Tracing the history of Preston’s cottages
Given the existence of records, it is possible to trace details of homes through history.
The relevant records for Preston are those for manors, the wills of local folk, indentures, early
censuses and maps, together with explanatory awards, which are like snapshots of who lived where
at a specific time.
In the case of the manor of (Temple) Dinsley, these are the surviving manorial records:
1641 - 1652: a full record of court hearings
A complete summary of fines for property transactions in 1664
A precis of property transactions between 1664 and 1718
A complete summary of fines for property transactions in 1715
1677 - 1732: a full record of court hearings
A fragmented summary of fines for transactions between 1719 and 1782 - there is a
twenty-eight-year period between 1732 and 1761 which is augmented by copies of
documents albeit difficult to locate.
Complete records of court hearings from 1782 to 1922
These records can be cross-referenced with the 1811 and 1844 maps and awards and other
documents which complete the picture of the owners and many occupiers of cottages. Thus, over
almost three centuries, there is virtually a complete record of the history of Preston’s homes.
The significance of these records is that specific cottages and pieces of land were assigned a set
annual rent which was payable to the Lord of the Manor. That fee varied from property to property
but, in those days of little inflation, the rent did not change over centuries. Thus, if the rent on a
property was 18/- in 1664, the rent was still 18/- in 1922. (Occasionally, a property would be split into
parts and each part carried a fee, the sum of which was the same as the fee of the original property.)
This makes tracing the history of home-ownership at Preston feasable.
The same point is made in The Common Stream by Rowland Parker, which is a fascinating historical
study of the Cambridgeshire village of Foxton. In it he explains how the history of individual houses
can be examined. If the tithe maps and awards of the nineteenth century are used as a starting point,
it is possible to work back using manorial records. He notes that the researcher is helped as the rents
of homes ‘remained unchanged for centuries’.
In the case of Preston, there are two historical maps that show each home in detail and have an
accompanying award which notes owners and occupiers: a) 1811 - 1816, with an award and also a
matching valuation in 1825 and b) the tithe map and award of 1844.
The manorial records sometimes mention the tenants in properties at a given time, and these may
often be married with the census details and the notes on the map awards so that the cottages in the
manorial records may be identified.
An example of tracing the history of a cottage at Preston
We will take as an example two cottages on Preston Green which are still standing and with which
folk who know Preston will be familiar:
This is an extract from the Temple Dinsley manorial court record dated 6 December 1797. It notes the
death and will of Daniel Joyner and two of his bequests:
Thus, Daniel Joyner left a house at Preston Green to Elizabeth English, wife of John, rent 6d and
another to Sarah Andrew, wife of James, rent 6d.
Next, we compare the Map of Preston Green 1811 - 1816 and its award:
So, the Andrews’ family inherited what is known today as Laburnum Lodge (144) and the English’s
were bequeathed the adjoining house (145).
Now that we have identified the cottages, and know that each of their annual rents was 6d (see the
first extract above), we can work back through the manorial records to see who owned them in earlier
times.
These cottages were the property of the Joyner family throughout the eighteenth century and were
referred to as ‘two tenements and orchard at Preston’ on 13 October 1773. They had been combined
in the ‘Survey of Temple Dinsley rents 1715’, when their rent was 1/- and they were owned by John
Joyner and Daniel Joyner before him.
There is no record of these properties in the 1664 Survey of the Manor of Temple Dinsley, so it may
be inferred that these homes were built between 1664 and 1715, possibly by Daniel Joyner. However,
I note that it has recorded that there is a spine beam in Laburnum Lodge dated 1653. One wonders
whether this date been correctly read or might the beam have been used in another building and re-
used in Laburnum Lodge later?
Taking the Swain family back another generation?
There is an article about the Swains of Preston at this link: Early Swains. It begins with Edward
Swain who died in 1752. There has been a considerable debate among Swain watchers about the
identity of Edward’s father. This may be settled as a result of this examination of manorial records.
