Site map
A History of Preston in Hertfordshire
Hitchwood - its cottages and inhabitants
Introduction
The two maps shown below summarise the history of the cottages at Hitchwood during more than two
centuries:
School Lane
St Albans Highway
Lane
aka Jacks Hill
Hitchwood Lane
Map 1881
Hitchwood Lane
Lane
As the map dated 1971 shown above illustrates, there were now six homes at Hitchwood. It mirrors
an earlier 1922 map of Hitchwood Cottages, and helpfully includes the cottages’ numbers. Note the
middle property is now Hitchwood Cottage (singular) - during the 19thC it was divided into two
homes. This explains the numbering of the cottages. When 1 & 2 were built in 1913, and 5 to 7
before 1922, the two homes in the middle were considered to be Nos 3 & 4
(aka 3 & 4)
Hitchwood Cottage(s) (3 & 4)
Early maps show that there were no buildings in this part of Hitchwood
before 1840. Indeed the triangle created by the road and a lane, was
woodland in 1766 as Drury and Andrews’ map portrays (shown right):
Later detailed maps from 1811 and from around 1840, indicate that
some of the land had been cleared, and a new field (aptly called ‘Three
Corners’) created. Note also that the 1811 tithe map depicts three strips
of land, the outlines of which can still be seen today, though now taken
up by homes and gardens.
1811 Tithe Map
Map c1840
Plot 164 was owned and occupied by William Swain in 1811. Plot 1614 was part of the Dashwood
Estate in 1840 and occupied by J Buckingham.
The 1841 census, which was taken on 5 June 1841, appears to record two families living in the
property which what was consistently called Hitchwood Cottages in the 19thC. During almost a
century, two generations of the Andrews family lived in one half of the house until 1991 - which
makes it easier to interpret the succeeding censuses.
William
Sarah
William
James
George
Emma
Eliza
Daniel
Hannah
Jane
Charles
Martha
Lucy
Thomas
ANDREWS
nee PALMER
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
born c1813
born c1813
born c1834
born c1836
born c1838
born c1840
born c1841
born c1844
born c1845
born c1846
born c1848
born c1850
born c1852
born c1856
- married at Hitchin -
18 Oct 1834
- married at Hitchin
18 Feb 1855
Eliza
William
Martha
George
Thomas
Emma
Lucy
James
Mary Ann
nee CURRELL
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
ANDREWS
The other half of the house was occupied by John and Eliza Shaw (1851 and 1861); William and
Emma Ward (1881); John Palmer (1891) and Arthur Palmer (1911).
In 1891 and 1911, it was revealed that the families lived in four rooms - two up; two down. From the
floor plan of the existing house, the living room measured around 12 ft x 6 ft and the two bedrooms,
and the two bedrooms, 6 ft x 6ft each. ‘Cramped’, hardly describes the accommodation. In 1861, the
Andrews household consisted of two adults and six children, and the Shaws, three adults and six
children. Hitchwood Cottage today has been amalgamated into one home and has been extended by
a ground floor area of roughly fifteen feet.
Most houses at Preston which were built before 1913 are listed properties. Hitchwood Cottage is not
listed - an advantage when considering structural changes. An examination of the cottage’s brickwork
reveals that much of this has clearly been rebuilt and, apart from the ground floor extension, the walls
are solid brick.
In 1898, the map shown above was created as part of an Inland Revenue review. This included a
description of one of the two homes - they were brick and (roof) tiled cottages in fair repair. They had
a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms,and a bathroom. In 1910, 3795 was occupied by Robinson,
while the Andrews family were residing in 3796. Both cottages had been owned by the Earl of
Strathmore, as well as the land marked 3811. There are two pencilled notes stating that (Hugh)
Seebohm (of Poynders End) had purchased the three plots by 1910.
Hitchwood Cottages (1 & 2)
In 1913, Edwin Lutyens designed two estate cottages for Mr H. G. Fenwick along Hitchwood Lane.
