VILLAGE HOUSING

HOUSING IN KETTLESTONE

On the 1911 census there were 39 dwellings described as cottages

The other dwellings were:-

The White Horse public house

Reeder's shop

The Post Office and shop

A blacksmith’s shop

The Rectory

Manor Farm House

Church Farm House

Kettlestone House

White Horse Farm

TIED ACCOMMODATION

Most of the cottages in the village were tied. Tied accommodation was a common practice in rural England where the farmer could control who lived in the property. Rent was often minimal and considered part of the employee's remuneration. The practice benefitted the farmer by providing accommodation to workers close to their place of work and the advantage to tenants was a certain level of security in the knowledge that they had a place to live as long as they continued working.

However, as it was common for a contract to be as short as a year, tenants had to move regularly. If they had no new work to go to or were elderly or infirm, they could end up in the workhouse.

OVERCROWDING

Kettlestone cottages were often small and overcrowded. Two of the cottages listed on the 1911 census housed families of 11.

THE RECTOR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE TO VILLAGE WORKERS

10^th September 1917

Special meeting of the Parish Council at the Rectory to consider the request of the Rural District Council -the matter of housing the working class in the place – whether sufficient or if not what?

Resolved more accommodation is needed where there are large families and that this could be provided for by additions to existing properties

Old cottages in Kettlestone

The Old Rectory . The photo was taken about 40 years ago.