Preston’s Cottages: Chequers Lane - North-east side
The buildings on the north-east side of Chequers Lane were in the parish of Ippollitts. As a
comparison of the maps from 1816 (left) and 1898 shows below, they were virtually unchanged during
the nineteenth century.
Notes: Chequers Inn, ‘Sadleirs End’ and
the property immediately to the north-
west were part of the Temple Dinsley
estate. In the nineteenth century there
were no houses on the south-west side
of Chequers Lane.
Above, Chequers Lane circa 1913. The bank of trees in the background reveals
the location of this photograph - they grow between the Hitchin Road and the
Temple Dinsley estate. This photograph is the view down the Lane towards the
junction with the Hitchin Road with the north-east side of the lane on the left as
viewed. The barn in the foreground and the thatched house must be shown as A
on the map above, right.
Occupants of Chequers Lane from 1841
1851 Census
One uninhabited house
BROWN, William and Catharine. Wheelwright
SHARP, James and Hannah. Ag lab
PALMER, William and Elizabeth. Ag lab
BOSTON, Thomas and Sarah. Ag lab
JOYNER, William and Mary. Ag lab
PALMER, Thomas and Mary. Pauper
JENKINS, Richard and Sarah.
MORGAN, James and Sarah Ag lab
DAY, William. Ag lab
BRADDEN, Henry and Rebecca. Publican
Note: The enumerator probably followed the
same route in 1841 and 1851 starting at the
northern-most end of the lane.
1861 Census
BROWN, John and Mary Ann. Wheelwright
BROWN, William and Catharine. Wheelwright
SHARP, James and Sarah. Ag lab
PALMER, William. Ag lab
BOSTON, Thomas and Sarah. Ag lab
JOYNER, Thomas and Sarah. Ag lab
JENKINS, John and Charlotte. Ag lab
CREW, William and Sophia. Ag lab
SMITH, Thomas and Mary. Ag lab
DAY, William and Betsey. Ag lab
BRADDEN, Henry and Rebecca. Publican
1871 Census
BROWN, John and Mary Ann. Grocer
SLIGHT, William and Sarah. Farm Bailiff.
Wheelwright
SHARP, James and Sarah. Ag lab
SHARP, George and Sarah. Ag lab
SHARP, John and Mary. Ag lab
SHARP, Thomas. Ag lab
JENKINS, John and Charlotte. Ag lab (At
cottages on Hitchen Road)
SHARP, James and Sarah. Ag lab (7 and 8 in
1873)
SMITH, Thomas and Mary. Ag lab
DAY, William and Betsey. Ag lab
BRADDEN, Henry and Rebecca. Publican
1841 Census
BROWN, James and Louisa. Ag lab
BROWN, William and Catharine. Carpenter
SHARP, James and Hannah. Ag lab
HARVEY, Thomas and Ann. Ag lab
FARR, William and Martha. Ag lab
JOYNER, William and Mary. Ag lab
PALMER, Thomas and Mary. Ag lab
JENKINS, Richard and Sarah.
MORGAN, Daniel and Elizabeth. Woodman
YOUNG, John and Ann. Gamekeeper and
Innkeeper of ‘The Chequers Inn’.
Note: One of these families was probably
living in ‘Spindle Cottage on the Hitchin
Road.
1881 Census
BROWN, John and Mary Ann Merritt. Grocer
FROST, David and Hannah. Butler
SHARP, James and Mary. Ag lab
SHARP, George and Sarah. Ag lab
REED, George and Mary. Ag lab
1 house unoccupied
SHARP, John and Mary Ag lab
JENKINS, John and Charlotte. Ag lab
BROWN, Frank and Lydia. Farmer
DAY, William and Betsey. Ag lab
JEEVES, William. Publican
A sketch map from 1884 is reproduced above to illustrate the activity associated
with the lane at the time
1891 Census
FROST, David and Hannah. Butler. Preston Castle Lodge. 5+
rooms
MERRITT, Mary. Grocer. 5+ rooms
SHARP, James and Mary (with Arthur Ayres) Ag lab. 4 rooms
BURTON, Joseph and Catherine. Ag lab. 4 rooms
EWINGTON, William and Caroline. Ag lab. 4 rooms
JENKINS, Job and Lucy. Ag lab. 3 rooms
JENKINS, John and Charlotte. Ag lab. 4 rooms
JENKINS, William and Ann. Ag lab. 5+ rooms
BROWN, Frank and Hannah. Hay Dealer 5+ rooms
JEEVES, William. Publican. Chequers Inn.
1893 Electoral Register
FROST, David
MERRITT, Mary.
AYRES, Arthur
EWINGTON, William
JENKINS, Job
JENKINS, John and Charlotte.
BROWN, Frank
JEFFREYS, Thomas. Chequers Inn
JEEVES, William. .Preston Lodge
Map of Chequers Lane in 1898
1900 Electoral Register
WALKDEN, John Chequers Inn.
