primrose cottages
primrose cottages
Earlier known as Tavener's Row
Primrose Cottages was a small terrace of six houses set high on a bank on the western side of Ilchester Road, close to Fiveways. It was built on what had been a field known as Batt's Corner, or Butt's Corner.
In 1768 the property was conveyed from John Pickford of Barwick, linman, to Charles Hewlett of Yeovil, mason, and Henry Winsor of the same, schoolmaster. In 1788 it was mortgaged to John Hookins the younger of Yeovil, banker's clerk, and in 1801 the mortgage was transferred to Ann Butts of Yeovil, widow. In 1807 the land passed to George Maidment of Yeovil, brickmaker, and in 1810 was mortgaged to John Ryall of Yeovil, Esq.
By 1844 the property was mortgaged with land called Hollands Corner (2 ac.), and a cottage in Reckleford Street, Kingston, by Henry Longman of Yeovil, gent., and Mary his wife, to William Hollister of West Clifton, Gloucs, gent. In 1846 the properties were mortgaged Nancy Humby, widow, Sussanah Strange, and John Adams Cole, all of Stalbridge, Dorset; in 1852 the mortgage was transferred to James Brown Slade of Yeovil, gent; and in 1858 to William Young, gent., and Charlotte Young, spinster, both of Yarlington.
The terrace does not appears on Watts' map of 1806 but it is shown on his map of 1831, albeit un-named. The terrace is shown on the 1842 Tithe Map as Parcel 584 (see Maps) and the 1846 Tithe Apportionment described it as "Houses, Gardens and Orchards" and noted that the terrace and the land was owned by Sarah Dyer and the tenant was John Harvey, who clearly sub-let them.
The terrace was listed in the 1851 census, where it was called Tavener's Row - most likely named after the owner or the builder. Interestingly, and unlike the rest of Yeovil at this time, none of the men were engaged in the leather or gloving industries yet all the wives and daughters, twelve in all, were gloving outworkers. The men's occupations included a tailor, agricultural labourers and general labourers. The situation was very similar in 1861 with all the women and girls employed as gloving out workers while the men included a wheelwright, two grooms, three sawyers, a printer, a saddler and a brick maker.
The terrace was named Primrose Cottages on the 1886 Ordnance Survey. Six families are listed in Collins' Directory of 1907, eight families in Snell's Directory of 1954 and just three in Foord's Directory of 1964.
One of the
cottages was
unoccupied for
several years,
remaining
furnished and
with a
half-eaten meal
on the dining
table. It
appears, so the
story goes, that
a young married
couple - Thomas
and Kathleen
Jones - were in
residence and
during their
last meal
together had a
terrible
argument which
resulted in both
of them leaving
the house and
going their
separate ways.
Statutory
notices failed
to trace the
ownership of the
cottage and it
was finally
demolished,
along with the
rest of the
cottages and the
old maternity
hospital for the
widening of
Ilchester Road
and the
improvements at
Fiveways. For an
account of the
mystery -
click here.
MAPs
E Watts' map of 1831 showing Primrose Cottages for the first time. Here they are numbered '619'.
The 1842 Tithe Map showing Tavener's Row and land as Parcel 584.
The 1886 Ordnance Survey showing part of Fiveways with Preston Road running to the left, Ilchester Road running to top left of centre and Mudford Road running to top right. Primrose Cottages, the earlier Tavener's Row, is seen just northwest of the hospital.
gallery
This colourised photograph
features in my
book 'Yeovil
From Old
Photographs'
Tavener's Row / Primrose Cottages photographed in the mid-1960s.
The Fiveways Hospital was demolished in 1969, photographed from Fiveways Roundabout. At right is the terrace of houses called Tavener's Row, later Primrose Cottages.
