History of our “English” Cottage at 5 Orchard Place, Arundel
We bought the cottage at 5 Orchard Place in March 1995. At that time we were still living in Ispra, Varese, Italy and Margaret wanted a “pied-à-terre” where to stay in England when we visited our children Claire and Charles who lived and worked in London.
The cottage has a big sitting room/dinning room, a big bedroom and the bathroom on the first floor and another large bedroom on the second floor. There is also a well equipped kitchen and a small room or extension at the end of it. It was in reasonably good condition and we did not spend more than £2,000 to repair the small defects.
As we moved to England after selling our house in Italy we moved in it in August 1996 and we lived in it for a whole year until August 1997 when we moved in the White House, 25A King Street, Arundel just across the road from Orchard Place. We enjoyed living there even if it was a small house compared with our house in Italy. But it is a house with a nice feeling going with it, in other words, a “Happy House”.
The document from the Department of Environment, “List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historical Interest, District of Arun, West Sussex, Arundel Area” of 21/8/1988 mentions the following about our old cottage at 5 Orchard Place:
“Orchard Place – Number 1 to 25 (consecutive) form a group.
Early 19th century. Terraced cottages, Nodular flint. Brick dressings and chimneys. Pitched slate roofs. 2 storeys. Brick modillion eaves cornice. 1 range of double-hung sash windows with glazing bars”
(Reference: TQ 0107 1/219)
1785
Orchard Place does not exist yet according to the “Plan of the Borough of Arundel” of 1785.
1822
(Arundel Borough Archive P4/1,2)
According to that map Orchard Place did not exist yet.
1831
(ref. Ordnance Survey Map of Arundel, 1831. P.M. Arundel-140)
According to this map (Record Office, Chichester) Orchard Place did not exist yet.
1838
According to the information available in the Arundel Castle archives, the cottages in Orchard Place were built in 1838. As a consequence it can be said that the popular belief that they were built by French prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars is not true. It is a legend probably invented by the Estate Agents to improve the image of these properties.
1841
(Ref. 1841 Census, Tithe Map 1841)
The road known as “Orchard Place” was there as well as our cottage. The cottage is seen on the plot 436 on the Tithe map of that year (Record Office, Chichester) (no reference in the census).
In the 1841 Census, and in the book annexed to the map, it is described as “Tenement and Garden” owned and occupied by Mr Jessee Mitchener. The same census lists the following people living in it:
Mr Jessee Mitchener, 50, labourer
Mrs Mathilda Mitchener, his wife, 35
Miss Sarah Mitchener, their daughter, 5
Mrs Sarah Cock, a Nurse, 65
1844, 1846 and 1850 (always on November 30)
(Ref. Electoral registers)
The cottage was owned and occupied by Jessee Mitchener.
1851
(Ref. 1851 Census and electoral register)
In the 1851 Census (and also according to the Electoral Register of 30/11/1851) the people living in the third house in Orchard Place (ref. 69, presently No5) are listed as follow:
Henry Madgwick, 62, shoemaker
Sarah, Madgwick, his wife
William Morley, 80 (?), lodger, yeoman
Mary Ann Bridger, 30, niece, labourer
1861
(Ref. 1861 Census)
In the 1861 Census the people living in the third house in Orchard Place (ref. 62, present time No 5) are listed as follow:
William Sarrit, married, 48, Proprietor Houses and Bonds
Mary Sarrit, his wife, 53
1871
(Ref. 1871 Census and 25″/mile Survey Map of 1877, First Edition)
In the 1871 Census the people living in the third house in Orchard Place (ref. 62 05 61, present time No 5) are listed as follow:
William Acott, widower, 58, cows keeper
Betty Fremane, widow, daughter, 28
Mary Acott, unmarried, daughter, 22
Edith Fremane, grand daughter, 5
William A. Fremane, grand son, 3
Or:
William Smith, 58, Retired Bargeman
Mary Smith, 53, Wife
1874/75
On a survey map of that time but published in 1877 (Record Office, Chichester), Orchard Place and our cottage appear very clearly. The Cathedral is not yet there but the Anglican Church is.
1881
(Ref. 1881 Census)
In the 1881 Census the people living in the third house in Orchard Place (present time No 5) are listed as follow (ref. 19):
William Smith, married, 68, retired bargeman
Mary Smith, his wife, 63
(There is a small probability that they could have been:
William Acott, widower, 68, retired whitesmith
Betty Fremane, widow, daughter, 38, housekeeper
Edith Fremane, grand daughter, 15, milliner
Check again later on – 3/4/2000)
1891
(Ref. 1891 Census)
In the 1891 Census the people living in the third house in Orchard Place (present time No 5) are listed as follow (ref. 106):
Mary Smith, widow, 73
Living on her own means
1910/11
Herbert King was living in the cottage at that time.
