The History of Brittens Cottages, Pump Hill
(orig. Lyngs Lane) Loughton, Essex Compiled by Matthew Geyman |
Loughton is first mentioned in a 1062 charter
of Edward the Confessor, shown as Lukinton. The word 'Loughton' derives from
an Enclosure e.g. Settlement, Farm or Estate associated with Luhha. For
example "Luhha's farm". By 1086, when surveyed for
William the Conqueror's newly commissioned Domesday Book, it is listed
as Lochintuna and Lochetuna
where it is the smaller
of the three parishes of Alderton [Alwardtun - Ailward's Town] and Debden [Tippedene]. Later, in 17th century Deeds and Session Rolls it is sometimes written as Lucton or Luction. To learn more about the origin of the name Loughton and other local place names, please click here |
We can conclude with some certainty that the area was to some extent inhabited much earlier due to the close proximity of Loughton Camp, an Iron Age settlement which lies half a mile to the North West of Brittens Cottages and Ambresbury Banks, similarly only a short hike through the forest, which would have covered much more of the surrounding area at that time.
One of the most picturesque and ancient areas in Loughton is the York Hill conservation area. The row of weatherboarded Cottages at the corner of Pump Hill (previously Lyngs lane) and York Hill date to 1585 and are amongst the oldest surviving buildings from Loughton's long history. They are of constructed of thick oak beams in a box frame, laid out in 3 bays. The building may have originally been constructed as a barn, although the double storey construction may contradict this.
The land appears to have once been referred to as the 'Ryddons' or 'Reddens' a tenement of about 9 acres. At times it appears that just the dwelling and one close (2 acres) of land were sold and then rejoined as a 6 acre tenement.
The cottages still retain original features such as the carpenters numerals (from the Fraymngplace where it would have originally been created), Wattle and Daub and old Laths.
Brittens Cottages
(click for a
location map) |
From the Hills Amenity Society's
Discovery Trail of the area, published
The Britten family (formerly Bretaigne) first
established themselves in the York Hill area in 1585 when they leased the
cottages at the junction of York Hill and Pump Hill, today known as "Brittens
Cottages". The area was ideal for the pottery industry they subsequently
established, because of the plentiful supply of clay, wood from the forest for
the firing, abundant springs and streams and, one presumes, a ready market for
the wares in London. Several kilns were built, evidence of which has been
discovered during excavation over recent years
Jump to:
Timeline of Brittens
Messuage & Land ownership / occupation
Research / Local Records (Sessions Rolls /
Deeds etc)
Notes (jottings to follow up on research)
Local Historical Observation (i.e. Waller
Diaries etc)
Definitions (explanations of language used in the
Sessions Rolls / Deeds)
Bibliography (List of Research References)
Approximate Brittens Cottage and Land Timeline:
(notes - incomplete / inaccurate and in
progress)
|
Pertinent info from Loughton Sessions Rolls &
Deeds etc (Essex Records Office)
Research carried out in 2005 (full
notes here). Copies taken of original documents. Not all records pertain
directly to Brittens, but are supporting research relating to the owners other
interests etc.
See Definitions Below for explanations of language.
Epiphany 1583 (Session Rolls 83/36)
Hundred of Ongar Petty Sessions
Held before Thomas Luther and John Collen, high constables.... Loughton. John
Elimente and John Bretton, sworn.
14 July 1602 (Deeds of Loughton and
North Weald Bassett 194/38)
Admission (With translation) of William Britten, upon surrender of his father
John Britten... Cottage and two pieces of land, copyhold Manor of Loughton.
6 March 1615 (Calendar of Essex Assize File
held at Chelmsford 418/86/63)
Indictment of Thomas Britten of Loughton labourer,11 Sept, there stole "xij
peeces of mitton" worth 20shillings, belonging to an unknown man. Pleads not
guilty; acquitted. Witnesses: Richard Rogers, Thomas Kinge.
