Who lived in this Farmhouse?

[nicdigby]

I’ve been wondering how my grandparents Walter Digby b 1870 and Helen Pidgeon Howlett b 1870 met and married in 1896.

Walter grew up in Little Sampford, Essex. Helen grew up near Norwich, Norfolk.

My mother has found a Grade two listed house in Little Sampford called Howlett’s Farmhouse. First I dismissed it as a coincidence but it is an unusual name. I wondered if the Howletts brothers , uncles etc did live there said to their fellow villagers “we’ve got a niece in Norfolk for one of your sons to marry” or if Helen came visiting and met Walter.

I’ve had a search but I can’t find anyone who lived there, and I wondered if anyone could help please?

[rosie99]

Do you have their marriage certificate as that may give an address they were living at before they married which may give a clue.  I see they were married Depwade reg district

Have you located the property on the 1891 and 1901 census

[robesur]

Farms were often named after a tenant, subsequently changing when a new tenant came along or sometimes sticking with that name. Howlett is not an uncommon name in that corner of North West Essex. In fact there is a Hamlet in an adjoining village called 'Howlett's End' which is only about 2 miles away through the footpaths and tracks which were used extensiveley in days before cars.

It is possible that your Helen Howlett became a servant at one of the large houses in the area and met Walter Digby that way. As probably a pure coincidence a large Digby family lived in Howletts End in the middle of the last century.

[Kay99]

If it helps this family was living there is 1901 and the farm was transcribed as Howblls Farm - on FindMyPast
Charles   Gipps 35 Farm Labourer   Radwinter, Essex
Hannah   Gipps   Wife   34   Little Sampford, Essex
William   Gowlett   Step Son   11   Essex
Alfred   Gipps 8   Little Sampford, Essex
Florence   Gipps 4 Little Sampford, Essex
Albert   Gipps 1   Little Sampford, Essex

Kay

[ShaunJ]

Alfred Buttle and family in 1891.

[nicdigby]

thank you all!

[nicdigby]

Do you have their marriage certificate as that may give an address they were living at before they married which may give a clue.  I see they were married Depwade reg district

Have you located the property on the 1891 and 1901 census

Walter Digby, age 26, Labourer, bachelor, born 1870
Residence   S Gabriel's Pimlico
Father  Benjamin Digby, Labourer
Spouse Helen Pidgeon Howlett, age 26, born 1870, spinster
Residence   Aslacton
Spouse's father Hubert Howlett, Farmer
Witnesses: Hubert Howlett and Hester Ann Pidgeon

I cant find the property myself on the census.

[robesur]

The property is on the road from Thaxted to Great Sampford (not the road direct to Little Sampford) On the left hand side about half way, which is in the Little Sampford parish area

[stanmapstone]

The property is on the road from Thaxted to Great Sampford (not the road direct to Little Sampford) On the left hand side about half way, which is in the Little Sampford parish area

See https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=51.97541&lon=0.36943&layers=168&right=BingHyb

and https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341837#zoom=4&lat=9561&lon=2768&layers=BT
Stan