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1913: Dulcote for Sale
 

The "Prequel" . . .

 

Charles Tudway 

 During Georgian times, the Tudway family of Wells began acquiring land and tenements in the village of Dulcote.  It seems to have begun with Charles Tudway (1713-1770) and burgeoned during the lifetime of Clement Tudway (1734-1815).   Although their land interests were in no way limited to Dulcote, they systematically acquired virtually all the land in Dulcote throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.  

The blueprint for this land acquisition was outlined clearly for future generations in the nearly 11,000 word will of Clement Tudway in 1803 which reads more like an inventory of a real estate empire, complete with its long-term business plan.  With no male heirs, Clement Tudway specifically and legally directed his nephews John Paine Tudway, Clement Tudway, Francis Drake, and Clement Drake on how to maintain and increase their land and how to ensure that this land would stay within the family.  Furthermore, the land in their possession was only theirs to use for the duration of their lives.  Clement Tudway had a plan for future succession as well.  While Tudway women received generous cash settlements in Tudway wills (providing they relinquished any land claims they had), Tudway men were entrusted to possess the freehold, copyhold and leasehold estates for the span of their lifetimes and upon their deaths the land went to the next male heir specified.  Furthermore, Clement Tudway directed that his nephews and subsequent male heirs should take every opportunity to purchase any of the copyhold or leasehold estates as the laws of ownership changed to make private ownership more possible.  Thus, through Clement Tudway's brilliant business strategy, this family maintained and increased their land ownership and fortune.  


What this meant for a small community such as Dulcote was that, with the exception of some minor bits of  church-controlled land, the Tudway family eventually became its sole landlord.  There is evidence that the 1870's began an expansion phase when C.C. Tudway built new cottages in Dulcote.  The following two architectural drawings developed for Tudway show fascinating detail on the plans for two of these cottages . . .

 
This architectural drawing matches descriptions of Lot 14:

 

 These several drawings show plans for a single cottage interior, (such as one of the cottages on Lot 22); also for outside ovens for a cottage (such as those described in Lots 13 and 14), and a wash-house/W.C. plan (such as those described on Lot 12) . . . 

 
Click here to enlarge drawing

Click here to enlarge drawing and view more drawings
 

 

The 1913 Auction . . .
After such a clear success with their land lordship of Dulcote, it seems so unusual for the family to then sell it all at once -- at a two-day auction in 1913 at the Guildhall in Wells!    At the time of the sale, the land was owned by one person -- Charles Clement Tudway.  It was perhaps significant that C.C. Tudway was the last in the male-line of the Tudway name and that thenceforth the family name was honoured and maintained by future generations through the hyphenated name of Tudway-Quilter.   And, according to his grandson, David Tudway-Quilter, C.C. Tudway's motivation for the Dulcote auction was likely to free up some financial resources to support his other property investments, especially in Wells.
 

 
This map (with a small addendum) illustrates most of what was being auctioned off. and accompanied the large sale catalogue which was published prior to auction.

 

 

          
  Click here to enlarge map
 

In all, C.C. Tudway placed 78 lots on auction from Dulcote, Wellesley and surrounding area.  The whole of the village went under the hammer with two exceptions -- 1) the school chapel (given by C.C. Tudway's mother, Maria Catherine, to the villagers in 1860), and 2) the 2 semi-detached cottages beside it now known as Fountain Cottages (perhaps because there were care-taking duties that residents of one of these cottages performed for the chapel).  

The advertisement in The Wells Journal on July 4, 1913 contains the following tempting description . . . 

Important sale of Dulcote Estate, Somerset . . . extending to about 1,176 acres including Bridge, Burcott, Railway Bridge, Dulcote-Wellesley, Fountain and Mill Farms, 2 residential properties, 4 dwelling houses, 28 dwelling houses and cottages, the White Horse Inn, valuable building sites, accommodation lands, quarries, woods . . . almost entirely of rich meadow and pasture land and are noted for the excellence of their dairy produce . . . unfailing streams of pure water . . .  the arable land is free-working producing good corn and root crops. . . 1

The 18 July, 1913 Wells Journal reports in great detail on the success of the sale.  While not all of the lots were sold on the day, 60 of the 78 lots were sold for a total sum of £35,336 11s (including timber rights).  Attendance at the sale was numerous at the outset the auctioneer expressed the sentiment that he would hope that the current tenants would be able to continue to live in their residences as before.

 

Details of the Central Village of Dulcote Lots for Sale ...

