We are very grateful to the present owners of Wood End Cottage for their permission to reproduce the following documents. The first two photos are of the property in early summer 2009. These are followed by legal papers showing the change of ownership and name of the property over many decades since 1841 until 1973 and the acquisition of adjoining land. Some papers fortunately identify the occupants of neighbouring properties. The property was formerly known as Elthorne Cottage.


Click on any image to view an enlarged version

 

Woodend Cottage
Woodend Cottage


1942 Conveyancing Documents page 1   page 2   page 3   page 4   page 5   page 6   page 7   Map of Plot

1943 16th February - Herts & Essex Permanent Building Society mortgage to Mrs E M Clarke page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4


Date Seller Buyer Size of Plot Price
21st Apr 1877 Thomas Robinson Thomas Wright Does not say, it is mentioned in the 1913 Conveyance documents below  
30th Nov 1905 Thomas Wright Job Utteridge Does not say, it is mentioned in the 1913 Conveyance documents below  
22th Jul 1911 Job Utteridge James Bayford 27 perches
£300


Mr Utteridge is a retired foreman, of Ivy Cottage in Henham and Mr Bayford is a carrier of Henham.The area of land was 27 perches, the head of which, on the eastern side, abutted land belonging to the manor of Henham Hall and known as The Spring. The other head on the western side abutted Wood End Green. The plot had been once part of a parcel of land known as The Upper Orchard. The plot contained two cottages which were formerly occupied by James Snow, Arthur Neville and one was unoccupied but at the sale were occupied by Job Utteridge, Arthur Blackwell and recently by Arthur Neville. The plot had been a piece or parcel of land that was formerly part of the waste ground of the manor of Henham Hall but for many years since, had been enclosed. It was estimated to contain 9 roods (it lay opposite the freehold tenement that was formerly of Thomas Robinson but now of Thomas Wright) and was now in the occupation of Job Utteridge.

Mortgage between James Bayford and Harriet Margaret Patmore
The mortgage documents also records the date of 9 October 1912. They record James Bayford as being of Henham on that date and Harriet Margaret Patmore as being a widow of Stansted. The mortgage was £ 60 to be paid on the 29 September 1911 with interest meantime after at the rate of £ 5 per autumn per annum and also so long as any principal money remains due to pay Harriet interest thereon after at the same rate by equal quarterly payments on the usual quarter days. The document shows that during the term of the mortgage, the property had to be insured for a minmum of £ 250 and that the mortgage was paid off on the 9 October 1912.

1911 Conveyancing Documents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

1911 Mortgage Documents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

19 Jun 1913 James Bayford Mrs Elizabeth Alice Winter   £200

The Conveyance documents show the vendor as James Bayford of Henham and the purchaser as Elizabeth Alice Winter of 15, Danesbury Road, Feltham, Middlesex; the wife of William Winter, painter, of the same address. The sale price was £ 200. Page 3 shows the earliest record of a sale of the property, it records a conveyance dated 21st April 1877 by the vendor Thomas Robinson to Thomas Wright. On the 30th November 1905, Thomas Wright sold the property to Job Utteridge

1913 Conveyancing Documents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
23 Jan 1926 Elizabeth Alice Winter Catharine Parker Elliott Catherine Elliott buys the upper orchard (27 perches) £435

The conveyance documents show the sale for £ 435 by Mrs Elizabeth Alice Winter of Henham to Miss Catharine Parker Elliot, spinster, of 15, Ronald Park Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. It states that the property abutts to the north partly on other property of Mrs Winter and also of James Bush towards the east, and south on property now or formerly of James Bayford and towards the west on Wood End Green.

