Grove Road, Heron Cross,
Great Fenton
102, 104,
106 & 108 Grove Road (c.1720 cottages)
"At Great Fenton a row of plastered
houses with front gardens, which may date from the early 18th century,
still preserve their rural character"
Victoria History of the
county of Stafford - vol VIII
This row of
cottages existing from around 1720 would have seen many famous potters
travel by as Whieldon, Wedgwood, Spode, Wood, Mason travelled from Lower
Fenton to Lane Delph.
At one time
three large and imposing dwellings, Great Fenton Hall, Great Fenton House
and Great Fenton Farm surrounded the cottages and the occupants would have
seen the 'great and the good' travelling to these properties.
The
occupants of the cottages were farmers and farm workers, an apprentice at
the California
Works of the
locomotive builders Hartley, Arnoux and Fanning
at the bottom of Whieldon
Road, pottery workers and coal miners who would have worked the nearby
Glebe or Kemball Collieries.
The cottages in 1986
At some time in the 20th C
the houses in this area were re-numbered.
|
old no. |
new no. |
occupiers in 1925 |
|
89 |
102 |
Mr Budsley |
|
91 |
104 |
Mr Clayton |
|
93 |
106 |
Mr Oaksey |
|
95 |
108 |
Mr Hotckins |
|
97 |
110 |
Francis Evans (owner) |
Undergoing restoration
and conversion to one dwelling house
all four front doors are
still visible on this photo
to the left number 108, then 106 (with two windows) then 104 and 102 (the
smallest cottage_
all doors removed and
ready for plastering
The property in 2008
1889
(31st May 1889) Charles William Jervis Smith sold the
properties to Francis Evans for £321 2s 3d.
Francis Evans
(a coal merchant) owned all the properties. He lived at 97 Grove Road,
with his wife and son, William Thomas Evans.
In his will (dated 15th May 1912) Francis provided for his wife
to occupy "his cottage" number 89 Grove Road. In a codicil (dated 13th
July 1914) the property provided for his wife was changed from 89 to 85.
Francis Evans died 15th May 1912
William Thomas Evans died 15th April 1918
1925
(2nd March 1925) the trustees of Francis Evans will sold the
cottages:
-
Numbers 89 and 91 were sold to Samuel Alfred Gears, a "gas by-products
worker" of 208, Whieldon Road for £165.
-
Numbers 93 and 95 were sold to Arthur Clayton, a "potters turner" for
£235.
Arthur Clayton (of 93 Grove Road) died 15th
Feb 1939 - his widow was Ethel Clayton.
29th Oct 1975, Ethel Clayton
bequeathed 106 and 108 to Alfred Ronald Clayton.
12th Sept 1985, Alfred Ronald
Clayton "late of 108 Grove Road" died.
1986
(16th May 1986) Clifford Gears sold 102/104/106/108 to Alan and
Joan Clews for £11,356 - the Clews restored the property and converted it
into one dwelling.
2002 (23rd
May 2002) Alan and Joan Clews sold the now converted property to Steven
and Christine Birks.
  
next:
102, 104,
106 & 108 Grove Road - the interior & occupiers
previous: cottages and Heron Cross School
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