer age 20
1861 Census 1861 Samuel Parkins    Samuel  Parkins – Straw plaiter age 27
1861 Census 1861 Elizabeth Pratt    Elizabeth  Pratt – Mistress of plaiting school age 52
1863 Rates/HALS  Radcliffe Widow Parkins Cottage Great Green  rateable value £3 0s 0d
1863 Rates/HALS  Radcliffe William Pratt Cottage Great Green  rateable value £3 0s 0d
1871 Census 1871 Samuel Parkins    Samuel  Parkins – Strawplaiter age 37
1871 Census 1871 Elizabeth Pratt    Elizabeth Pratt  Strawplaiter age 62
1877 School admission register/HALS Marylinn Parkins    Ellen  Parkins born 23/4/1868 enrolled 1877
1877 School admission register/HALS 0 Parkins    Ralph  Parkins born 28/1/1866 enrolled 1877
1877 HALS Ann Parkins    Samuel Parkins born 12/9/1873 enrolled  1877
1877 Sanitation report/HALS Squire Radcliffe Mary Ann Parkins 1/2cottages with garden. Well, drainage-into main. 6 inmates sharing 1 living rooms, 1 sleeping rooms and privy
1877 Sanitation report/HALS Squire Radcliffe William Pratt 1/2cottages with garden. Well, drainage-into main. 2 inmates sharing 2 living rooms, 2 sleeping rooms and privy
1878 HALS George Walker    George Walker born 2/11/1875 enrolled 6/5/1878
1879 School admission register/HALS George Walker    James  Walker born 15/12/1872 enrolled 1879
1879 School admission register/HALS Samuel Parkins    Ruth  Parkins born 15/4/1872 enrolled 1879
1879 School admission register/HALS Samuel Parkins    Samuel  Parkins born 12/9/1872 enrolled 1879
1880 HALS George Walker    Florence Walker born 21/11/1877 enrolled 1/4/1880
1881 School admission register/HALS George Walker    William  Walker born 15/12/1874 enrolled 1881 Last school – Pirton Infant School,
1881 Census 1881 Charles Stapleton    Charles  Stapleton – Railway labourer age 23
1881 Census 1881 Mary Parkins    Mary  Parkins – Strawplaiter age 41
1883 School admission register/HALS Charles Stapleton    John Stapleton born 30/5/1880 enrolled 2/7/1883
1889 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton  Frederic  Walker born 13/11/1881 enrolled 1889
1891 Census 1891 George Walker  Great Green  George  Walker – Farm Laborer age 43
1893 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton  Gertrude  Walker born 25/11/1885 enrolled 1893
1896 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton  Sidney  Walker born 21/7/1888 enrolled 1896
1896 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton. (b), Arthur Walker  enrolled 1896
1896 HALS George Walker  Pirton.  Arthur Walker born  1893 enrolled  1896/97
1899 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton.  Bertie  Walker born 25/6/1890 enrolled 1899
1901 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton.  Arthur  Walker born 13/11/1893 enrolled 1901
1901 Census 1901 George Walker   Near Great Green.  George  Walker – Farm labourer general age 52
1901 Census 1901 Mary Parkins  Great Green.  Mary Ann Parkins – Straw plaiter age 61
1909 Register of electors/HALS George Walker  Dwelling house  Great Green
1909 Register of electors/HALS Mary Ann Parkins  House  Great Green
1910 Register of electors/HALS George Walker  dwelling house  Great Green
1910 School admission register/HALS George Walker  Pirton.  Alice Walker born 4/5/1907 enrolled 9/5/1910
1911 Register of electors/HALS George Walker  Dwelling house  Great Green
1911 Census 1911 Charles Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Charles  Stapleton General Dealer – age 41
1911 Census 1911 Ellen Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Ellen  Stapleton  – age 42
1911 Census 1911 John Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household John  Stapleton Railway Worker – age 21
1911 Census 1911 Jesse Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Jesse  Stapleton Groom Domestic – age 18
1911 Census 1911 Ethel Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Ethel  Stapleton  – age 14
1911 Census 1911 Richard Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Richard  Stapleton  – age 9
1911 Census 1911 Edward Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Edward  Stapleton  – age 3
1911 Census 1911 Kathleen Stapleton  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Kathleen  Stapleton  – age 1
1911 Census 1911 Mary Parkins  Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Mary Ann Parkins Old  Age Pensioner – age 72
1911 Census 1911 Herbert Walker  Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Herbert  Walker Roadman – age 20
1911 Census 1911 Gertrude Walker  Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Gertrude  Walker  – age 26
1911 Census 1911 Arthur Walker  Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Arthur  Walker Farm Labourer – age 18
1915 Register of electors/HALS Charles Stapleton  Dwelling house  Near Great Green
1915 School admission register/HALS Charles Stapleton  Pirton.  Edward  Stapleton born 4/1/1908 enrolled 1915 Last school – Pirton Infants,
1916 School admission register/HALS Charles Stapleton  Pirton.  Kitty  Stapleton born 10/11/1909 enrolled 1916 Last school – Pirton Infants,
1918 School admission register/HALS Charles Baines    Cyril Baines born 19/11/1913 enrolled 25/11/1918
1921 School admission register/HALS Charles Baines  Pirton.  Vera Baines born 24/11/1915 enrolled 4/1/1921
1923 School admission register/HALS Charles Baines    Gladys Baines born 14/11/1917 enrolled 2/1/1923
1924 School admission register/HALS Charles Baines  Pirton.  Vera  M Baines born 24/11/1915 enrolled 1924 Last school – Pirton Junior,
1924 School admission register/HALS Charles Baines  Pirton.  Gladys  Violet Baines born 14/11/1917 enrolled 1924 Last school – Pirton Junior,
1935 Original rates/Hofton Charles Stapleton Charles Stapleton Cottage and premises   gross value £ 6 rateable value £4
1935 Original rates/Hofton Charlie Baines Charlie Baines cottage and premises  Bought house for £50 from Priory Estates gross value £7 rateable value £4
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Herbert Stapleton  4 Bury End. married   DOB 4/7/1869 labourer retired Age 70
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Ellen Stapleton   married   DOB 25/4/1868 Unpaid domestic duties Age 71
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Gertrude Baines  6 Bury End. widow DOB 25/11/1884 Unpaid domestic duties Age 55
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Cyril G Baines   single   DOB 19/11/1913 Cowman Age 26
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Vera Baines   single   DOB 24/11/1915 glove machinist Age 24
1939 National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives Maurice Baines   single   DOB 2/2/1920 plumbers mate Age 19
1942 oral Charlie Baines    killed in the Welwyn railway accident

 

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