1926 Conveyancing Documents Page 1 Page 2
08 Jan 1927 James Bayford Catharine Parker Elliott Catharine Elliott (spinster buys Elthorn Cottage + 2 tenaments rented by Leonard Balden and George Turner £110


This conveyance rectifies some points of confusion concerning the precise limits of the plot which arose in the sale of 1926. Page 2 describes the sale on 8th Jan 1927 by James Bayford of 3, Riverside Cottages, Waltham Cross, Herts to Catharine Parker Elliot, spinster, of Elthorn Cottage, Henham of a piece of land for £ 110. Page 3 shows the two cottages to be occupied by Leonard Bolden and George Turner as tenants.

1927 Conveyancing Documents Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
12/04/1927 Alfred + Charles Wright Martin Baynes The Boggs was sold £250


The papers in 1958 (see below) refer to ‘the land fourthly described in the contract by conveyance made between Alfred Ernest Wright of Museum Street, Saffron Walden and Frank Charles Wright of Henham, shoemaker, both of the one part and Martin Baynes of the other part. Thomas Wright had owned the land and had died on 11th November 1915. In his will of the 21st February 1901, he had appointed Alfred and Frank as his executors. The document describes how they were conveying, for £250, that messuage or tenement formerly called or known as ‘The Boggs’ (including the outhouses, buildings, garden and ground totalling 2 roods and 33 poles) to Martin Baynes. The plot is described -

‘as being on the east side of Wood End Green, thus bound on the west by Wood End Green, bound on the north by land formerly of Thomas Wright and then of Miss Elliot and towards the east by land formerly of Sir Walter Gilbey, Baronet and then of Miss Elliot, and towards the south by the footpath leading from the Green to the allotment gardens as the said properties was then occupied by Charles Blackwell and William Sage and were delineated on the plan drawn on a Conveyance dated 8th March 1899 made between Salisbury Baxendale and the same Thomas Wright. Certificate of value £ 500.’
23/04/1932 Gilbert Elliott +
Ethel Rose Thorn		 Ethel Rose Thorn Ethel Thorn takes possession of Elthorn Cottage; apparently left in will by Catharine Elliott - does not include far orchard

Pt 1 records this Conveyance dated 23rd April 1932 from Gilbert Elliot, medical practioner and another to Ethel Rose Thorn of Elthorn Cottage, Henham. Pt 2 records that the Conveyance is between Gilbert Elliot and Ethel Rose Thorn of the first part; Dorothy Elliot, spinster, of Capanna, Hillside Road, South Benfleet of the second part; and the said Ethel Rose Thorn of the third part.

Pt 2 describes this Assent between Gilbert Elliot of 18, Palmeira Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex; medical practioner, and Ethel Rose Thorn, spinster, of Elthorn Cottage, Henham - the executors- and Ethel Rose Thorn - the devisee - consequent to the will, dated 6th March 1926, of the late Catharine Parker Elliot of Elthorn Cottage, Henham and who died on the 5th July 1931.

1932 Conveyancing Documents Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

1932 Assent Documents Page 1, Page 2

28/10/1942 Ethel Rose Thorn Elsie Clarke Elthorn Cottage sold to Elsie Clarke; became known as the White House (E M Clarke also owned property at Gainscot, Bicton Heath, Salop)


The title deeds provides details of the various transactions of the property as stated above.

1942 Title Deeds Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Part 4, Part 5,

Map of the property extracted from Ordance Survey map of 1920
Page 2 states the conveyance is for £795 from Ethel Rose Thorn of Elthorn Cottage, Henham to Elsie May Clarke, widow, of 2, Nicholl Road, Epping, Essex.

The property is to be renamed as The White House. The mortgage documents states that this is a legal charge dated 16th February 1943 made between Elsie May Clarke, widow, of  Elthorne Cottage, Henham and The Herts & Essex Permanent Building Society for a mortgage of £800 and interest over 20 years repayable at £5 12 shillings per month. Page 3 identifies the three items - the plot of land, the 2 cottages and a property in Salop. The mortgage was paid-up early by Elsie May Clarke on 26th February 1946.

Elthorne Cottage
Elthorne Lodge c 1945
04/09/1947 Ethel Rose Thorn Abstract of Title details were prepared, it shows that Job Utteridge's address is Ivy Cottage of Henham.