The first mention of Edward Swain in manorial records is in 1691:
So, Edward purchased a one-acre field called Todds before 18 June 1691 from John Godfrey. This
indicates an association of Edward with Preston from around that time. (He bought his home at what
is known today as the Red Lion between 1701 and 1704.) Edward was to bequeath this field to his
son, John. Its location known: Link: Todds
However, another Swain appears in the manorial record - Stephen Swain. The following holding of
property is noted from the ‘Survey of Temple Dinsley Rents 1715’:
Stephen and Edward Swain are also both noted in the ‘Rentals from 1761’:
On the basis of this, were Stephen and Edward Swain related. Was Stephen, Edward’s father?
There is a record of an Edwardus Swaine, son of Stephanus and Maria, being baptised at Stevenage
on 29 August 1669. (Stevenage is around three miles from Preston.)
If this was the Stephen mentioned in the Dinsley records, he would have been about 71 in 1715.
Probably the best way to confirm this is to obtain Stephen’s will. But a brief search suggests it does
not indicate exist. Perhaps a more fruitful search can be made when next at Hertfordshire Archives.
The antiquity of the Red Lion, Preston
The article about the Red Lion written by another and which is featured on this web site states, ‘The
history of the two cottages which now form the Red Lion can be traced back at least to the beginning
of the 18th century. The Manor Court Rolls of Temple Dinsley record a series of transactions during the
century, for in 1710 William King acquired the larger house from Richard Deamer.’
From my research, I believe that manorial records indicate that the Red Lion is considerably older.
The property trail begins with the Manorial Court of Temple Dinsley dated 25 April 1811. The record
notes a sale of property from Stephen Swain to Joseph Saunderson, thus:
This relates to the sale of the Red Lion with its associated three acres of land that stretched around to
Back Lane. The rent for this property was 18/-. In the Manorial Records, there is no other property
with a rent of 18/- - it is unique. Moreover, when transactions about this property are recorded, there
can be no doubt that they are referring to the same piece, as will be seen.
The ‘Survey of Temple Dinsley Rents 1715’ shows this item :
Note that the rent is 18/-, but the previous owner was not William King (as stated in the article) but
Leonard King.
There was another transaction involving Edward Swain and Leonard King in 1710 - but note the
wording:
The transaction of the Red Lion propertry, however, took place in 1704 between Edward and
Leonard King:
With this information, one can trace the history of the Red Lion back still further. The ‘Survey of the
Manor of Temple Dinsley’ dated 1664’ recorded this property again with a rent of 18/-:
The link with transactions between John Riches and Leonard King is clear:
The extract noted above is dated 20 October 1673. It refers to the same property held by John Riches
and in the right margin it adds, ‘now Ed(ward) Swain’s’. Note that John Riches was taxed for two
hearths in 1662.
This means that the two cottages that comprise the Red Lion were built before 1664 - fifty
years earlier than previously thought.
Attention is drawn to this news advertisement dated July 1847:
Just how old was the Red Lion to be called ‘that old-established public house’ in 1847? Pigot’s
Directory of Hertfordshire has an entry of the inn at Preston in 1832.
Summary of Temple Dinsley Manorial records re: Preston 1664 - 1788
A survey of the Manor of Temple Dinsley - 21 April 1664
At Preston
1) Thomas Browne – a house on Preston Green and orchard. Rent: £1 7s 4d (previously held by
Dennis Browne until 15 April 1663)
2) Edward King – two tenements and an orchard. Rent: 6/-
3) Henry Gadlinstock – one tenement in Preston and orchard. Rent: 7/- (Previously held by William
Clark until 15 April 1663)
4) John Ritches – one tenement and orchard with three acres of pasture. Rent: 18/-
5) David Clements – one tenement. Rent: 1/8d
6) George Andrews – one tenement. Rent: 1/8d
7) Richard Whiteley – one tenement and orchard. Rent: 4d
8) Samuel Carter – part of one barn. Rent: 4d
9) John Carrington – one tenement. Rent 4d
10) John Farr – one tenement and orchard and three acres. Rent: 1/-
11) Widow Bowse – two tenements. Rent: 4/-
12) Widow Hurst – two tenements, two orchards – no rent - and six acres: Rent: 3/8d
13) John Godfrey – one messuage, an orchard and forty acres of wood pasture and arable.