[Thomas Britten is possibly a son or brother of John Britten]
20 April 1615 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/41)
Admission (with translation) of Robert Dauges, upon surrender of John Britten
Three closes (6a.), part of Ryddons land, abutting N. upon Lyngs Lane and S. And
E. upon Loughton Street, copyhold of Manor of Loughton
[It appears likely that following conveyance of his cottage to his son,
John Britten has sold his remaining land to Robert Dauges[sic] who is acquiring
Ryddons in its entirety. Loughton Street is now, I believe, Church Hill]
18 November 1615 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/42)
Admission of Robert Dawgs upon Surrender of William Bretton
Cottage and toft called Tylekill and land (2acres) abutting North and East Upon
Lings Lane, Copyhold of Manor of Loughton
[William Britten has probably sold
his cottage and 2 acres to Robert Dawgs at the same time] It is not clear if the
Cottage and Toft and land are one entity or if they are separate. The toft could
indeed be referred to as TyleKill as it may have provided the clay. There was a 'TileKiln' at the bottom
of York Hill some distance away, however the use of the word toft could suggest
that it is not this being referred to. I believe that with the transfer of the
land here and above and subsequent Admission of Thomas Dawgs to the Reddens
tenement and adjoining 9 acres, this is in fact Brittens Cottage and the toft on
which it sits plus the land. abutting North and East upon Lings, in can be no
other].
25 May 1619 (Deeds of Loughton and North Weald
Bassett 194/43)
Admission of Thomas Dawgs upon Surrender of his father Robert Dawgs
Redden's tenement and adjoining land (9acres) and 1 acre meadow in Lucton Mead,
copyhold of Manor of Loughton
25 May 1619 (Deeds of Loughton and North Weald
Bassett 194/44)
Messuage called Tylekill, parcel of Meadow (1a.) in Lushons Mead, close called
Clay Croft With two cottages built thereon, and tenement called Bench House and
land called Burtons Field (5a.), all copyhold of Manor of Loughton
[see also 1615 Tylekill]
Michaelmas 1623 (Sessions Rolls 242/40)
Presentment by the Grand Jury. Tho. Bretton
of Loughton for being a common
drunkard and alwhouse haunter and for not coming to church, but is a nightwalker
and lewd in all blaapheming,awearing and frinking out of all good order
[see 1615 entry - it seems Thomas Britten was wayward]
Midsummer 1637 (Sessions Rolls
297/123)
Geo[rge?] England, Robert Dawges,
both of loughton, and Thomas Everd of Walthamstow, yeoman; England to answer for
begetting a male child of Margaret Ray singlewoman, which is non chargeable to
Loughton and to do what the Court shall enjoin.
10 September 1642 (Sessions Rolls
318/92)
Recognizance of Robert Dawgs
carpenter and John Stocke yeoman, both of Loughton; Dawgs to appear.
19 September 1642 (Sessions Rolls
318/29)
Inquisition At Leyton, before William
Conyers and Thomas Coks esqs., on the oaths of Thomas Wickes, William Ongly,
John Stondon, all of Lambourne, yeomen, John Maultus, John Bell, Edward Trapps,
all of Chigwell yeomen, Henry Serridge of East Ham, Daniel Wall of West Ham,
John Sheppard of Great Ilford, Thomas Hunt of Wanstead, John Mynns and John
Newman, both of Chingford, yeomen, who say that George Eves yeoman, John Bening
jun., labourer, Robert Dawges and Thomas Meade labourer, all of loughton,
together with 3 unknown malefactors, 5 Sept., about the hour of 3 in the
afternoon, at Loughton, broke into Waltham Forest, and "did shoote off a
handgunn charged with a bullett" at a doe
Midsummer / July 1647 (Sessions Rolls 333/12)
Presentment by highway surveyors of Loughton. Labourers that refuse to do their
highway work this year 1647 "from Goldings Hill to Trapce hill" for one half of
the Parish:- ...George England, .. Robert Dawgs carpenter, ..William Britten...
The cart cannot be returned because there is no gravel "digged".
16 November 1652 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/46)
Admission of Robert Dawgs of Loughton, gentleman, upon surrender of
William Dawgs. property as in 194/44, excepting Bench House and Burtons Field
19 October 1653 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/47)
Surrender of Thomas Dawges of
Chigwell, tanner, to use of himself and w. Eliza. for their lives, then to use
of his [son]. Rob[er]t. and his heirs for ever Messuage at
upper end of lings Lane and adjoining close (Part of Reddens lands), copyhold of
Manor of Loughton Upon condition that said Robert should pay out specified
legacies to brothers Thomas and Edward and sisters Eliza., Martha and Sarah
23 October 1654 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/48)
Admission of Thomas Dawges, wife Elizabeth and son Robert. Property as in 194/47
23 October 1654 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/50)
Admission of Joseph Dawges, upon surrender of Thomas, Elizabeth and Robert as in
194/48.