1947 Abstraction of Title Deeds page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4 page 5 page 6 page 7 page 8 Map

31/10/1947 Elsie May Clarke Efford Shipping Company Elsie Clarke sells Wood End Cottage + 2 rented cottages (occupied by Mr Bolden + Mr Turner) £4,000

1947 Conveyancing Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

1947 Mortgage Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Pt 2 shows Mrs Elsie May Clarke as a widow and of 40, Green Street, Cambridge. The Registered Office of The Efford Shipping Company Limited is shown as being at 7/13, Creechurch Lane, City of London. The sale is for £ 4,000 - a massive increase since the £ 795 sale price of 1942.
17/03/1949 Jim Bush died
13/12/1949 Jim Bush probate granted to E E Bush
14/11/1950 Efford Shipping Company J H West J H West buys Wood End Cottage; consists of the White House - now Wood End Cottage; there were two cottages - maybe three; one had a tenant - Jim Balden £1,400P
1950 Conveyance Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
18/02/1955 Mr M Baynes Mr J H West Strip of land 12 feet wide at front of house transferred (apparently sold and no longer part of the property) £24
09/12/1957 Emmie Elizabeth Bush J H West John West buys the orchard, Miss E E Bush also owned land that Rod's house was built on £150
13/12/1958 John West Charles Kenneth McConnan Whole package includes both houese + orchard + 12' strip of land at front of house £4,500
25/07/1967 Charles McConnan David Ronald Mitchell Mitchell buys - by which time it is one house £10,000
30/03/1973 David Ronald Mitchell Pamela Dorothy Harrison Sell 4' strip of land at back in exchange for £1 + block wall £1

This document is a typed version of that at para 8 above but does include an excellent explanatory map at pt 6

11. 1947 4th September  Abstract of Title
pt 1
pt 2 upper
pt 2 lower
pt 3 lower
pt 4 upper
pt 4 lower 
 
 pt 5
pt 6 upper
pt 6 lower
pt 7 upper
 
pt 7 lower
pt 8 upper
pt 8 lower
The Clarke Family
The Clarke family shortly before it was sold.

 

 


12. 1947 31st October  Mortgage by The Efford Shipping Company

pt 1
pt 2
pt 3
pt 4

 

Pt 1 shows that the mortgage was by The Efford Shipping Company from Francis Peter Longton, Alec Stocken Wightman, and Lawrence John Goodwyn. Pt 2 - Pt 4 show the mortgage to be for £ 2,600 and repayable on 5th March 1948. It concerned ‘all the premises formerly part of a piece or parcel of ground called The Upper Orchard and were formerly known as Elthorn Cottage then as The White House but now known as Wood End Cottage and the two cottages in the respective occupation of Mr Bolden and Mr Turner as tenants..’

 

13. 1947 31st October - Conveyance of Wood End Cottage, Henham from Mrs Elsie May Clarke to The Efford Shipping Company Limted
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3

 

 

 


14. 1950 14th November - Conveyance of Wood End Green Cottage from The Efford Shipping Company Limited to John West
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3

 

Pt 2 & Pt 3 records that John West is of Wood End Green Cottage and that the sale price appears to comprise an outstanding mortgage of £ 2,600 plus a further £ 1,400 so totalling £ 4,000. One cottage is occupied by Mr Bolden and the other is vacant, both tenancies being on a weekly agreement.


15. 1950 15th November - Alteration of Terms of Wood End Farm, Henham

 
 pt 1
pt 2 
 pt 3
pt 4

 

Pt 1 describes this document as an Alteration of Terms of a mortgage on Wood End Farm, Henham (there is another nearby property known as Wood End Farm so this title for the property known as Wood End Cottage is confusing - RG) by P P Longton Esq and others and John West Esq. Pt 2 says it is supplemental to the mortgage described at subpara 13 above. It states that all interest has been paid and that the principal sum of £ 2,600 is outstanding.


