Wisteria Cottage - Shrivenham

Just as you leave Shrivenham on what was the main A420 towards Faringdon, the walls of Wisteria Cottage form part of the edge of the road on the left hand side, directly on the corner of Claypits Lane. It is a well-known cottage and many senior residents have at some time lived there. 

Shrivenham Heritage Society would like to list the details of all properties of note in Shrivenham and district and what we know of this cottage will make up this listing so far. As always, we invite anyone with further information to contact us on info@shrivenhamheritagesociety.co.uk.

The earliest reference we have for it, is from the accounts kept by George Merryweather, the Beckett Estate Steward from 1815 - 1821. In order for him to understand who lived where on the estate, he had all the leases drawn up and noted. We are fairly certain the the following refers to Wisteria Cottage. 'Gilbert Woolward, Shrivenham. By lease granted by William Lord Barrington dated 30th Sep 1775, of a cottage with a garden having a Close called Common Close, west, and the Common Highway, east, late in the possession of William barrett and held by Ann New Woolward, deceased, for years determinable with lives then expired 29th Sept 1775. Gilbert Woolward, Mary, wife and Thomas the son.'

From the side that faces the main road, it can bee seen that Wisteria Cottage has been subject to many changes over the years. Without documentary or archaeological evidence it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly when it was first built. From the side that faces the main road it can be seen that there are a higher concentration of Sarsen stones nearer the footings which suggests that it has been stripped down and rebuilt. A former door is evident below the wooden lintel in the wall and next to that are more additions and repairs.

The Tithe Map of 1844 lists the cottage as one residence, owned by the Barrington Estate and occupied by Richard Butler. But a Barrington Estate map of 1866 lists it as 2 dwellings, whereby one is still occupied by Richard Butler and the other Charles Carvey. So between those two periods there had been physical change to the property, and it can be seen that more took place from then to the present.