House Detectives

In our March ’22 newsletter you may have read about the recent donation of a bundle of 19th century documents relating to buildings in the village of Frogmore in the South Hams. These records cover the period from 1811 to 1899 for several cottages, or dwelling houses, barns, hogsties, gardens and orchards.

Some of the properties appear to be known as Goodyears Tenement and were formerly part of the Manor of Keyneden whilst for others there are only descriptions of their environs just like the following extract.

‘bounded on the north by lands formerly of ___________ Boon and the highway on the east and in part on the south by lands formerly of the said Henry Chapman and in other part by lands formerly of Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead Esquire and on the west by an Orchard formerly belonging to the said Henry Chapman.’ 

Many people (owners and tenants) are recorded in the documents and we have begun to compile a list of these below: 

Sir William Efford
Jonathan Efford
John Aldam
Samuel Goodyer
John Tucker
John Howard, Middlesex
Walter Prideaux 
William Pollard & Katherine his wife
George Fox, Kingsbridge
Ellen Prickett, Chillington
Richard Chapman, Frogmore
Henry Chapman, Frogmore
Walter Drew, Brixham
Browse Prettejohn, Stokenham
Thomas Wise Weymouth, Kingsbridge
Elizabeth Boon, Charleton
Thomas Fogwill, 
James Tucker and Mary his wife,  Canada 
Edward Tucker, Torcross 
William Tucker and Mary his wife, Torquay
Samuel Tucker, Gray’s Inn Road, Middlesex 
William Parkhouse, Kingsbridge
William Henry Tozer, Dodbrooke  
Daniel Gillard, Frogmore
William Distin, Frogmore
Thomas Wellington, Frogmore
James Sheppard, Frogmore 
Richard Southwood, Frogmore
Roger Hyne, Frogmore. 

Accompanying these documents was paperwork sent to the owner in 1965 by the Rural District Council of Kingsbridge under the Housing Act 1957, declaring each of the houses ‘unfit for human habitation’ and listing the issues. The principle reasons for the notice include cracked plaster, perished rendering, extensive rising and penetrating dampness, and in most cases unsatisfactory sanitary conveniences. 

Our volunteers are cataloguing these documents and will then transcribe the contents.
If you would like to view the documents please do get in touch.