16. 1955 18th February - Conveyance of a plot of freehold land at Wood End Green, Henham
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3

 

 

Pt 1 records the sale of a plot of freehold land at Wood End Green, Henham by Mr M Baynes to J H West Esq. Pt 2 and Pt 3 amplifies this information to ‘Martin Baynes of Wood End Green’ and ‘John Harold West, Company Director, of Wood End Cottage’ and concerns the purchase for £ 24 of a strip of land at Wood End Green having a frontage of twelve feet and shown in a plan on pt 2. This same strip was sold to Martin Baynes on 12th April 1927 by Alfred Ernest Wright and Frank Charles Wright. The plot is bounded on the north by Martin Baynes’s plot of Wood End Cottage and bounded on the south by a plot of land recently sold by him to Alec Thomas Wright.


17. 1957 - Abstract of the Title of Miss Emily Elizabeth Bush to an orchard at Wood End Green
pt 1
 pt 2 upper
pt 2 lower 
pt 3 upper
pt 3 lower
pt 4 upper
 pt 4 lower
pt 5

 

 Pt 2 is a typed transcript made in 1957 of an abstract of title of Miss Emmie Elizabeth Bush to a piece of land at Wood End Green. It reports a hearing on or about the 15th October 1841, of the Manor of Henham when James Bush, the son and heir of Daniel Bush, was admitted as tenant to hold the cottage, yard, garden and orchard at Wood End Green in the occupation of Richard Bush and since of the Widow Bush. James made a will on the 21st March 1877 and promptly died on 22nd March. In his will he bequeathed the cottage shop, orchard and part of the yard then held by his son George, to his grandson Jim who was made tenant by the same court on the 28th June 1881. Pt 3 et sec records that Jim Bush, market gardener,  died at Wood End Green on the 17th March 1949 and probate granted on the 13th December 1949 to Emmie Elizabeth Bush, spinster, of Wood End Green. On the 25th January 1950, Richard Fuller-Maitland, Lord of the Manor of Henham, released Emmie from his manorial rights upon a payment of £ 26. On the 13th April 1950 She got all rights to mines and  minerals on or under the property plus sporting rights for a further 20p.


18. 1957 9 December - Conveyance of an orchard at Wood End Green by Miss Emmie Elizabeth Bush to John Harold West Esq.

 
 pt 1
pt 2
 pt 3
pt 4

 

Pt 2 is informative because it is not only a map of the orchard and surrounding properties but also names the owners / occupants of those sites. Those names include Mr J. Balaam to the north, Mr A. Neville to the east, Mr J. H. West to the south, Mr F. M. Snow to the south-west (ie Ham Cottage), Mr T. Treacher to the west, and Miss E. E. Bush to the north-west. Pt 3 confirms John Harold West as being of Wood End Cottage. Emmie Elizabeth Bush sells the orchard to John Harold West for £ 150.


19. 1957 16th December - Transfer of mortgage of Wood End Cottage, Henham

 
 pt 1
pt 2
 pt 3

Pt 2 refers to the transfer of a mortgage re Wood End Cottage from F P Longton Esq & others to Mrs Eleanor Barbara West, wife of John West, of Wood End Cottage. The mortgage is supplemental to the earlier one dated 31st October 1947 at subpara 13 above and to the Alteration dated 15th November 1950 at subpara 15 above.

Pt 3 shows that the original mortgage of £ 2,600 has now been reduced to £ 1,664 and that on the 22nd December Barbara West, then of Bower House, Clavering signs for the receipt of that amount.