BROWN, Frank , Sadleirs End
WRAY, Alfred 5 (there in 1905)
EWINGTON, William 6
THRUSSELL, William
AYRES, Arthur 3
JEEVES, William, Preston Lodge 2
MERRITT, Mary Ann. Sadleirs End
1901 Census
WALKDEN, John and MAV, Publican Chequers Inn. 5+ rooms
BROWN, Frank and Hannah. Hay dealer. 5+ rooms
SAUNDERS, Edward and Eliza. Gardener. 5+ rooms 2
WRAY, Alfred and Emily. Hurdlemaker. 3 rooms 5
EWINGTON, William and Mary. Hay tier. 4 rooms 6
THRUSSELL, William and Minnie. Hay tier. 4 rooms 4
AYRES, Arthur and Mary Ann. Shepherd. 4 rooms 3
JEEVES, William, Carpenter. Castle Farm Lodge. 5+ rooms 2
MERRITT, Mary Ann. Grocer. 5+ rooms. 8
Details of Chequers Lane from the Inland Revenue Survey 1910
Plot 1 Vacant - soon ‘pulled down’. Owned by E Curling
Plot 2 Brick and slated cottage. Kitchen, scullery, pantry. Three bedrooms. Wood and iron corrugated
barn and orchard. Occupied by Herbert Jenkins. Owned by E Curling
Plot 3 Brick and tiled cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. In poor repair. Barn and garden.
Occupied by A Ayres (erased), now Sharp. Owned by E Curling.
Plot 4 Brick and tiled cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. In poor repair. Barn and garden.
Occupied By E Jenkins (previously, vacant). Owned by E Curling.
Plot 5 Brick and tiled cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. In poor repair. Barn and garden.
Occupied by A Wray (erased), now Thrussell. Owned by E Curling.
Plot 6 Brick and tiled cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. In poor repair. Barn and garden.
Occupied by W Ewington (erased), now A Simons. Owned by E Curling.
Plot 7 Wood and thatched cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. In poor repair. Wood and
thatched barn and garden. Occupied by W Jeeves. Owned by R de V Pryor (Shown in photograph
above)
Plot 8 Brick and tiled cottage. Kitchen and pantry. Two Bedrooms. Old and in poor repair. Wood and
thatched barn, stable, cart shed and garden. Occupied by J Jeeves. Owned by R de V Pryor.
Sadleirs End House and shop - brick and tiles. Sitting room, kitchen, scullery and pantry. Three
bedrooms. Wood and corrugated iron stable. Occupied by T Thrussell. Owned by R de V Pryor.
Chequers Inn Brick and tiled house. Cellar, bar, club room, tap room, sitting room, kitchen and
scullery. Four bedrooms. Wood and thatch cart shed, brick and tiled stable, brick and slated piggery,
rick and slated store. In fair repair. Occupied by J Scott (erased) now Brown. Owned by R de V Pryor.
1911 Census
BRAZIER, George, Chequer Inn 6 rooms
THRUSSELL, Thomas. Farmer. ‘The Laurels’ 6 rooms
JEEVES, John and Ann. Retired Ag lab. 3 rooms 8
JEEVES, Henry. Ag lab. 3 rooms
SMITH, Jessie and Emma. Woodman. 3 rooms
SYMONDS, Alfred and Dora. Horse keeper. 4 rooms 6
JENKINS, Ernest and Lizzie. Horsekeeper. 4 rooms 4
SHARP, Herbert and Emily. Ag lab. 4 rooms 3
JENKINS, Herbert and Phyllis. Horse keeper. 6 rooms 2
Pulled down 1
1914 Electoral Register
THRUSSELL, Thomas.
JEEVES, John
JEEVES, Henry.
SMITH, Jessie
SYMONDS, A
JENKINS, Ernest
SHARP, Herbert
JENKINS, Herbert
It is clear that, with the exception of Chequers Inn and ‘Sadleirs
End’, the old, tumbledown cottages on the north-east side of
Chequers Lane were destined to be demolished.
As there were probably only four homes inhabited here in 1920
(see below), probably the process of pulling them down and
building new houses had started by then.
Many, if not all, were council houses and the Preston School
records indicate that some had been completed and let by July
1922. By the early 1920s, ten new council houses had been
built along this side of Chequers Lane (see map below) and two
more were added later (Nos 9 and 10).
(Right) A photo kindly supplied by Ron Powney which shows
No 3 Council Houses, Chequers Lane. The house building
appears to be almost complete - only the garden, gate and
fence need to be finished.
1920 Electoral Register
CLAXTON, William and Edith. Chequers Inn’
THRUSSELL, Thomas. ‘Sadleirs End’
DAY, Walter and Jemima
NASH Frederick
JENKINS, Ernest and Elizabeth
PALMER, James
1925 Electoral Register
ANDREWS, Frederick and Daisy, ‘Chequers Inn’
THRUSSELL, Thomas and Charlotte, ‘Sadleirs End’
CRAWLEY, Robert and Louisa, Arthur 1
ROLFE, Thomas and Ethel 2
PALMER, Arthur James and Alice Maud 4
HALL, Samuel and Lily 5
ARLIDGE, Albert Thomas and Cecilia
GARNER, Sidney James and May Elizabeth
PETERS, Walter
SHARP, Herbert and Emily
SMITH, Louisa Jane
WEBSTER, Laura
The Council Houses - from a postcard dated around the mid-to-late 1920s
Chequers Lane Nos.1 & 2
Chequers Lane Nos.3 & 4
Chequers Lane Nos. 5 to 8
Chequers Lane Nos. 9 & 10
Chequers Lane Nos. 11 & 12
1931 Electoral Register
ANDREWS, Frederick and Daisy, ‘Chequers Inn’
THRUSSELL, Thomas and Charlotte, ‘Sadleirs End’ ?