Messuage and three closes called Reddens, copyhold of Manor of Loughton
23 March 1668/9 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/30)
Admission of Joseph Lingwood by Richard Shelly, his guardian, upon surrender of
John Bruce, potter Edwards Fields (5a.) and land (2a.) in the common mead,
copyhold of Manor of Loughton alias Luction
28 September 1677 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/19 &21)
Conveyance (Feoffment) for £50; Bond to perform covenants; receipt for purchase
money
Joseph Lingwood (of Loughton, potter) to Robert Dawgs senior. Property as in
194/11
12 December 1682 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/31)
Admission of Elizabeth Dawges, Widow Robert Dawges (deceased), upon surrender of
Joseph Lingwood
Edwards Field (5acres), copyhold of manor of Loughton alias Lucton
17 May / Midsummer 1692 (Sessions Roll 473/17)
Recognizance of Robert Dawges of Loughton esq.; to answer for refusing to
excecute the office of constable of "the parish of Loughton" for the year
amusing being legally presented "at a COurts Losts for the said Manner".
13 December 1698 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/54)
Admission of John Eyres, upon death of his uncle Robert Dawgs
Messuage called Algars, land called Hardings (9a.), Home Thistle Field (14a),
Long Field alias Long Croft (40.), New Mead (6a.), Grove Croft (7a.) Clerkes
Field (5a), Clerkes Mead (10a.), land in the Common Mead (11a.), land in lushers
Mead (5a.), little Grove Croft (5a.), Farther Thistley Field (12a.), messuage
called Brittens and land (7a.) and messuage called Slyders and land
(3a.), all copyhold of Manor of Loughton
Also copy admission of John Eyres, upon surrender of John Bale, gent.
Messuage
called Pottkilne, copyhold of Manor of Loughton
[is PottKilne the York Hill messuage?]
27 April 1717 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/22)
Abstract of title, 1568-1717, of Samuel Remington to messuage called Buckhurst
near Buckhurst Hill and lands (48a.) in Loughton Recites 194/1-21 and twelve
further deeds; deed of 1717 also refers to mesuage called Brittens,
copyhold Manor of Loughton
29 April 1717 (Deeds of Loughton and North
Weald Bassett 194/55)
Abstract of title, 1602-1698, of John Eyre to property copyhold of Manor of
loughton; recites 194/28-54 Endorsed: sold and Surrendered by Mr. Eyre to Mr. Saml Remington,
29 April 1717 [194/38-55 formed one bundle]
Local Historical Observations:
Brittens Cottages & Gardeners Arms (from
William Chapman Waller's diaries) The corner opposite the pump [Britten’s Cottages] is a rookery. I offered to buy it from Free and he asked £500 for the block, which was valued at £210 as a fair price. The cottages were made originally out of an old barn and are back-to-back. However, we don’t seem to develop any more disease there than elsewhere, though I hear there is a good deal of overcrowding. The Gardeners’ Arms is well managed by Hughes, who has been there now many years. The shop next door [and cottage, later 101, now part of the pub car park], which his predecessor built for his daughter and then found that the site was copyhold, was a great nuisance to me, inasmuch as it cut off the view and was the only spot on which anything could be built without my consent to overlook us. And it is hideous — perhaps that is too strong a word, however. Below it are several cottages built at different times by G Hughes, who unfortunately employed the poorest architect at first, or none, and disfigured the bill for ever 189x |
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Cottages Condemned [and reprieved]
(from William Chapman Waller's diaries) Some old picturesque cottages have been condemned – one group opposite the Crown, another in the Hole, and another at the corner on the top of Pump Hill. The latter [Britten’s Cottages], 5 cottages back-to-back, are now (Mar 30) being patched up by Greenaway for old “Bustler” Free, the upper part, which was daub, being replaced by feather-edge board. 30th March 1892 |
Definitions:
Explanations of the language used in Session Rolls / Deeds
etc
Various Documents from the Essex Records Office
A History of the County of Essex: volume IV
William Chapman Waller (1850 - 1917) 'Loughton's Historian' by Richard Morris
Notes to
William Chapman Waller's diaries edited by Chris Pond
Epping Forest With Maps Edward North Buxton - 4th Edition
A Brief Account of the History of the Manor and Parish, from Domesday to 1900 by
William Chapman Waller (edited by Richard Morris OBE)
Loughton a Hundred Years Ago (William Chapman Waller) edited by Richard Morris
and Chris Pond
This is Essex website
Domesday Online
British Records Assosciation
Webster's Dictionary 1913
The Timber Frame House in England, RW Brunskill