The Origins of Darlington Cottage

Darlington Cottage

Notes from the oldest title deeds held by Edward Horesh’s solicitors Stone King, seen by CJM on 8th December 2009 by arrangement with their Mr. Ashton with the permission of Mr. Horesh.

The oldest document is a Deed of Gift dated 18th October 1819 between Walter Harris, builder, and his only son Joseph Harris, who was living on the land at the time. The gift was "in consideration of ...natural love and affection". It involved a plot of land 30ft. wide where it fronted on the road, 115 ft. long on its south side and 113ft. long on its north side.

Next, in February 1823, was a Lease of the plot and a dwelling house to Mr. Edward Wilson of Barnard’s Green in the parish of Great Malvern. Later in the same year Joseph Harris sold the property to Mr. Wilson, price not stated.

There is nothing in these deeds that confirms or refutes the contention that Darlington Cottage has an old part that was built well before any of the other houses at the northern end of Sydney Buildings. A really old building of some sort could have escaped mention and mapping, but it seems more likely from the involvement of the two Harrises that Darlington Cottage was one of the original houses built during the first wave of development following the release of land for that purpose by William Harry Earl of Darlington in June 1812. In other words it is likely to have been built around 1815. Note that the Harrises are listed in the Bath Directory for 1819 as living at No.1 (Walter) and No.2 (Joseph) Sydney Buildings.

MANNERS FROM THE PAST

Shortly after William and Diana Cook and their two small sons moved into No 13 Sydney Buildings in 1972 they were called upon by an elderly lady who opened the conversation with “Are you At Home?” (to the amazement of the little boys!) The lady in question, probably in her late eighties, was a Mrs Norah Cleveland Holmden who lived at No 16 and was making a social call on her new neighbours. Very much of her time in mode of manners, dress and speech, her visit culminated in an invitation to dine in order that they might become better acquainted. A written note soon followed with the request “Please tell your husband that there will be no need for black tie.”

The young Norah Cleveland Smith was presented at Court on May 13th 1904. Married late in life and widowed not long afterwards she moved into No 16 Sydney
Buildings sometime around 1950 aged sixty or so, and remained there until her death in the early 1980s.

In Diana’s words: “It was as if she didn’t really know how to proceed in the modern world.” She did, nevertheless, own a little Austin 7 car, which, having a passion for the works of Jane Austen, she called……um, “Jane”.

She and Diana became good friends over the years. Norah left the accompanying photograph and documents to Diana in her will.





Many thanks to Jackie Morrissey for this contribution.
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