1913: Dulcote for Sale...
The "Prequel" . . .
Portrait of 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 . . .
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 . . .
Click on the image to enlarge this image
Blueprints which remain on record illustrate the type of cottage C.C. Tudway was designing at the height of his building projects in Dulcote in the 1870's ...
This first image is an architectural drawing matches the description of Lot 14 (see below), now known as The Poplars
Click on this image to view enlargements of the three drawings described
There several blueprints/drawings showing plans for
- a single cottage interior, (such as one of the cottages on Lot 22)
- a baking house/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 on image to enlarge map
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.
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 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 . . .
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 ... (1)
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 . . .
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 ... (1)
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Property
Lot 1 - Residential property |
Description (2)
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; occupied by Mrs. Snelgrove ( a.k.a. Little Fountains and Fontby) |
Sold to ...
Mrs. Snelgrove for bought it for £645 |
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Lot 2 - Fully-licensed Inn --White Horse Inn
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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; occupied by Sarah Pointing; (aka The White House)
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Mrs. Sarah Pointing bought it with the bid of £550
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Lot 3 - Bridge Farm
(including Mill Paddock; Redhill and Home Mead; Raine Mead; Reeves Ground; Lumbers Paddock; Jones Orchard; part of Barns Hay and Rickyard) |
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; occupied by Mr. E.J. Frost
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The property was withdrawn from auction due to low bidding (£1925, not accepted)
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Lot 4 - Mill Farm (including agricultural buildings with water mill and several closes of grass and orchard land-- formerly west mill site)
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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.
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the farm was bought by Messrs. Pointing Brothers with their bid of £1200
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Lot 5 - Mill House (including ornamental lawn, garden, pasture, mill ponds and water rights (formerly east mill site)
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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; occupied by Mr. Albert Catley and
Mr. E.J. Frost (aka Mill House and South Mill) |
the house was bought by Mr. Albert Catley with his bid of £750
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Lots 6 & 7 - Fountain Farm (including Court Furlong, Shoal Board, Tinnings, and Cold Harbour)
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#6=32 a, 1 r, 29 p; #7= 16 a 2 r 38 p; 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; occupied by Mr. T.C. Scott (aka Fountain Farm, Fountain Farm House, The Byre, Orchard House and Hillside House)
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lots 6 and 7 were bought by Mr. E.J.T.James with his bid of £2350
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Lots 8 & 9 - Pasture Land
(including Great Furlong, Cold Harbour) |
#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; occupied by Mr. T.C. Scott
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#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
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Lot 10 - Dulcote Farm
(including Gaston Farmers, The Rushes, Bull Close, Slappery, Long Ham, Scarlet Withys, Yeos Mead, Rushes) |
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; occupied by Mr. E.J.T. James (aka Sallowfield, Anton House (Catamine), Manor Barn, Manor Farm and Walnut Cottage)
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Mr. W. Stiling bought this farm with his bid of£4000
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Lot 11 - Railway Bridge Farm (including Willing Games, Poor Close, Pt. Hyde and Palmers, Hill End)
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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; occupied by Mr.R. Pointing, J. W. Pointing and Mr. E.J.T. James; (aka Dulcote House
and Meadow Cottage) |
this farm was bought privately after the auction by Mr. F. Frost for £2475
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Lot 12 - Semi-detached Cottages (with large gardens)
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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.; occupied by Charles Angel and G.P. Stone; (aka Highfield)
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Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £245
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Lot 13 - Semi-detached Cottages (with large gardens)
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2r, 18p; houses face the road and contain kitchen, back kitchen with furnace, pantry, coal cellar, 3 bedrooms. annual rent £14 16s; occupied by Mr. S. Buxton and Mr. H. Turner; (aka Highfield)
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Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £235
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Lot 14 - Semi-detached Cottages (with large gardens)
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2r, 3p; in the centre of the village; contain kitchen, back kitchen with furnace, pantry, coal cellar, 3 bedrooms. annual rent £13 10s; occupied by Mr. J.Williams and Mr.E.J.T.James (or under-tenants); (aka The Poplars)
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Mr. Griffin bought these cottages with his bid of £245
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Lot 15 - Semi-detached Cottages (with large gardens)
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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; occupied by Mr. T.C.Scott and Mr.E.J.T.James (or under-tenants); (aka Fountain Farm Cottages and Withy Cottage)
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NOT SOLD
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Lot 16 - Semi-detached Cottages (with large gardens)
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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; occupied by Mr. Jasper Snook and Mr. Neill; (aka Baytree and Holmlea)
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NOT SOLD
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Lot 17 - Cottages (semi-detached, with large gardens)
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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; occupied by Mr.E. Williams and Mr.C.Doddin; (aka Merryhills, Sunnyvale (Chellbar) and Rose Cottage
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NOT SOLD
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Lot 18 - Garden /Orchard
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2r, 39p; located next to Scarlet Withies Road in Dulcote; annual rent is £1; occupied by Mr. G. Oatley
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NOT SOLD
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Lot 19 - 3 Cottages (with gardens)
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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; occupied by Mr.F.J.Oately,Mr. George Oatley and Mr.Harry Marshall; (aka Hill House Cottage)
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Mr. G.W. Wheeler bought all 3 cottages with his bid of £145
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Lot 20 - Orchard
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1a, 13p; apple orchard; annual rent is £4 (no buildings); occupied by Mr.R.Pointing and Mr. J.W.Pointing; (aka Rosewood)
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bought after the auction by Mr. G.W. Wheeler for £70
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Lot 21 - Pasture/ Orchard
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4a, 20p; situated on the road to Warminster; part of Railway Bridge Farm; 2 paddocks and one orchard; pasture land slopes towards south-west; occupied by Mr.R.Pointing and Mr. J.W.Pointing; (aka Yew Trees)
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NOT SOLD
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Lot 22 - 4 Cottages
(with large gardens) |
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. ; occupied by Mr.G.Duckett, Mr.T.C.Scott x2 and Mr.E.J.Frost; (aka Pax Cottage, Malford and The Willows)
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NOT SOLD
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What might also be of further interest is the sale outcome of some of the other notable Dulcote area landmarks as well . . .
1 Some of the homes on these lots today are original to the sale, others have been renovated or newly-built since 1913.
2 Old land measurement:
acres/roods/perches
1 acre = 4 roods
40 perches = 1 rood
- 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
1 Some of the homes on these lots today are original to the sale, others have been renovated or newly-built since 1913.
2 Old land measurement:
acres/roods/perches
1 acre = 4 roods
40 perches = 1 rood