Wren Cottage

Tthatched Cottage

This photo is labelled Belvedere 1900, at one time it may have been one property but by the mid 1800’s we know it housed 2 families. From the mid 18th century the Catchpole family lived in the right hand side, whilst the left side became Wren  Cottage.

The road on which the house sits (now known as the A1120) has had many different names since  census taking commenced, so knowing of the continuous occupation of the Catchpoles certainly made tracing the history of Wren Cottage much easier.

At the present time we do not have any records of who lived there before the 19th century.

From the Tithe Apportionments of we  know that in 1840  the property labelled 344, was owned by John Burch with an occupier George Pike et al . At some point this was named Wren Cottage.

George Pike (1783 – 1864) had married Sarah Baker (1784 – 1864) in 1803 at Creeting St Peter. George was an Agricultural labourer. George died in January 1864 whilst Sarah died in December 1864.

The 1851 census tells us that Stephen and Mary Catchpole are living in Mendlesham Road as they never moved house we know their neighbours  in Wren Cottage are Richard Bly (a widower, age 40 ) with 3 young children and Eliza and William Chapman with a daughter Eliza and grandson. By the age of 60, Richard has married an Eliza and they are living in a cottage next door to Saxham Cottage in Saxham Steet.

By the 1861 census, the Catchpoles are now living in Saxham Street, although they still haven’t moved house. Their neighbours now are now are Charles Burroughs (b1830) , Mary (b 1825) with their sons Charles, James, Elijah, George and Philip. In 1891 Elijah is named as a shop keeper in Saxon {Saxham} Street.

1871 Census – living along Stonham Road. next door to the Catchpole family were Charles and Mary Burroughs with their 6 sons.

1881 census – still living in Stonham Road and next door to Stephen and Mary- Ann Catchpole was Mary Burrows (she is a widow and although her surname is spelt different to 10 years previously!) and her 6 sons , they are all agricultural labourers aged from 14 to 27.

In 1891 Mary is still there aged 61 with sons Charles, Samuel age 29 and James 26.

In 1901 Mary age 73 is still there with her son Samuel in his 30s

By 1911  a new family has replaced the Burrows – John Wm. Edwards age 46 with his wife Sarah age 44. They have sons Fred. 19 who worked at Explosives works, George 21 worked at Chemical works, John 14 grocers shop assistant and Isaac 9. Edith Wilden age 3 is named as a visitor.
In the 1901 an Edwards couple had been living in the Hop House, Bury Road, Stowmarket, he was working in one of the town’s maltings

Press cutting from 19th January 1934
Poultry in the Cemetery Complaint was made as to the Cemetery being invaded by poultry from Mr. John Edward’s property adjoining, and it was decided to write asking for the necessary steps to taken to prevent this
in the future.
Press cutting from 4th Nov 1938
STOWUPLAND GOLDEN WEDDING November Ist. 1888. “Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards of Church Road, Stowupland were married by the Rev. Mitton. of Stowmarket and Tuesdav they were still enjoying life to the full within a few yards of the church in which they were married. They have lived at their present abode for 37 years, and previous to that had lived at the old Tollgate house and at Hopground house”.
……………….
From the 1939 register (War Survey similar to a census)John Wm. Edwards (b 1865) and his wife Sarah (b 1868) are still in Wren Cottage..