They were associated with Home Farm (now Ladygrove) and are listed buildings (Historic England
(Grade II, List Entry 1176749).These are semi-detached with a joint outhouse/wash-house, which has
door and window.
Being of storey with an attic block, they are built with a narrow red brick with lighter red bricks around
the windows and at the corners of the buildings. The gable ends and south side are tile hung and the
cottages has a steep roof of red tiles. There is a large central chimney which has recessed panels and
a waisted top. The flush casement windows have small panes with wide glazing bars.
On the north side, there is a recess in the middle of the cottages which is filled by a first floor window
for both. Also on this side is a moulded plank front door set in a heavy frame. The cottages had a
living room, kitchen, scullery, larder and three bedrooms. On 18 September 1945 they were sold as
part of the Minsden estate.
Hitchwood Cottages (5, 6 & 7)
In 1910, Hugh Seebohm of Poynders End bought the plot of pasture, 3811, according to a pencilled
note in the 1910 Inland Revenue Valuation Survey. He then had Nos 5 - 7 Hitchwood Cottages
(below) built before 1921 in a style that attempted to complement Lutyen’s cottages in the area.
Folk who lived in Hitchwood Cottages from 1914 to 2004
William Jenkins (son of William and Minnie) was born in the summer of 1895. He joined the
Bedfordshire Regiment, First Battalion and was killed at the end of the War on 20 November 1918
(aged 23). He was buried at Etaples and is featured on Hitchin’s War Memorial.
Lawrence Henry Peters was born in the late autumn of 1896, the son of Thomas (a horse-keeper in
1911) and Martha (nee Andrews). He volunteered in May 1915 and was sent to the Western Front as a
Private in the 12th Royal Sussex Regiment. He fought in the Battles of Ypres, Festubert, the Somme
and Cambrai. Lawrence was demobbed in March 1919 when he returned to the family home, now at
Chequers Lane. By 1925, he had moved to the Hitchwood area and in the spring of 1924, he married
Nora E Hoggett at Newmarket.
Ernest Ball was the grandson of William Andrews. Ernest was born at Burgess Hill, Sussex in 1888c.
In 1911, he was a bricklayer living at Hitchwood Cottages. He served as a Private with the 1st Battalion
of the South Wales Borders (Reg No. 44364) and received the Victory and Star medals. Ernest was
killed in action at Flanders, France on 10 September 1917. He is not included on the Hitchin War
Memorial.
John Garner was born in 1889, the horse-keeper son of farm bailff George Garner who was living at
Poynders End Farm in 1911. John married Daisy Darton at St Ippollitts Church on 20 January 1912.
Three years later, a son, William Arthur Garner, was born on 15 March 1915 when John and Daisy
were living at Hitchwood Cottages. John enlisted at Bedford on 5 December 1915 as a Private in the
Northamptonshire Regiment (Reg No 25565). There is a lengthy record of his service online which
includes his time with the 1st Yorks and Lancs Regiment (31852); promotion to Lance Corporal and
three months leave from June to September 1916 to recover from injuries to his left ankle and right leg
(which resulted in 30% disablement). He was demobbed on 3 July 1919 with a pension and the Victory
and British medals.
Percy Sharp was living at Poynders End when he joined the 23rd (Duke of Cambridge’s) Middlesex
Regiment as a Private (Reg No 20249). He received the Victory and the British medals. In 1929, he
and his wife Lucy were living at Hitchwood Cottages
Men associated with Hitchwood Cottages who fought during World War 1
1921 census entries for Hitchwood Cottages
1919 & 1920 folk living at Hitchwood Cottages
Lily Ball in 1919
Ezra Boston in 1919,1920; and Daisy in 1920
John and Daisy Garner 1919, 1920; with William in 1920
William, Minnie, Herbert and Phyllis Jenkins (my great aunt) in 1919, 1920
Leonard, Hubert Thomas and Eliza Peters in 1919, 1920
1922 to 1930 folk living at Hitchwood Cottages
Ezra and Daisy Boston in 1922 and 1923
William (George) Garner in 1922 to 1930; joined by Nellie in 1925 to 1930
William and Minnie Jenkins in 1922 to 1930; joined by Cecil in 1923 to 1924 and Arthur in 1924 to 1930
and Laurence in 1929 and 1930.
