Pear Tree Cottage(s)

The following information comes from Sandra Nicholls, daughter of Harry Lucas.  See also Oak Cottages.

Pear Tree Cottage itself was the right-hand end of terrace cottage, seen in the photo below which was taken in 1953.  It was named as such because for many years there had been a pear tree growing up the side of the house.  This was no longer there when Sandra’s father (Harry Lucas) and mother and Sandra (later Nicholls) moved in but many nails used for the supporting wires remained.   The cottages no longer exist.  There was also a second terrace of cottages before Pear Tree Cottage(s).  These two pairs of cottages were formerly Parish Houses – in the 1872 Drainage Report and Map and Report, the occupants are listed: one block of these of parish houses were occupied by Mr Hitchcock, Mr Wickenden, Mr Croucher, the other block by Mr Groves, Mr Crowhurst and Mr Marchant.  In 1879 these two blocks of cottages and the land of the former Poor House site were purchased by Samuel Morley.

All these cottages were pulled down and replaced by Saxby Wood in 1968/60.

In Chris Rowley’s We Had Everything .. p. 238 there is a photograph taken from the opposite direction, up from the Brickmakers Arms, which shows both set of cottages.  A copy of this photograph is given below.

 

Brickmakers Arms, plus view looking up the Hill towards two terraces of cottages furthest in picture) which were pulled down to make way for Saxby Wood in 1968/69
Brickmakers Arms, plus view looking up the Hill towards two terraces of cottages furthest in picture) which were pulled down to make way for Saxby Wood in 1968/69

 

 

Pear Tree Cottages, 1953, the High Street towards Penshurst. Later replaced by Saxby Wood.
Pear Tree Cottages, 1953, the High Street towards Penshurst. Later replaced by Saxby Wood.