The Front, Holywell (RGL2025)

Oak Cottage, The Front, Holywell

History of Oak Cottage

Listed Building

C16 cottage with inserted floor to hall dated 1593 on ceiling beam. One-storey and attic.

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In 1881 the Tabbitt family were living in Back Street at 1 Manor Farm Cottages where Amelia was born. According to The Holywell Story by Joe Newell Fred’s wife, Amelia, was from Yelling. Fred at this time was Head Hersdman to the Sanders Spencer herd of Large and Middle White Yorkshire Pigs at Manor Farm. Mr Spencer was later to acknowledge that Fred Tabbitt’s remarkable knowledge of the breeding and showing of pigs had made a significant contribution to the success of the herd. In the course of his work he had travelled the countries of Europe and accompanied prize winning pigs at all the major Agricultural shows in Victorian England.

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1891 Front Street

Fred Tabbitt, 41, farm servant,

Amelia, 41,

Fred, 22, ag lab., b Needingworth

Arthur, 20, ag lab., b Needingworth

James, 18, ag lab., b Needingworth

Annie, 12, b Needingworth

Nellie, 9, b Holywell

David, 7, b Holywell

Jenny, 5, b Holywell

The family moved to ‘Berry House’ on Holywell front where Fred kept a small herd of five cows, and two horses, Jenny and Fisher. Fred would sometimes take a sick person in his pony and cart to the Doctor at St Ives, or collect medicines from the surgery.

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1901 Front Street

Frederick Tabbitt, 51, thatcher labourer,

Amelia, 51,

David, 17, gardener, b Holywell

Sarah, 15, housemaid, b Holywell

Mary, 8, b Holywell

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1911 Berrio House, Holywell

Fred Tabbitt, 61, farmer,

Amelia, 61,

Mary, 18, b Holywell

Hubert James How Freeman, nephew, 11, b Holywell

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1921

Frederick Tabbitt, 72, b Needingworth, smallholder retired

Amelia, 72, b Needingworth

clerk trade union, Mary, 28, b Holywell

Herbert James Freeman, visitor, 21, clerk trade union Nat Ass of Ass. Masters, b Holywell,

Frederick Arthur Chambers, grandon, 5, b St Ives

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1928

Mary married Walter Wilmer and moved to The Pantiles.

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1939

Frederick Tabbitt, b 1849, incapacitated

Frederick died in 1940

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