20. 1958 - Abstract of John West’s title to land forming part of Wood End Cottage, Henham
 pt 1
pt 2
pt 3 upper 
pt 3 lower
pt 4 upper 
pt 4 centre
pt 4 lower

 

The papers refer to ‘the land fourthly described in the contract by conveyance made between Alfred Ernest Wright of Museum Street, Saffron Walden and Frank Charles Wright of Henham, shoemaker, both of the one part and Martin Baynes of the other part. Thomas Wright had owned the land and had died on 11th November 1915. In his will of the 21st February 1901, he had appointed Alfred and Frank as his executors. The document describes how they were conveying, for £ 250, that messuage or tenement formerly called or known as ‘The Boggs’ (including the outhouses, buildings, garden and ground totalling 2 roods and 33 poles) to Martin Baynes. The plot is described -

‘as being on the east side of Wood End Green, thus bound on the west by Wood End Green, bound on the north by land formerly of Thomas Wright and then of Miss Elliot and towards the east by land formerly of Sir Walter Gilbey, Baronet and then of Miss Elliot, and towards the south by the footpath leading from the Green to the allotment gardens as the said properties was then occupied by Charles Blackwell and William Sage and were delineated on the plan drawn on a Conveyance dated 8th March 1899 made between Salisbury Baxendale and the same Thomas Wright. Certificate of value £ 500.’

Pt 4 is a repeat of subpara 16 above.


21.  1958 - Supplemental Abstract of the Title of John West to the orchard ( a repeat of subpara 18 above)
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3 upper
pt 3 lower

 


22. 1958 9 December - Supplemental Abstract of Title (a repeat of subpara 18 above)
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3 upper
pt 3 lower

 


23. 1958 - Supplemental Abstract of the Title of John West (a repeat of subpara 11 above)

pt 1
pt 2 upper
pt 2 lower
pt 3 upper
pt 3 lower
pt 4 upper
pt 4 lower
pt 5 upper
pt 5 lower

 


24. 1958 30th December - Conveyance of Wood End Green by J H West to C K McConnan
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3
pt 4

Pt 2 shows John West to be of Bower House, Clavering. The purchaser, Charles Kenneth McConnan, was of ‘Croxley’ c/o Toll Office, Delamere Terrace, Bayswater, London. He was described as a ‘Gentleman’. The sale price was £ 4,500. The plot is 27 perches.


25. 1963 14th March - Application for an Official Search

pt 1
pt 2
pt 3
pt 4
pt 5
pt 6

Pt 1 is a search made on the 14th March 1963 re Efford Shipping Company, Alfred Ernest Wright, Frank Charles Wright, Emmie Elizabeth Bush, and Charles Kenneth Ellcock. Pt 2 shows the search result identified only a male, F C Wright of Rosemary Cottage, Great Braxted, Essex and also of ‘Honiton’, Belverdere Road, Danbury, Essex, builder with a registration on the 15th June 1961. Pt 3 is a similar search dated the 15th March 1963 which identifies Mr Charles Kenneth McCoonan, sales manager of Wood End Green Cottage. Pt 4 is of little interest. Pt 5 is a brief schedule of the details contained in the conveyance dated the 30th December 1958 between John West and the Mortgagor. Pt 6 is dated the 1st April 1963 and is a charge by The Woolwich Equitable Building Society on Mr C K McConnan for £ 750 and interest on Wood End Cottage.


26. 1967 13th June - Supplementary Abstract of Title of Charles Kenneth McCoonan
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3
pt 4

Pt 1 is a plan of Wood End Cottage and its surroundings. Pt 2 is a supplementary abstract of title dated 30th December 1958.


27. 1973 13th March - Conveyance from Mr & Mrs Mitchell to Mrs Harrison
pt 1
pt 2
pt 3

Pt 4

Woodend Cottage 1970s
Pictures taken in the 1970s

Pt 1 describes the conveyance between David Ronlad Mitchell & his wife Joyce Rosamund Amy Mitchell of Wood End Cottage, Henham and formerly of Henleys, Henham (the vendors) and Pamela Dorothy Harrison of ‘The Meadow’, Hunsdon (the purchaser). Pt 2 mentions a conveyance dated 25th July 1967 between Charles Kenneth McCoonan and the vendors. Pt 3 is a plan.