House Name

[fauves]

Hello all,
This is a little bit of a long shot, but just wondering if anyone has any know-how on finding historic information on properties (build dates/original names/owners etc.)?
Our house is in Herefordshire and although I am a seasoned genealogist I haven't been able to get anywhere with it. The house is presumed to have been built c. 1700 as a parsonage/manse and is one of the few houses of its type in the vicinity (fairly typical symmetrical proportions, three stories and large windows) as the rest are almost entirely very small cottages, aside from some very large and old farmhouses. However, apart from a mention in the 1891-1911 census there is absolutely no record of it before this point. Every other house locally seems to have been recorded on at least one census before this, usually by name. The houses either side of ours is are often mentioned but ours is not.

I had wondered whether if our house was built by the church, maybe it was sold off and then left empty for a long period of time?

Any help much appreciated.
Fauves

[keyboard86]

Hi Fauves and welcome to Rootschat, can you give details of your awareness of the house 1891/1911 and possibly census reference?
Keyboard86

[fauves]

Hello and thanks for the welcome.
Not sure if I want the name of the house displayed, but the record I have to hand right now is from 1891, when the house was occupied by Elizabeth Powell, 69, Widowed and Living on Own Means along with daughter Jane and Granddaughter Ethel. (Reference RG12/4580)

I know the Powell's occupied the house for some time, although the house was later occupied by a William Williams and eventually his daughter Harriet who never married and lived here her entire life until around 1980.

Perhaps also useful is that I have the tithe map from the 1840s when the land surrounding the property - about 10-15 acres I think - presumably including the property - were owner by an Edmund Acton, although I have found no record of an Edmund Acton anywhere in the West Midlands or Wales other than one or two in Greater Manchester.

Many thanks.

[Treetotal]

Have you tried contacting Land Registry that covers the area where the house is?
Carol

[keyboard86]

Hi again see what you mean pre 1891 Full census ref 1891 RG12/4580/112/8 with Elizabeth Powell, 1901 William Williams RG13/5178/74/9
Priory Wood, Clifford
Keyboard86

[hanes teulu]

Do you have details of the '51 and '61 Census?

RG09  1829  53  2
HO107  1980  414  10

Richard Powell is listed on page 94 of the 1856 PO Directory of Herefordshire (Historical Directories online). But residence is not named.

[hanes teulu]

1841 reference  HO107  419  5  5

[hanes teulu]

Have you checked British History on line?

www.british-history.ac.uk

[fauves]

Have you tried contacting Land Registry that covers the area where the house is?
Carol

Hello
I haven't done that but when we purchased the house we were given all the available deeds and documents I think which only seemed to go back as far as the 60s/70s. The previous owner apparently lost the original title deeds, which I assume would've been very helpful! Do you know if perhaps land registry would have a copy?
Thanks