Rent: 15/-
14) Widow Browne – three acres and an orchard. Rent 1/-
Freeholders who paid rent
15) Widow Simson – one house and orchard. Rent 1/-
16) John Ritches - two tenements and orchard. Rent 1p
Property transfers after 1664
To Henry Godlinstock, a messuage in Preston surrendered by William Clark (15 April 1663) Fine £1
To Thomas Browne a messuage on Preston Green called the ‘Homehouse’ from Dennis Browne.
(15 April 1663) Fine £5
To Hester Smith (Godlinstock) a messuage in Preston from Henry Godlinstock (20 March 1664)
£1 10/-
To William Smith a messuage in Preston from Hester Smith (20 March 1664) £1 10/-
To Thomas Browne and wife Elizabeth, from himself Thomas Browne, a messuage and part of yard
in Preston. (11 Jan 1665) £1
To John Bowstred, a messuage at Preston inherited after death of mother, Frances Bowstred.
(11 Jan 1665) 18/-
To Robert King, one messuage; cottage and parcel of an orchard at Preston Green descended from
brother Edward King. (11 Jan 1665) (now held by William Joyner) £4 10/-
To John Izard, a messuage and three acres of land and pasture at Preston from John Farr
(11 Jan 1665) £4 5/-
To John Andrew, a messuage at Preston descended from his father John Andrew (11 Jan 1665) £1
To Thomas Oakley and wife Alice, a messuage on Preston Green from William Smith
(8 Oct 1670) £1 + £2
To John Clifford and wife Mary, a messuage on Preston Green from Richard Wheatley.
(1 Feb 1670) £1 10/-
To John Ritches and son John Ritches a messuage and a close of three acres in Preston
descended from his father John Ritches. 20 Oct 1673) (now held by Edward Swain). £3 15/-
To Robert Browne and wife Catharine, two tenements and 16 poles in Preston from Thomas Browne
(20 Oct 1673) £2
To Michael and Henry Izard, a cottage and three acres in Preston from John Izard (25 June 1674) £9
To Richard Dearmer, message and orchard at Preston Green, from John Clifford (26 April 1677) £1
To John Godfrey, six acres at Preston from William Godfrey (26 April 1677) £2
To John Godfrey, Seven Acres Close part of Ponds Farm, Preston from John and wife Isabel Grainger
(26 April 1677) £2
To Henry Izard, cottage and three acres in Preston Green from Michael Izard (16 April 1679) £1 13/-
To John Hayward, message at Preston Green from mother, Ann Hayward (12 May 1679) £3
To Joan Farr, messuage at Preston from Thomas Browne (12 May 1679) 14/-
To Andrew Bowstred, two cottages and 16 poles at Preston Green from Robert and
Catharine Browne (20 April 1681) £1
To Robert Ship snr. a messuage and three acres of land in Preston (20 April 1681) £4
To Richard Heath a messuage and three acres of land at Preston from Robert Ship (20 April 1681) £3
To Matthew Watts one messuage, one cottage and parcel of an orchard of two rods at Preston
(now William Joyners) (20 April 1681) £4
To Grace and Mary Carrington, a messuage at Preston Green from John Carrington.
(20 April 1681) £1 5/-
To John Andrews, a messuage at Cranwells Green from dec’d father, John Andrews
(4 April 1684) £1 10/-
To John Reason, messuage at Preston Green with appurtenances, formerly held by Joan Farr and
Thomas Browne (4 April 1684) £1 5/- (Forfeited by Farr and Browne after a mortgage taken out)
To Andrew and wife Elizabeth Bowstred, cottage and 15 poles of land on Preston Green from
Andrew Bowstread (6 May 1685) 15/-
To John Joyner a messuage cottage and part of an orchard at Preston Green, from
Matthew Watts (6 May 1685) £3 10/-
To John Heath jnr a messuage cottage and part of an orchard at Preston Green from John Joyner.
