This study explores its history.
There is a dearth of early maps of urban Ledbury and none earlier than the Tithe Map of 1839/41 which is shown below. The dotted line on the right of the map shows the urban boundary at that time.
All the houses in the Southend were built by 1841 and it is difficult to record historical progress. As might be expected, with a few exceptions, construction gradually moved away from the Upper Cross.
Most buildings are narrow, tall, three storey dwellings, exceptions being The Royal Oak, the former George Inn, the former Unicorn Inn, No 23, (The Yews) and Southend House No 31.
No 23, the only property set back from the road, used to sit in its own grounds of some five acres: it was the sale of this house and its grounds in 1827 that enabled much of the development further along the street.
Most of the buildings are listed, the listings giving the century in which they were constructed. (All buildings listed in Ledbury can be found here.)
From these listings I have coloured the plots accordingly showing how construction gradually moved down the street.
Before 1600
1600 - 1700
1700 - 1800
1800 - 1850
People are more interesting than houses and on each property page I have not only listed the occupants from the censuses but found their stories from genealogical sources and newspapers.
There are literally hundreds of names here, if it is family names you are searching for there is a Search box on the Home page.
If the Ledbury Reporter ever becomes digitally available and searchable much more could be found.
Linked to the Tithe Map is a schedule, known as the Apportionment, listing the owners and tenants and I have used this as a starting point. It is reproduced here with today's numbering added.
Plot Owner Occupier Property Today's Number 257 John Ford Edwin Allgood House 1 258 Ann Murrell Herself House and yards 2 259 Philip John Miles Thomas Oakley and Alfred Allgood House and yard 3 & 4 260 Philip John Miles Mary Amy House and garden 5 261 Philip John Miles Robert Juckes House 6 262 Robert Slade William Loade House and Garden 7 263 Robert Slade Henry Denton and Benjamin Rea Houses and Gardens 8 264 Henry Chadd Himself, Thomas Clarke, Charles Hill Houses 9 265 George Hatton Sarah Webb Abigail Turner John Tustin Houses and Yards Samuel Standon James Taylor 266 Eliza Taylor James Nott and John Williams Houses yds 10 & 11 bldgs and gardens 267 Eliza Taylor Thomas Prosser House and Yard 268 School Property Thomas Underwood and Charlotte Fraser Houses and Yards 13 (John Biddulph Trustee) 269 Rev Joseph Higgins Isaac Gwinnett House garden & orchard 15 270 Richard Rider Himself 16 271 William Russell Robert Ballard 17 & 18 Philip Ballard Hannah Ballard 19 272 William Russell Himself and Willm Alford 20 & 21 273 Robert Slade John Kings 22 274 Hannah Mutlow James Collins 23 275 Elizabeth Juckes James Collins and Frances Matthews 24 & 25 276 James Ward Ann Gurney 26 277 James Ward Reverend Baker 27 278 James Collins Simon Merricks 28 279 Southend Charity School Elizabeth Maddox 29 John Biddulph Trustee 280 John Hollings Charles Asprey Beddoe 30 281 John Hollings Edward Hankins 31 283 William Juckes John Allen and himself 39 & 40
Note from the Today's Numbering column there is no No 12 or 14 and you will still not find those numbers on the street.
From 1908 Tilley's Almanack lists the house numbers and occupants but never defines numbers between 12 and 17 just listing occupants.
The 1910 Survey goes some way to solving this mystery, although it too does not specify house numbers in this area. No 12 is a small property demolished in the early C20 and Nos 13 and 14 are school property. More details on the No 13 page.
Ledbury Rural
As mentioned the hatched line on the right of the above plan is the extent of Ledbury Borough at that time, ending at No 40.To check the properties further down the Southend it is necessary to see Ledbury Rural Tithe Map.
The original of this is not readily available and the B/W film copy available in the Hereford Record Office does not show this area very clearly. Fortunately there is a map, copied from the official Tithe Map, of the same date available.
This is shown here, the green line being the Borough Boundary, Mabel's Furlong is between Plots 1423 and 1681.
As you can see only Gloucester House (Plot 1421) and the Toll House (Plot 1423) are there, with nothing between Plot 283 (see above) and Gloucester House.
This is where the row of terraced houses now are, known at the time as Willow Terrace.
The 1841 Tithe map was surveyed in 1838/9, Willow Terrace is listed in the 1841 census which was taken on June 6th 1841 so it is safe to say it was built between those dates.
From the Tithe Apportionment.
Owner Occupier Plot 1420 William Hatton Wiliam Hatton Plot 1421 Robert Slade John Philips Gloucester House Plot 1422 Philip John Miles Thomas Holbrook Plot 1423 Philip John Miles Simon Chadwick The Toll House Plot 1424 Philip John Miles Himself
I am indebted to all members of Old Ledbury Facebook Group for their collective memories without which the task would have been even more difficult.
There are sure to be some mistakes and omissions which I will be only too happy to put right if you email me at the address on the Home page.