Rock Street

Numbers 2 - 8

The four houses on the right of the above photo were numbered 2 - 8 Rock Street when house numbering was introduced in the early 1950's.  We understand that they were similar in design and construction to the rows of cottages in Horseshoe Lane and Gloucester Road.  (click here for a description of the houses in Horseshoe Lane)

We don't know when the houses were built.  We suspect that the orchard and garden land on which they were built was owned by Richard Williams, a pargeter or plasterer and tiler.  On Richard's death the property was given in trust to his wife, Mary Williams.  On Mary's death they eventually ended up being owned by Mary Wilkes - click here to read the full story

In the 1840 Tithe Survey, the houses were part of Plot 133 which also included the 4 similar houses in Horseshoe Lane referred to above.  All these houses were owned by Mary Wilkes.  The eight houses were occupied by Thomas Grigg, John Thomas, William Clutterbuck, Thomas Smith, Thomas Elton, Joseph Pym and William Matthews.  We know from the 1841 census that Thomas Smith, Joseph Pym and William Matthews were living in Horseshoe Lane at that time, and we assume that Thomas Elton was also in Horseshoe Lane and that Thomas Grigg, John Thomas and William Clutterbuck were occupying 3 of the four houses in Rock Street.

On Mary's death in 1849, she left the four houses to her daughter, Emma Knapp, the wife of Henry Knapp, the blacksmith and ironmonger.  When they both died in 1882, the houses were left to their niece, Mary Ann Wilmott, the daughter of Emma's sister, Ann Ann, and wife of Samuel Mullett Wilmott.  Click here to read about the Wilkes, Ann and Wilmott families

Mary Ann attempted to sell several of her properties in 1890.  We don't know if these four houses were amongst the lots put up for sale, but they remained in her ownership.  Mary Ann died on 23rd February 1917 aged 65 and Samuel died on 5th October 1923 aged 78.  Following Samuel's death, the four cottages were put up for the sale at auction in 1924, but were unsold at £250.  The 1926 Rate Book shows the houses still owned by the 'Trustees of S. M. Wilmott'.

We don't know who bought the properties.  We understand that they were owned by a farming family who lived in Cheshire who used Crossmans to collect their rents.  Arthur Neal who was brought up in one of the houses remembers paying the rent to Harry Burchell of Crossmans.

The houses were demolished in the mid 1960's as part of the town's re-development.  They have been replaced by a service yard at the rear of the Library.

We have had great difficulty in identifying the occupants of each house in the 19th century census records so we have not attempted to do so until we have some other supporting sources.  The history of occupants is therefore based on what people have been able to tell us, backed up by church records, electoral registers, school records etc.    

Click here to read about the occupants of number 2 Rock Street

Click here to read about the occupants of number 4 Rock Street

Click here to read about the occupants of number 6 Rock Street

Click here to read about the occupants of number 8 Rock Street

 This page was last updated: 22/08/2010