So sorry I have not replied earlier, I did not receive notifications until today..
When did you move in Cra 19n?
My family moved there in 1957. At the time it was 3 cottages 2 onto the main road and 1 behind. The cottages were classed as slum buildings as there was only 1 outside toilet for all the cottages. I think only one had recently been occupied, but all 3 were in a very poor state. My father was only allowed to buy them because he said he intended to return them to one property and would complete any necessary repair., which he did himself. I was born the following year. At the time they had 2 rooms finished and as he had removed the staircase they had to climb upstairs via a ladder. Over the next few years they changed it around to make it into a lovely cozy family home. During our time it was only 3 bedrooms on the first floor. The attic had not been converted as it is today. There was also no staircase to the attic floor as I believe there is now. During the alterations we found little hidden treasures... There was a little cupboard on the landing by the bathroom, in the back we found a child's shoe. It was the size of a toddlers shoe but had a well worn heel and the laces on the front were still tied. The museum estimated it to be about 250 years old (300 now) and because people were much smaller it would have been from a child of about 7 years of age. We also found numerous bits of clay pipes, all used, one with a monkeys head, a bone handled knife, hand made comb etc. We left these treasures with the house where they belonged and I hope they were passed on. My Father renamed it the Fleur de Luce, I think around 1990 and added the plaque to the outside wall I assume is still there today. Before that we lovingly nicknamed it 'Crumbling' Manor '. It had many many years ago been a coaching Inn but whether that was the name then, I cannot say. It was however an Inn of this name around the beginning of the 20th century with a bad reputation. A story of a squabble between friends and subsequent murder is told in a book called Dark after 7. Our house is on the books cover and was drawn from a photo my Dad provided.
I remember Dad saying the original deed had been lost in a fire before our time but there was talk that the house had originally been the Manor house. The cottages built on the side were added a couple of 100 years ago. It was given grade II status in the 1960s. I believe part of it was even a chip shop for a short time.
For our part, it was a warm cozy family home to my parents and my sister. A very outgoing family. The door was always open and the kettle on for the many friends popping in. And party! Boy did we party.
Sadly my Mum died at home in 1996, my Dad survived her by 10 years but when he died in 2006 we sold it. The new owner made many change, many of the structural changes my parents would have approved of but the cozy decor was removed and a modern airy interior was added. It had also been a chocolate box cottage with roses growing up the walls but the new owner removed all these. I do of course have plenty of photos, but I don't know how to add them.
To the new owner, I would say, I hope you have as many happy years there as we did. I was so very very lucky to have grown up in such a lovely home and what ever it's past, I can assure you the ghosts are very friendly. Although I no longer live locally, I will be happy call on you to tell you more of our life there , bring photos, and tell you of local life and it's characters at that time.
