Cottage (The)

THE COTTAGE

Built in about 1875, it was built on a plot which (according to the 1870 Sales Particulars) formerly consisted of two dwelling houses, inhabited by Thomas Friend (5 rooms, washhouse and shed) and William Blackstone (4 rooms and washhouse) plus harness maker’s shop adjoining.  On the site, there was also a Baptist chapel at the rear – brick and tile and lean to shed adjoining, let to John Young.  Plans (taken from the 1872 Drainage Map) show this chapel as no. 34 Old Ebenezer Chapel.  The 1872 Drainage Map also shows a footprint of the property, the owner being Mr Morley and the occupiers who in 1872 were Blackstones, Weaver and Dance as well as the Chapel.  The report states that all the properties, including the chapel, were in bad condition – a small piece of valley gutter at (property) 32 delivering on to ground and about 6 feet of eaves gutter at (property) 33 also discharging on to ground.  Sink at (property) 32 connected with new drainage.  Closet with new pan connected with an old drain which formerly delivered into ditch but is now joined on to new system.  No gutters or down pipes to ebenezer Chapel.

The current owners have a drawing of their house dated 1875 “Samuel Morley Esq. Proposed Single Cottage Leigh”.  It does not state the architect.  It might have been George Devey but we have no confirmation of this.  Of course, once Samuel Morley built his new Chapel in the High Street, this former Baptist chapel (Old Ebenezer Chapel) was obsolete.

Joyce Field (August 2021)