Little End, Eaton Socon

History of Little End Eaton Socon

In 2024 there were excavations which uncovered important Roman archaeological remains. The report on these can be found by following the link below to the CAS 2024 Volume CXIII Proceedings.

In 2015 – 2016 there was an archaeological investigation of the remains of 19th century farm labourers’ cottages in the hamlet of Little End. The report can be found in the 2024 CAS proceedings:

https://www.camantsoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PCAS2024_WebSummaries.pdf

The paper includes a brief history. In 1799 Little End was a hamlet which included a public house, The Bell. By the mid-19th century there was a collection of houses on the west side of the Great North Road between two pubs, The Crown, to the south, and a different Bell inn to the north, with Bell Farm half way between the two. The Crown public house was built in the 17th century; initially a private dwelling, it was licensed in 1816 and survives into the 21st century.

The Bell public house was listed in the 1799 Inclosure Award under the name William Fowler the Elder. Anecdotal evidence has suggested it may date back to 1608 but the external appearance does not evidence that. It was sold to John Day, a brewer, in 1814. In 1840, Day sold it and it became a farm, Bell Farm. It was sold again in 1854.

During the 18th century up to 20 coaches a day passed through Eton Socon.

The 1841 census lists 131 people in 24 household. The 1861 census lists 142 in 30 households. Between 1861 and 1901 all the houses between the Crown and the Bell were demolished. By 1901 the whole population had shrunk to 45 in 12 houses. After the widening of the Great North Road, only 9 dwellings remained.