 
Lot # House/ Property 1913 1913 Tenant Description and Size
old land measurement: acres (a)/roods (r)/perches (p)
1 acre = 4 roods
40 perches = 1 rood		 What Happened On the Day   On This Lot Today (2005)2 
1 Residential property Mrs. Snelgrove
1 a, 2 r, 7 p; dwelling house built of stone with tiled roof; entrance hall, dining-room, drawing-room with conservatory, morning-room, kitchen, scullery, larder and offices, 5 bedrooms, box-room, large clothes cupboard; annual rent = £16
 Mrs. Snelgrove bought it with the bid of £645 Little Fountains
and
Fontby 
2 Fully-licensed Inn -- White Horse Inn  Mrs. Sarah Pointing
3 r, 24 p; dwelling house is built of stone with tiled roof; parlour, tap-room, cellar, kitchen, larder, W.C, 4 bedrooms; outbuildings are stone -- stables for 7, pigsty, trap-house, garden, meal-house and store; annual rent = £18
 Mrs. Sarah Pointing bought it with the bid of £550 White  House
and
Chestnuts
3 Bridge Farm 
(including Mill Paddock; Redhill and Home Mead; Raine Mead; Reeves Ground; Lumbers Paddock; Jones Orchard; part of Barns Hay and Rickyard)		 Mr. E.J. Frost dairy farm with 42 a, 1 r, 30 p; dwelling house has dining-room, drawing-room, kitchen, dairy; larder, cellar, scullery, offices, 6 bedrooms, cheese-room and box-room; stables for 4; implement shed; cow-stalls; root-house; piggeries; cellar with loft over; apportioned rent = £74 The property was withdrawn from auction due to low bidding (£1925, not accepted) Bridge Farm
4 Mill Farm- 
(including agricultural buildings with water mill and several closes of grass and orchard land -- formerly west mill site)		 -- 29 a, 2 r, 36 p; dwelling house converted to 2 cottages but did contain sitting room, kitchen, scullery, dairy, office, 5 bedrooms; cow-stalls; iron hay-house; cider-house; cellar or meal-house; attached to mill house is an undershot water-wheel with shafting attached and the existing water rights on River Sheppey included; apportioned rent - £57 10s.   the farm was bought by Messrs. Pointing Brothers with their bid of £1200 Mill Farm
5 Mill House 
(including  ornamental lawn, garden, pasture, mill ponds and water rights (formerly east mill site)		 Mr. Albert Catley and 
Mr. E.J. Frost		 8 a, 1 r, 27 p; dwelling house is built of stone with tiled roof; entrance hall, dining-room, drawing-room, morning-room, kitchen, scullery, larder and offices, 4 bedrooms, bathroom with hot and cold water; box-room; outbuildings: Linhay with loose box; 3 pigsties; wood-shed; remnants of leather-board mill; apportioned rent = £47 10s the house was bought by Mr. Albert Catley with his bid of £750 Mill House
and 
South Mill
6,7  Fountain Farm (including Court Furlong, Shoal Board, Tinnings, and Cold Harbour) Mr. T. C. Scott #6=32 a, 1 r, 29 p; #7= 16 a 2 r 38p;dwelling house with dining-room, drawing-room, kitchen, dairy, scullery, and furnace-house, 5 bedrooms, and cheese-room; cow-stalls for 26 cows; 2 piggeries; barn; stables for 3;  calves-house; hay-house; trap-house; wagon-house; apportioned annual rent = £73 lots 6 and 7 were bought by Mr. E.J.T.James with his bid of £2350 Fountain Farm 
and 
Fountain Farm House 
and
 The Byre
and
  Orchard House
     and    
Hillside House
8,9 Pasture Land 
(including Great Furlong, Cold Harbour)		 Mr. T.C. Scott  #8= 11 a, 2 r, 2 p; #9= 9 a 10 p; abutting the road to Shepton Mallet and the River Sheppey and farmed as part of Fountain Farm; combined annual rents = £72 #8 was bought by Mr. Wainwright on behalf of Mr. A.F. Somerville of Dinder for £650

