“Croft House”

1971 Croft House“Croft House” photographed in 1971 and © D.L. Roberts, The Dovecote House, Westborough, Newark, Notts.

“Croft House”, 8 Croft Lane, is another of the older properties in the village. The person who assessed the photograph above guessed that the building was built c1820 with a 45º gabled pantile roof, with additions/alterations made c1880 and a 20th century porch over a 4-panelled door (see below). 1971 Croft House backIn April 2023 Tom Booker, a former resident, told me that he had seen a map from the 1600s showing only two properties on Croft Lane, those being “Croft House” and “Ashcroft” and that he also had a list of all of the occupants since 1734, so I was obviously keen to follow-up on his offer of assistance! 🙂

Here is that list of residents:*

  • 1734: John Grant of Bassingham to Heirs
  • 1749: Samuel Bird to William Waring to Jane (his Wife)
  • 1758: William Darwin to William Welby
  • 1773: to William Earl Welby (Son), knighted to Sir William
  • 1813: George de Signl. Grogons
  • 1813: to Thomas Newton
  • 1813: release of Cottage by William Weighton to Thomas Newton (6th April)
  • 1813: mortgage of lands to Benjamin Smith (7th April)
  • 1818: transfer of mortgage Smith to Mrs Ann Beighton
  • 1823: transfer of mortgage Beighton to John Morley
  • 1841: transfer of mortgage J. Morley to J. Oliver
  • 1844: transfer of mortgage J. Oliver to E. Storr
  • 1853: Edward Storr & William Uffindall. Executors to Thomas Newton
  • 1871: transfer of mortgage William Storr to Rebecca Storr
  • 1873: to Robert Dalton
  • 1873: mortgage to Henry Ward (21st June)
  • 1874: mortgage to Thomas Danial (6th April); conveyance to John Staniland
  • 1874: transfer of mortgage to Faulkner & Follet
  • 1878: transfer of mortgage to Greenwood
  • 1891: Greenwood to Emily Follet
  • 1920: H. & M.A. Staniland (J. Staniland died 1909)
  • 1930: A. Staniland to H. Walton
  • 1957: Abstract of title per reps. of H. Walton deceased; abstract of Will & Probate of John Staniland to H. Butler (Heir)
  • 1957: H. Butler to G. Taylor & Sons
  • 1971: re-conveyance to H. Taylor & G.A. Taylor; permission to develop land (12th April 1972)
  • 1972: Auction 2 Lots to Mrs M. Booker (“Croft House” Lot 1; land Lot 2)
  • 1973: Bungalow built, Lot 2
  • 2005: “Croft House” & garden sold to Darren Booker

*I have copied the list exactly as it appears, with no explanations or corrections. Some of the spellings might not be correct; I will ask Tom when I next see him.

From the list above…

  • Thomas Newton appears in poll books and directories and is buried in the churchyard.
  • Edward Storr died aged 62 on 1st April 1861 and is buried near the entrance to the church along with many others of that family.
  • William Uffindall died in the village and was buried with his wife, Mary, in the churchyard (date illegible) (The Uffindall family were long-time residents of the village).
  • Robert Dalton was the same Robert Dalton who kept “The Black Swan” beerhouse. He died aged 75 in 1873 and was buried in the churchyard.
  • John Tindall Staniland’s wife, Mary Ann, is also buried in the churchyard. She died 22nd November 1883, aged 51. There are others of Staniland family in the new graveyard over the road.
  • There is a Greenwood buried in the new graveyard.
  • There is a Walton buried in the new graveyard.
  • There are Butlers buried in the new graveyard.
  • There are Taylors buried in the new graveyard.
  • There are Bookers buried in the new graveyard.

I shall endeavour to better identify the people in the new graveyard when the weather is more clement! 🙂

Croft Lane is not named as such on any census. In fact, the only reference to households/properties there comes in the 1939 Register at which point there seem to be five households, all unnumbered:

  • George Harrison;
  • (name redacted);
  • Barlow John Walton, a retired farmer born 21st February 1864, and his wife Harriet (1st December 1863). There are two household members currently redacted, and children Alan Garnett/Garrett (28th February 1926) and Allen Lee (25th January 1933);
  •  Alfred Marshall & family;
  • John Charles Broughton & family.

The Walton family would seem to be the best fit for “Croft House” because in 1930 the property passed from J. Staniland to H. Walton and it seems ot have been in that family until 1957.

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