(6 May 1685) £1 15/-
To Thomas Oakley, a cottage on Preston Green from David Clements ( 27 March 1690) £1 10/-
To Edward Swain, one acre of land called Todds from John Godfrey (18 June 1691) £1 10/-
To John Browne, a messuage and orchard at Preston from father Thomas Brown (18 June 1691)
£2 10/-
To John Carrington, a messuage on Preston Green from dec’d father, John Carrington
(18 June 1691) £1 17/-
To Thomas Oakley, a messuage at Cranwells Green from David Clements deceased
(18 June 1691) £1 10/-
To Mary Browne, a messuage on Preston Green in her occupation (19 May 1692) £1
To Ralph Bowstred, cottage and piece of land near Preston Green from Andrew Bowstred
(3 June 1695) £1
To John Bowstred, cottage on Preston Green on death of father (17 October 1695) £2
To Mary Heath (wife of John) for cottage on Preston Green on death of brother, John Carrington
(17 Oct 1695) £2
To John Hobbs for one messuage and closes of arable land (Pitchly) in Preston from John Godfrey
(17 Oct 1695) £30
To Anne Marshall (wife of Jeremiah) for a cottage in Cranwell Green from her father, Thomas Oakley
(31 July 1696) £1
To Christian Draper from Anne Marshall (31 July 1696)
To John Austin, three cottages at Preston from Andrew Bowstred (8 April 1697) £2
To John Ramsey, a messuage at Cranwells Green from John Andrews (19 June 1701) £1
To Alice Joyner, a message and three acres of land in Preston (previously Izards) from
Richard Heath (19 June 1701) £2 2/-
To William Joyner, a messuage and cottage and part of an orchard in Preston (previously Robert
Kings) from John Heath (19 June 1701) £1 10/-
To Anne Hanscombe (wife of James) for Horse cart and driftway in Preston on death of Ann Bell
(19 June 1701)
To Edward and Mary Swain, one messuage near Preston Green and three closes of pasture of three
acres, from Leonard King (23 June 1704) £6 10/-
To John Bowstred, a small cottage and woodhouse, from dec’d father, John Bowstred
(23 June 1704) 10/-
To Mary Browne, a cottage and 6½ rods of land near Preston Green, from Ralph Bowstred.
(23 June 1704) £1
To Leonard and Elizabeth King, a cottage at Preston Green, from Richard Dearmer (12 April 1710)
£1 17/-
To John Bowstred, for little cottage at Preston Green, from John Bowstred (12 April 1710) 15/-
To Cornelius Oakley, a messuage at Preston Green, on death of mother (12 April 1710) £3
To Thomas Welles for a cottage in Cranwells Green, late his dec’d mothers (8 July 1713) £1 17s 6d
To Leonard Ramsey a cottage at Cranwell Green, on father’s death (8 July 1713) £1 16/-
To Sir James Read, relief on his death re: house and land at the lower end of Cranwell Green
(8 July 1713)
Relief (a levy charged when heirs took over property) to William King on death of father, Leonard King
(8 July 1713)
Relief to Daniel Joyner on father’s death (8 July 1713) (Now his son, John’s)
Relief to Edward Brooks for purchase from John Cresis (sic - Creasey)
Survey of Temple Dinsley rents 1714
Sir James Read
Thomas Papworth, Gent
...and 4 acres and pightley bought of Mr Rayner
Mr Bell now Hanscombe
...and a tenement
John Gotheridge (on the hill), previously of Bell
Edward Swain, previously of John Godfrey
John Burr, previously of John Bigg
William Joyner, previously of John Heath
....and for his five acres
Mary Browne, widow
John Austin, previously of Bowstred
Widow Browne, previously of Bowstred
John Hobbs, previously of Godfrey
John Gotheridge, previously of Godfrey