October 1928
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– George Henry Reed
– Mary Elizabeth Reed
October 1937
According to the Electoral Register George Henry Reed lived here at that time with his wife Mary Elizabeth Reed.
October 1944
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– George Henry Reed
– Mary Elizabeth Reed
– Vera Smith
November 1, 1948
On November 1, 1948, His Grace the Most Noble Bernard Marmaduke, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, Hereditary Marshall of England, Knight of the Garter sold to Mrs Alice Louisa Haynes, widow, of 376 Evelyn Street, Deptford, Kent the freehold property known as numbers 3 and 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, West Sussex for the sum of two hundred and forty pounds (£240). The property was free of any encumbrances with the exceptions of what is specified in the schedules numbered one to three.
References: -Annex 3.B, Application for an Official Search (25/10/48)
-Annex 3.C, Abstract of Title to property Freehold known
as Numbers 3 and 5 Orchard Place, Arundel (1/2/1948)
-Annex 3.D, Conveyance of Freehold premises known as 3
and 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, from the Duke of Norfolk
to Mrs Haynes (1/11/1948)
The first Schedule stipulates:
a. No more than one messuage shall at any time be erected on the land hereby conveyed or any part thereof and the messuage and all buildings to be erected on the land shall be kept in substantial repair. No building shall at any time be erected and the elevation of the existing messuage and buildings shall be altered until the plans of such buildings or alteration have been submitted and approved by the Vendor or his Agent for the time being but such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
b. In the case of messuage and buildings or any part thereof shall be burnt down or damaged by fire or destroyed or damaged by violent tempest the same or the parts thereof so burnt down or destroyed shall be rebuilt or reinstated within twelve months thereafter according to plans to be submitted to and approved by and to the satisfaction of the Vendor or his Agent for the time being but such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
c. No trade or manufacture or business of a noisome nature or offensive character shall be carried on upon the premises.
d. No building on the premises shall be used as a public or private lunatic asylum or for the residence of any person or persons of unsound mind or for a convalescent home hotel public house or beer shop or for a licensed pubic refreshment house or for a public garage or oil or petrol station.
e. No shows booths swings roundabouts or hoarding nor any advertising station or advertisement (except advertisements relating to the business carried on) shall be erected made placed or used or be allowed to remain upon the land or any part thereof nor shall the same be used as a parking ground nor for the storage of rubbish or building material oil or petrol.
The second schedule deals mainly with the previous Trustees (see copy).
The third schedule describes the properties and the rights and duties linked to them.
A “Supplemental Abstract of Title to Freehold Premises known as 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, West Sussex” was issued in 1950 (Annex 3E).
October 1949
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time. They obviously rented the house that was still owned by Mrs Alice Louisa Haynes.
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
– George Henry Reed
– Mary Elizabeth Reed
– Vera Smith
– Winifred Smith
January 29, 1951
A conveyance dated January 29, 1952 signed by Mrs Alice Louisa Haynes records the sale of the properties known as number 3, Orchard Place to Mr Archibald Jupp in fee simple.
March 5, 1951
On that date Mrs Alice Louisa Haynes, widow, of 376 Evelyn Street, Deptford, Kent, sold the Freehold property known as number 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, West Sussex to Mr David William Freeman Bradshaw, Insurance Agent, of 5 Orchard Place, Arundel for the sum of two hundred and twenty five pounds (£225). The sale in fee simple is subject to the restrictions and stipulations contained in the Conveyance of November 1, 1948.
From what appears before it looks like Mrs Haynes did not live in Orchard Place (she is described as living in Deptford, Kent). It would seem more possible that Mr Bradshaw was already living at 5 Orchard Place when he bought the property.
November 1951
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1954
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time in the house that was they bought from Mrs Alice Louisa Haynes.
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1959
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1964
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1969
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
– Michael R. Bradshaw
– Gwendolyne M. Bradshaw
February 1972
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1974
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– David W.F. Bradshaw
– Violet J. Bradshaw
– Gwendolyne M. Bradshaw
October 1, 1978
Mr Bradshaw died intestate on May 5, 1978.
Mrs Violet Joan Bradshaw (probably the widow of Mr David Wilson Freeman Bradshaw, the previous owner), Administratrix of the estate of Mr David Bradshaw by virtue of letters of Administration granted to her on July 4, 1978 by the Winchester District Probate Registry Assented to the freehold property situated at 5 Orchard Place, Arundel (Annex 3.N).
October 1979
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1984
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Violet J. Bradshaw
October 1986
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Nobody
Mrs Violet Joan Bradshaw died sometime before October 1986 as the house was empty at that time.
