Green's Cottage, Butt's Hill
Green's Cottage, rebuilt in 1987-89
In the October 2009 edition of the Totley Independent a drawing appears on the Front Cover of our cottage by Brian Edwards. He writes that in recent times it has been much altered and extended. This information is incorrect as the dwelling was completely rebuilt 1987-1989.
Following the Totley Open Gardens which for the first time we participated in, and the publication of the October Independent, many visitors and passers-by have shown interest in the name and history of the cottage and the families who have lived here.
This has led to us dusting down the deed box and investigating the history and ownership of the original site. We know there were three dwellings on the original piece of land from the late 17th Century, but we have only the deeds and conveyancing documents from 1843 which we enclose extracts and facts from.
On the 12th July 1843, William Green, farmer of Totley in the said county of Derby died, leaving all his three tenanted dwelling houses to his wife Elizabeth Green and on her death to her son George Boot along with rents from the dwellings. She would not survive him long. One month later on the 14th August 1843 Elizabeth died (she is buried at Dore Church).
On reaching the age of 25 under the terms of his step-father's will, George settles £15 to each sister namely Lydia Boot and Mary Ann Boot whilst he retains the cottages. In October of 1892 at Branson and Sons Solicitors of Sheffield, George, now of Upper Newbould county of Derby, unemployed, sells on three cottages, to a Thomas Earnshaw, fish and game dealer of Sheffield in the county of York, for the sum of £260 plus Stamp Duty of one pound seven shillings and sixpence. Incidentally, this is the year William Gladstone, at the age of 80, forms his fourth government.
Thomas Earnshaw would not enjoy much longer the pleasure of owning three dwellings on Butts Hill, as he died on the 3rdMay 1893. He left his property to his son Arthur. Several occupants lived in the cottages paying rent (amounts unknown) namely Amy Ward, Arthur Bradley and George Ward.
In 1899 Arthur Earnshaw died, leaving his estate to Thomas his son. Thomas died in 1917, but unfortunately, we have no information as to what happened to the land and cottages, or indeed who lived in them.
Frankly, inheriting property on Butts Hill didn't seem to be such a good idea!
There is not much information about the cottages from then on, as to who lived there or when properties fell into ruin. We do know that on the 24th June 1987 Doctor Marjorie Hanna Earnshaw Flowerday sold the land and what was left of the remaining cottages (shown in the photographs) to Mr Clive Crossland. In late 1987 Planning Permission was granted for a much larger building to be erected.
Although the remaining derelict cottage was not listed, many restrictions were put on the development of the new building, one of which was that only natural random stone could be used in the construction.
The old cottage was demolished and the new building was completed in 1989. Mr and Mrs Crossland wisely named the much larger building "Greens Cottage", presumably after the original owners.
We bought the house in 1993 from the Crosslands. In 1994 we purchased more land from our neighbouring property which now forms part of a second Garden, using old stone to wall the boundary.
A few years ago we were contacted by a lady who was born in the original cottage, on site where Greens Cottage now stands; she asked if she could come into the garden to remember her childhood. We agreed and she came with her son and granddaughter, she spoke fondly and tearfully of all the lovely times her and her siblings and cousins had enjoyed in the garden.
She was one of three children and when her mother was told she was pregnant with twins they had no alternative but to move to Sheffield (named City of Lights by Totley folk) to a bigger property. The children missed their old cottage in Butts Hill so much, that at every opportunity, they would catch the tram to Millhouses Terminus and then walk the rest of the way to play in the garden. She told how the kitchen faced the rear and told us where the well and toilet for the cottages had been. Her memories were very interesting and heart warming. We have unfortunately lost touch with the lady, but if anyone knows more about the families that lived here prior to the cottages falling in to disrepair, we would be delighted to hear from them.
On a lighter note, on searching these documents, (from 1843) the conveyancing states that 12 shillings a year must be set aside to buy bread and take to Dore Church. I hope the Dore Vicar doesn't read the Totley Independent as Martin's sandwich shop on Totley Rise is going to be very busy with back orders.
Chris and Martin Campion
November 2009