William Marshall and John Murphy in 1922 to 1924; William only in 1925 to 1930
Leonard, Hubert Thomas and Eliza Peters in 1922 to 1930; joined by Lawrence Henry in 1924 to 1930
and William James in 1926 to 1930
Percy Sharp in 1922 to 1930; joined by Lucy Jane Loveday in 1929 and 1930
Frederick Walker in 1922 to 1930; joined by Alice in 1926 to 1930
George Henry, Emily Lavinia, Isabella and Norah Eleanor Peters in 1930
1931 to 1938: folk living at Hitchwood Cottages who sent children to Preston School
Norah Peters - 1934
John William Pretty - 1936
Patrick Bird - 1937
Frederick Whiting -1938
Frank Collard - 1938
Edward Walter Pitcher - 1941
James Henry Gunner - 1942
George Andrews - 1944
H J Cailes - 1946
R Kelloway - 1947
The September 1939 Register: people living at Hitchwood Cottages
1941 to 1947: residents living at Hitchwood Cottages who sent children t0 Preston School
1951 to 2004: occupants of Hitchwood Cottages
Alfred and Rose Kelloway - 1951
Charles and Joyce E Willingham - 1951 (No 2)
Minnie Jenkins - 1951 and 1956 (No 3)
James and Lilian Phyllis Affleck - 1951 and 1956 (No 5)
Ian and Margaret M McEwan - 1951 (No 6)
Hubert T and Eliza Peters with James A - 1951 and 1956 (No 7)
Dennis and Margaret G Mayzes - 1956 (No 2)
Ernest A and Elsie Smith - 1956 (No 4)
Stanley W and Eleanor G Mower - 1956 (No 6)
Daniel and Beryl A Elding - 1961 (No 1)
Percy, Peter and Ena B Wilden -1961 (No 2)
Norman E J and Ruby Masters - 1961 - 1971 Hitchwood Cottage. Only Norman in 1966. He and
Katherine M Masters in 1971.
Robin E and Evelyn W West - 1961 (No 5)
Charles H T and Susanna Ashby - 1961 (No 6)
George and Daisy Bell - 1966 (No 1)
Edward and Iris Davis - 1966 (Also No 1)
Peter G D and Doreen H Rogers and Eliza King - 1966 (No 2)
Richard and Eileen M Day - 1966 (No 5)
John A and Linda R Rixon - 1966 (No 2)
Denis W and Valerie M Smith - 1971 (No2)
Bernard M and Eileen D Price-Smith - 1971 to 1981 (No 6)
Frances Davis - 1975 (No 1)
Roland G and Colleen M Thory - 1975 Hitchwood Cottage
David Drew - 1975 and 1981. Joined by Frances by 1981 until 2004 (No 7)
Edgar H and Joannah Dorrell - 1981 (No 1)
Colin E Lucas and Mary R Anderson - 1981 (No 2) Only Colin in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2004.
Chistopher Rowley, Helen N Randle and Irene E Hutchings - 1981 Hitchwood Cottage
Yvonne H Nicholson - 1981 and 1991 (No 5)
William Lawman and Olive E Southcott - 1991 (No 1)
Kenneth J, Jennifer E, Ruth V, Jane E and Sarah Murray - 1991 Hitchwood Cottage. Only Kenneth
and Jennifer in 2004
Michael A and Kirstin M Knight - 1991 (No 6)
John V and Sarah R Kearon - 1996 (No 5)
Elizabeth J Sears - 1996 and 2001 (No 6)
Colin Brackston - 2001 (No 5) Joined by Leslie S Brackston in 2004
Florence S Smith - 2004 (No 6)
This page documents the cottages of Hitchwood, Preston, and the people who lived in them from
the earliest maps to the present. It brings together maps, census entries, tithe records and
photographs to trace how the cottages were used as accommodation for local farm workers and
their families.