December 4, 1986
It appears from “HM Land registry” (Annex 3.O) that Mr Christopher Brendan O’Sullivan bought the freehold house at 5 Orchard Place on 4/12/1986. He bought it from Mrs Bradshaw’s heirs, among them his son who lived at No 7, Orchard Place at the time.
October 1989
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Christopher O’Sullivan
October 1991
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Christopher O’Sullivan
October 1994
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– None ( but still owned by Christopher O’Sullivan)
April 7,1995
Gilles and Margaret Nullens bought the freehold house at 5, Orchard Place, Arundel, on 7/4/1995 (see Annex 3.P, HM Land Registry.
October 1995
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– Margaret Nullens
October 1998
According to the Electoral Register the following people lived here at that time:
– None ( but still owned by Gilles and Margaret Nullens)
May 2000
We sold the cottage on May 11, 2000. The purchasers were Ms H D Von Schack (a medical doctor of German nationality living and working in London) and Mr J B Watkins (a military policeman also from London). They are to be married in August 2000. Cluttons of Arundel was the Housing agent and our solicitor was Bolden and Youatt.
———————–
References: -Annex 3.F, Application for an Official Search (25/1/51)
-Annex 3.G, Answer by the Clerk of the County Council to
a Requisition for an Official Search made by Holmes
Campbell and Co., Solicitors, Arundel.
-Annex 3.H, Application for an Official Search (28/2/51)
-Annex 3.I, Application for an Official Search (28/2/51)
-Annex 3.J, Conveyance of Freehold premises known as 5
Orchard Place, Arundel, from the Mrs Haynes to Mr David
William Freeman Bradshaw (5/3/1951)
Another “Application for an Official Search” was made by Holmes, Campbell and Co., Solicitors, Arundel in the name of Mr Bradshaw on 25/7/1960 (Annex 3.K).
Mr David William Freeman Bradshaw was an Insurance Agent from the Steyning and Littlehampton Building Society from which he borrowed two hundred pounds at the rate of 4% on the date he bought the house. The mortgage had a duration of 14 years and Mr Bradshaw had to pay back one pound eleven shillings and eight pence monthly.
Mr Bradshaw borrowed one hundred and fifty more pounds (£150) from his Building Society on July 27, 1960. The interest rate is now six pounds five shillings per centum per annum. Mr Bradshaw will repay the loan in eight years by monthly payment of two pounds and nine pence.
The Building Society now known as The Steyning and Sussex County Building Society acknowledged that Mr Bradshaw had repaid the full loan on April 16, 1970.
References: -Annex 3.L: Legal Charge (borrowing of £200), 5/3/1951
-Annex 3.M: Further Charge (borrowing of £150), 27/7/1960
General Notes
1- Abbreviations commonly used in Census:
b = bachelor
sp = spinster
otp= of this parish
lic= licence
ms = manservant/maidservant
2- The oldest paper (Ann.3.A) that I have found up to now is a hand-written message that says “Filed for Registration the 25th day of July 1922”.
Annexes
-Annex 3.A: “Filed for Registration the 25th day of July 1922 …”.
-Annex 3.B, Application for an Official Search (25/10/48)
-Annex 3.C, Abstract of Title to property Freehold known as Numbers 3 and 5 Orchard Place, Arundel (1/2/1948)
-Annex 3.D, Conveyance of Freehold premises known as 3 and 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, from the Duke of Norfolk to Mrs Haynes (1/11/1948)
-Annex 3E, A “Supplemental Abstract of Title to Freehold Premises known as 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, West Sussex”, 1950
-Annex 3.F, Application for an Official Search (25/1/51)
-Annex 3.G, Answer by the Clerk of the County Council to a Requisition for an Official Search made by Holmes Campbell and Co., Solicitors, Arundel.
-Annex 3.H, Application for an Official Search (28/2/51)
-Annex 3.I, Application for an Official Search (28/2/51)
-Annex 3.J, Conveyance of Freehold premises known as 5 Orchard Place, Arundel, from the Mrs Haynes to Mr David William Freeman Bradshaw (5/3/1951)
– Annex 3.K, “Application for an Official Search” made by Holmes, Campbell and Co., Solicitors, Arundel in the name of Mr Bradshaw on 25/7/1960
-Annex 3.L, Legal Charge (borrowing of £200), 5/3/1951
-Annex 3.M, Further Charge (borrowing of £150), 27/7/1960
-Annex 3.N, Assent by Mrs Violet Joan Bradshaw to the freehold property situated at 5 Orchard Place, Arundel
-Annex 3.O, from “HM Land registry” it appears that Mr Christopher Brendan O’Sullivan bought the freehold house at 5 Orchard Place on 4/12/1986.
-Annex 3.P, HM Land Registry shows that Gilles and Margaret Nullens bought the freehold house at 5, Orchard Place, Arundel, on 7/4/1995.