Cornelius Oakley
Edward Swain, previously of Leonard King
William King, previously of Leonard King
Edward Brooks previously ofCresy
Thos Wells previously of Draper
John Heath previously of Carrington
John Bowstred
George Bowstred, previously of widow Bowstred
Alice Joyner previously of Richard Heath
John Joyner previously of Daniel Joyner
Stephen Swain previously of Widow Heath
More Stephen Swain
Mary Sutton previously Richard Dearmer
Leonard Ramsey previously John Ramsey
4d
£1 2s 1d
1s 8d
14s 10d
4d
1s 0d
8d
1d
6s 0d
8s 0d
£1 1s 0d
4s 6d
1s 6d
7s 2d
3s 7d
7s 0d
18s 0d
2s 4d
1d
1s 8d
4d
3s 0d
1s 0d
1s 4d
1s 0d
6d
4d
4d
1s 8d
To John Bowstead for a cottage at Preston (8 June 1715)
To Robert Brown, a messuage on Preston Grn, on death of mother Mary Brown(10 July 1719) £4 18/-
To William and Mary Oakley, a messuage on Preston Green, from Cornelius Oakley and others
(10 July 1719) £2 10/-
To Dennis Brown, a cottage and 6 poles of land on Preston Green from mother Mary Brown
(10 July 1719) £2
To Nathaniel Hobbs for messuage and land at Preston, on death of father, John Hobbs
(3 July 1719) £54
To John Joyner a messuage and three acres at Preston on death of sister Alice Finch
(2 October 1723) £9
To Benjamin Gootheridge a messuage and three acres from John Joyner (2 October 1723) £6 15/-
To William Archer a cottage at Preston from Thomas Wells (2 October 1723) £2 5/-
To John Elmes a cottage in Preston from John Bowstred (2 October 1723) £2 5/-
To Henry Pedder a tenement and appts at Cranwell Green from William Archer (19 July 1725) £2 5/-
To Thomas Field a cottage at Cranwells Green from Leonard Ramsey (13 April 1727) £3
To Henry Wheeler two cottages at Preston in will of dec’d father in law John Austin (13 April 1727) £4
To Daniel Joyner a Cottage at Preston Green from will of John Elms dec’d (9 April 1729) £3
To Anne Browne a cottage and 6 poles adjoining at Preston from dec’d husband Dennis Browne
(15 April 1730) £2 (1761 Rental – this had passed to Peter Poulter, previously of
Ann Brown’s 20 years.)
To Daniel Morgan a messuage and three acres from Benjamin Goothridge (15 April 1730)
To Edward Swain one acre called Todd’s Close at Preston on exprtn of 40 years (20 Oct 1731) £2
To John and Ann Coe a cottage on Preston Green from Henry Wheeler (1732) £4 13/-
To Thomas Crawley a house and orchard at Preston Green from father Thomas Crawley
£2 2/- (30 May 1766)
To Sarah Field a house and orchard at Cranwell Green from relative (?) William Barker ?
(3 Feb 1768)
To ? Newman, house, barn, stable and 1 acre of pasture and orchard from late father, John Newman
(24 May 1769)
To Edward Single from Sarah Field as above £2 (1 Nov 1770)
To Daniel Joyner a tenement at Preston Green on expiration of 40 years (1 Nov 1770) £3
To Joseph Pedder a tenement at Cranwell Green after death of father (25 Oct 1771) £5 5/-
To Stephen Swain a messuage and three closes of three acres from his father (25 Oct 1771) £8
To James Joyner two tenements and orchard at Preston from his father, Daniel Joyner
(13 Oct 1773) £7
To John Turner a messuage, barn, etc and three closes of land at Preston, late John Morgans
(6 Nov 1778) £9 9/-
To Joseph Pedder house, barn and orchard at Preston Green from Thomas Crawley
(6 Nov 1778) £3 10/-
To John Brown a house at Preston Green from mother Ann Brown (6 Nov 1778) 3 3/-
To Joseph Pedder a messuage at Preston Green (22 Oct 1788) £3 10/-
