11 and 13 Royston Street Potton

These two houses were, owned by the Congregational church in Potton| from 1956. Deeds deposited with Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service in 2009 show that in 1907 they were owned, along with three other cottages in Royston Street and Sun Street and two properties in the Market Place, by William and Charles Bond-Smith, grocers and wine merchants [Z771/17/37].

Charles sold his half share in the two cottages to William in 1916 [Z771/17/37] and in 1937 he conveyed them to Kenneth Charles Bond-Smith of Amersham Common [Buckinghamshire]. He emigrated to South Africa and in 1956 conveyed the two properties to the Congregational church [Z771/17/1].

11 Royston Street was sold to the sitting tenants in 1992 [Z771/17/24] who sold it themselves in 2004. 13 Royston Street was sold by the church in the same year, some ten years after the church buildings themselves were sold.

The sale particulars for 11 Royston Street [Z771/17/30] stated that it comprised the following: entrance hall; cellar measuring 9 feet 10 inches by 8 feet 10 inches; lounge measuring 10 feet 7 inches by 10 feet 6 inches; dining room measuring 14 feet 9 inches by 9 feet 7 inches; kitchen measuring 12 feet 5 inches by 5 feet 7 inches; landing; bathroom and three bedrooms measuring 13 feet by 9 feet 8 inches, 10 feet square and 11 feet by 6 feet 8 inches.

The sale particulars for 13 Royston Street [Z771/17/31] described the premises as follows: : hall; lounge measuring 10 feet 9 inches by 10 feet 7 inches; dining room measuring 10 feet 7 inches by 9 feet 4 inches; porch; cellar measuring 10 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 6 inches; kitchen measuring 9 feet 3 inches by 5 feet 7 inches; landing; bathroom; two bedrooms measuring 10 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 2 inches and 10 feet 9 inches square and rear garden measuring 40 feet by 17 feet 2 inches.