PALMER, Arthur James (roadman) and Alice Maud (nee Thrussell) 4
HALL, Samuel and Lily 5
GARNER, Sidney James and May Elizabeth
PETERS, Walter (traveller) and ‘Delphie (nee Heathorn)
FREEMAN, Reuben George and Bessie with Elizabeth and Eva Tristram 10 ?
SHARP, Herbert and Emily, with Walter and Lawrence Herbert 11
SMITH, Louisa Jane
WEBSTER, Laura
LONGLEY, Alfred and Caroline
PASSINGHAM, Margaret Helen
FITZJOHN, Elizabeth
Known occupants of Chequers Lane Nos 1 - 12 from 1931 - 1950
MARDELL, Francis and Leslie (1948 to c1966) 1
STONE, Charles (1942) 2
SHARP, Leonard (1943) 3
PALMER, Arthur and Alice 4
LONGLEY, Caroline (1939 - 5
WALKER, Frederick and Alice (1940 - 6
HAMMOND, Monica (1944) 7
JENKINS, Dick and Kathleen (1948 - 2011) 8
WRAY, Frank and Margaret (1932 - 1937) 9
WOODHAMS, Bill and Mary (1940 - 9
FREEMAN, Reuben George and Bessie 10
PETERS, Walter (1932)
Occupants of Chequers Lane Nos 1 - 12 from 1951 (All dates are approximate)
1 1951 MARDELL, Francis and Leslie 1971 WOODHAMS, Brian, Gillian and Rachel.
1995 WOODWARD, Stephen and Lynda
2 1951 PETERS, William and Florence 1995, YELLAND, John and Kim 2001 BEAMON, Ivor and
Patricia
3 1951 SHARP, Percy and Lily. 1981 - 2001 CHRISTMAS, Sidney and Jessie
4 1951 PALMER, Arthur and Alice. 1991 BLAIR, Graeme and GRANVILLE, Claire
5 1951 LONGLEY, Caroline and BRYAN, Clarice. 1955 BRYAN, Clarice and ROBINSON, Dennis
6 1951 WALKER, Frederick and Alice 1966 WALKER, Frederick and FRIEL, Lorna 1971 FRIEL,
Lorna
7 1951 HAMMOND, Kenneth and Evelyn 1981 WELCH, Robert and Rosalind
8 1951 JENKINS, Richard and Kathleen
9 1951 WOODHAMS, Bill and Mary 1991 HILL, Colin and Mary
10 1951 FREEMAN, Reuben and Joyce
11 1951 SHARP, Herbert 1966 CURRELL, Alec and Sylvia 1987 EPHGRAVE, Alan Martin and
Barbara 2001 RAFFE, Anthony and LOWREY, Catherine
12 1951 CRAWLEY, George and Lilian 1966 PALMER, Reuben and Maureen 1995 MARTIN,
Geoffrey & Arline.
New houses built on the north side of Chequers Lane after 1970
‘Chequers End’
‘Chequers End’ had a Reception Hall, Cloakroom, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study,
Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, 5 Bedrooms and a Playroom/Bedroom.
‘Wickets’
‘Wickets’ was built in the late 1990s. Its first occupants were Broughton, Nicholas and Annita.
‘Boundary House’
‘Boundary House’ was built in around 2000. Its first occupant was Tony Raffe.
Sadleirs End’ (aka ‘The Laurels’ in 1911)
‘Sadleirs End’ was built in the early sixteenth century and a chimney and floor were inserted in the
seventeenth century. By 1873, ‘Sadleirs End’ was part of the Temple Dinsley Estate. An extension
to the rear was added in the 1970s.
In 1910, it was described as a brick and tiled house with a sitting room, kitchen, scullery, pantry and
three bedrooms. On its land was a wood and corrugated iron stable.
Occupants of ‘Sadleirs End’ from 1881
1881 BROWN, Frank (hay dealer) and Lydia
1910 THRUSSELL, Thomas and Charlotte
1930c FREEMAN, Reubin and Eva Tristram
1949 HADFIELD, John and Phyllis
1954 BRIGGS, Harold Fawsell (retired tea planter) and Shirley Monica
1966 KERR, Philip R N and Patricia I
2001 CONSTANTINIDI, Paul and Hannah
Reuben and Joyce Freeman
Reuben Freeman (born 1905) was the son of farm labourer,
George Freeman, who lived at Sootfield Green. Reuben
married Eva Tristram Tuley in 1929. The couple had four
children: Joyce E M Freeman born 1930, Robin G Freeman
born 1938, Doris E Freeman born 1943, Peter R Freeman born
1945.
Reuben was buried at St Martins,
Preston on 10 April 1976.
2 June 1939
