We are very grateful to the owners of Forge Cottage for their generosity in allowing us to review and copy 70 images from numerous documents relating primarily to the history of the property and its occupants.
The 11th document is an Indenture for Conveyance dated the 28th August 1923, made between Josiah Henry Matthews of Rose Cottage, Henham, insurance agent, the vendor and Eleanor Kate Banister and Kathleen Bassett Banister both of Caldecote Cottage, Elstree Road, Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, spinsters. This was for the purchase of Rose Cottage for £675 together with gardens, stables and outbuildings and also the sale of a cottage (known in 2011 as Forge Cottage, Henham) and blacksmiths shop adjoining the messuage and situated on the south side of Church Street now in the occupation of the vendor. The purchasers could also take water from the well situated on the adjoining property, now or formerly belonging to Thomas Wright, by means of a pump.
By conveyance dated the 20th January 1969 Kathleen Bassett Banister conveyed to James Dixon a small piece of land on the east side of the within described property having a frontage of 3 feet and a depth on the east side of 55 feet 3 inches and breadth at the rear of 12 feet 3 inches.
By an Assent made the 26th July 1978 between Alice May Banister and Anthony May Hemming (the executors of the will of Kathleen) on the one part and Donald James Dixon on the other part, a piece of land forming part of the within described property and which said piece of land, shown hatched blue on the plan attached to the said assent, was conveyed to Donald James Dixon.
The documents can be accessed by selecting one of the dates below –