#9 was not bought at the auction but was later bought for £380 by Mr. T.C. Scott

  
10 Dulcote Farm 
(including Gaston Farmers, The Rushes, Bull Close, Slappery, Long Ham, Scarlet Withys, Yeos Mead, Rushes)		 Mr. E.J.T. James 101a, 33p; large and convenient farmhouse with drawing room, dining-room, kitchen, dairy, scullery, cellar, larder, offices, 6 bedrooms and a cheese-room; cart house; stabling for 4 horses; large barn, cow-stalls for 29; more cow-stalls for 13; poultry house; trap-house; 3 piggeries; furnace-house; wagon-house; shed; annual rent = £215 Mr. W. Stiling bought this farm with his bid of £4000 Sallowfield
and
Anton House
(Catamine)
and
Manor Barn
and
Manor Farm
and
Walnut Cottage
11 Railway Bridge Farm (including Willing Games, Poor Close, Pt. Hyde and Palmers, Hill End) Mr.R. Pointing and 
J. W. Pointing and 
Mr. E.J.T. James		 51a, 3r, 3p; situated adjoining the railway at Dulcote; dwelling house is in good repair and contains sitting room, dairy, kitchen, furnace house, store-house, offices, 6 bedrooms, and cheese-room. Also wagon-house, store-house; piggeries; stables for 2 horses; wood-house; poultry-house; cow-stalls for 13, Linhay, root-house and barn; annual rent £131 this farm was bought privately after the auction by Mr. F. Frost for £2475  Dulcote House
and
Meadow Cottage
12 Semi-detached Cottages 
(with large gardens)		 Charles Angel and G.P. Stone 3r, 5p; located in the centre of the village; cottage are stone-built with tiled roofs with sitting room, kitchen, pantry, 3 bedrooms; two wash-houses and w.c.'s; annual rent £16 19s. Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £245 Highfield
13 Cottages 
(semi-detached, with large gardens)		 Mr. S. Buxton and 
Mr. H. Turner		 2r, 18p; houses face the road and contain kitchen, back kitchen with furnace, pantry, coal cellar, 3 bedrooms. annual rent £14 16s Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £235 Highfield
14 Cottages 
(semi-detached, with large gardens)		 Mr. J.Williams and  
Mr.E.J.T.James 
(or under-tenants)		 2r, 3p; in the centre of the village; contain kitchen, back kitchen with furnace, pantry, coal cellar, 3 bedrooms. annual rent £13 10s Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £245 The Poplars 
15 Cottages 
(semi-detached, with large gardens)		 Mr. T.C.Scott
and
Mr.E.J.T.James
(or under-tenants)		 2r, 9p; cottages are stone-built with tiled roofs containing kitchen, scullery with furnace and oven, three bedrooms and 2 separate W.C.'s in rear; rent annually is £10 8s NOT SOLD Fountain Farm Cottages 
and
Withy Cottage
16 Cottages 
(semi-detached, with large gardens)		 Mr. Jasper Snook
and 
Mr. Neill		 2r, 17p; cottages are stone-built with thatched roofs containing sitting room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms and garden and detached W.C.'s at rear; annual rent is £11 4s NOT SOLD Baytree 
and 
Holmlea
17 Cottages 
(semi-detached, with large gardens)		 Mr.E. Williams
and
Mr.C.Doddin		 35p; cottages are stone-built with thatched roofs containing kitchen, pantry, and one bedroom on the one side and kitchen, back kitchen with furnace and two bedrooms on the other; annual rent is £10 8s NOT SOLD  Merryhills
and
Sunnyvale (Chellbar)
and 
Rose Cottage
18 Garden /Orchard Mr. George Oatley 2r, 39p; located next to Scarlet Withies Road in Dulcote; annual rent is £1 NOT SOLD  
19 3 Cottages 
(with gardens)		 Mr.F.J.Oately,
Mr. George Oatley
and
Mr.Harry Marshall		 1 r, 36p; situated on Scarlet Withies Road in Dulcote at the Well Head; 2 semi-detached cottages are stone built with thatched roofs and kitchen, scullery and 2 bedrooms; other cottage is stone built with tiled roofs with entrance passage, parlour, kitchen, scullery and 3 bedrooms; annual rent combined is £17 14s Mr. G.W. Wheeler bought all 3 cottages with his bid of £145 Hill House Cottage
20 Orchard Mr.R.Pointing
and
Mr. J.W.Pointing		 1a, 13p; apple orchard; annual rent is £4 (no buildings) bought after the auction by Mr. G.W. Wheeler for £70 Rosewood
21 Pasture/ Orchard Mr.R.Pointing
and
Mr. J.W.Pointing		 4a, 20p; situated on the road to Warminster; part of Railway Bridge Farm; 2 paddocks and one orchard; pasture land slopes towards south-west NOT SOLD Yew Trees
22 4 Cottages 
(with large gardens)		 Mr.G.Duckett
Mr.T.C.Scott x2
and
Mr.E.J.Frost		 3r,2p; two are stone-built with thatched roofs containing kitchen, wash-house, and 2 bedrooms; 2 nearest the railway bridge are stone-built with tiled roofs containing kitchen, pantry, coal-house and 2 bedrooms; annual rent is £23 8s.  NOT SOLD Pax Cottage
and
Malford
and
The Willows

1  The Wells Journal, "Sales by Auction" Friday, July 4, 1913.
2 Some of the homes on these lots today are original to the sale, others have been renovated or newly-built since 1913.

 

What might also be of further interest is the sale outcome of some of the other notable Dulcote area landmarks as well . . . 

Twinhills Woods and pastureland at Wellesley was sold to Mr. M.H. Stead of Glastonbury

Scarlet Withies with cottage, along with 5 other lots were sold to the Somerset County Council

Strawberry Wood was bought by Mr. W.J. Taylor of Midsomer Norton

woodlands such as Culvers Brow, King's Castle Woods, Steep Holm Wood and Lyatt by Mr. H. Wills of Wrington

two lots next to East Horrington were bought by the County Asylum Committee

Hyde Park, Tor Hill Wood, Tor Hill Quarry and the old Turnpike Cottage were all unsold