One of the many overlooked sources for family history and local history are local newspapers.
Below, I give just one simple advertisement from a Norfolk newspaper on 1850. With this and the 1851 census, I have been able to build up quite a lot of information about these particular cottages.
14 Freehold Cottages with gardens attached
A double-fronted shop and dwelling house & other premises at Docking in Norfolk.
To be sold by auction by Mr J Beck of Friday 15th February 1850 at the King William Inn, Docking at five o’clock in the evening.
All those 14 valuable and substantial Freehold Cottages with the gardens attached, on the site of a piece of land formerly called The Cherry Ground. Also an excellent shop, with double frontage and dwelling house and two cottages adjoining, situated next the Fring Road, in the following or such other lots, as may be determined upon at the time of the sale:-
Lot 1: Two freehold cottages with sheds and small piece of ground at the East end, occupied by John Easter & William Melton, at an annual rents amounting to £7 17/6d
Lot 2: A freehold cottage adjoining lot 1, with garden in front and & privy detached, subject to the rights after mentioned and front and back entrances to cottage occupied by William Davy at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 3: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Robert Claxton at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 4: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Robert Sadler at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 5: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by George Houghton at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 6: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Robert Allen at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 7: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Thomas Bunting at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lots 1,3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 have the right to use the privy part of lot 2
Lot 8: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and privy detached, subject to the rights after mentioned and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Thomas Hudson at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 9: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by John Playford at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 10: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Robert Seaman at the annual rent of £7 10/-
Lot 11: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by William Sadler at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 12: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by Joshua Hendry at the annual rent of £4 10/-
Lot 13: A freehold cottage adjoining the last lot, with garden in front and front and back entrances to cottage, occupied by James Bennett at the annual rent of £5
The last five lots are to have the use of the privy part of Lot 8
Lot 14: An excellent shop with double frontage and dwelling house occupied by James Plillippo, Watch-maker at the annual rent of £10 10/- with an out-house and privy.
Also a cottage adjoining the said dwelling house occupied by Richard Comb at the annual rent of £6 and a cottage adjoining the same occupied by Henry Drew which cottage is sold subject to the right of the present tenant to the use and occupation thereof during his life at the annual rent of £1 5/-
The last lot is copyhold of the Manor of Docking Hall in Docking.
All the above described cottages, shop, dwelling house and other buildings are substantially brick built & tiled and (with the exception of lot 1), have all been erected within the last four years and all, without exception, are in excellent repair.
For further particulars apply to Mr John Lake at the King William Inn, Docking, the auctioneer, Snettisham and Mr Loynes, Solicitor, Wells.
