The Yandover Estate in Charmouth

Click on Charmouth Home to return back.

Next time you go to Nisa (Charmouth Stores) have a look at the buildings either side stretching from Stanley House to Barr's Lane. If you could go back 200 years, they would present you with a completely different aspect. You would be looking on to a group of thatched cottages, workshops, warehouses and coach house belonging to Jacob Ridley Kitt. They were then known as Yandover and were a centre for Sail Cloth manufacture. He and generations before had carried on this business from here from at least the beginning of the 18 th century.
The site is ancient and would have originally faced on to the Roman road (Ackling Dyke) established nearly 2000 years ago linking Dorchester (Durnovaria) with Exeter (Isca). It was in an important position as it was roughly half way along “The Street”and adjoined a crossroads with a route to Wootton Fitzpaine and the interior (Barrs Lane) to the north and to the Sea (Lower Sea Lane) on the south bisecting The Street (east-west).
By 1297 there was already a number of buildings including a Mill, Guildhall, Church and Market along the Street and it was in this year that William, Abbot of Forde who owned the village decided to upgrade it to a “free borough”. This is well documented in the Cartulary from that period which has survived at Forde Abbey and has over 57 documents relating to Charmouth. Along both sides of the Street were created long burgage plots with a stone boundary wall at the rear on the north, which has mainly survived. The Charter specifies that they were to be 4 perches (22 yards) by 20 perches (110 yards) which is half acre and were let at 6d p.a. Unfortunately with competition from Bridport and Lyme Regis the new Borough of Charmouth was never really successful and to derive an income from the meagre plots most were amalgamated with their neighbours as was the case with Yandover. The owners were able to build houses on them and use the Common land, whose names have survived in Single and Double Common to this day. The weekly Market and annual Fair would no doubt have been in the vicinity of this important crossroads.
The Abbots were to own the village for nearly 4 centuries and at the beginning of the 16 th century, Thomas Chard is shown to have invested in the village by rebuilding the present day Abbott's House and Church. But more relevant is the Manor House to the west of Yandover whose structure is dated back in its Listing to this period. It was a substantial building and after the dissolution was to be the home of subsequent Lords of the Manor of Charmouth. When Forde Abbey was dissolved in 1539, it was Sir William Petre whose signature appears on the document and by 1564 he owned this village as well as many others in England. He was immensely wealthy and used his position of Secretary of State under four Monarchs to improve his position. He is known to have had over 36,000 acres in Devon alone.   It was his son John, who in 1575 was to sell a number of properties in the village, which included Charmouth House, The Rose and Crown and The Elms. He gave 2000-year leases to the owners with a small annual rental. The balance of his estate was sold in the same year to William Pole living at Shute, near Axminster whose family were to become the Lords of the Manor for the next 74 years.
We are fortunate today in that the famous historian, Reginald Pavey was able to see the Deeds to “The Limes”, which stands on part of the Yandover site and take detailed notes from them. From these it can be seen that a 2,000 year lease was issued by Sir John Petre on the 14 th October 1575. The estate included 16 acres of land, most of which was to the east of the River Char in the area known later as “ The Lears”, though one field was still known as Yandovers.
At present I am unsure who was to purchase Yandover, but I am quite confident that it was a member of the Limbry family who dominated the village at this time. The Muster List for 1542 shows four members supporting the King and later in 1588 of the twelve merchants in Charmouth assessed towards the charge of the Queen's Ship, both William and Edward appear. I am on safer ground in 1649 when there is a series of Court cases between the Limbry's and Edward's families, with a reference to a lease granted by John Petre to Edward Limbry. William and Andrew Limbry are his grandsons and each inherits half (moiety) of Yandovers. Edward Edwards, a wealthy citizen of Lyme Regis buys William's share and seeks to obtain the other half from Andrew. Initially he provides him with a mortgage against the property with an abstract as follows:
“… Said Andrew Limbry being possessed of the remainder of a term of 2000 years of one moiety of a messuage or tenement in Charmouth and of another tenement and lands there called Yandover containing 16 acres of the yearly value of £20, and that said Andrew having occasion for £50 did borrow the same of the said Edward Edwards and the said Andrew Limbry by his deeds dated April 1667 did mortgage the premises unto him”.
Eventually when Andrew is unable to pay he attempts to seize it and both parties end up in court. It is confusing, but for a while each family owned half. As a result by the beginning of the 18 th century Edward's Granddaughter Elizabeth Napier of Tintinhull, Somerset and William's granddaughter Joan Huchins als Chappell were joint owners. Joan, who inherits half of Yandover in 1674 from her grandfather, marries John Parsons who is later declared bankrupt.
Returning to the deeds to the Limes, they show that a Henry Samways is holding a mortgage on Yendover (Yandover) for £48. He is living in the village as his burial is recorded in 1706, but it is his elaborate, though rather sad memorial, in Beaminster Church, that provides valuable information about him. It reads as follows:
"Death, the Gateway of Life. In Memory of Henry Samwayes, Gentleman, who died the 22nd day of July, in the 60th year of his age, the year of our Lord 1706. And of five sons, John, Thomas, George, Garland and Robert, carried off by death in boyhood. And also of Henry his eldest son, who departed this life the 25th day of August 1711. Aged 35. And of Mary his only daughter, the last of his children and wife of Giles Merefield, Gentleman, who expired the 18th day of July, a.d. 1712. Aged 23. Five moons (months) saw her married and buried in the tomb. Joan Samways the widow erected this monument as a lasting token of her wifely and motherly love, earnestly desiring that her remains should, after the funeral (after her death) be deposited beneath, and under no circumstances in the future, be removed."
The deeds to Yandover make more sense after reading this as they show that Joan, widow of Henry Samways and her son in law, Giles Merefield of Beaminster sell their share of Yandover in Charmouth to William Hutchins alias Chappell in 1718. What is even more interesting is that there is still standing a Flax Mill at Lower Yandover, Netherbury that was used for producing Sail Cloth dating back to before 1720. A deed in the Dorset Record Office relates to a surrender of Yondover Meadow by Ann Crabb to Robert Merefield of Beaminster who later owned it. It would seem that both the Samways and Merefields were Sail Cloth Makers and when it was sold to William and Agnes Chappell the description of the existing property bears this out as follows:
“ all that dwelling house with coach house, warehouse, workshops, curtilage, gardens , orchard, stable with several pieces and parcels, closes called Yandover formerly 7 closes and now 5 closes consisting of 16 acres”.
Agnes and William Chappell were to have a daughter, Mary who was born in 1716. But in 1743, a year after the death of her husband the deeds show that Agnes Hutchings alias Chappell and Sarah Clapcott sell Yandover to Jacob Kitt, who is also described as a Sail Maker.
We are all aware of the importance of Bridport as a centre for rope making. But there were a number of related industries connected to the town as well. One of the most important was sail making for the growing number of merchant ships and the Navy. Rope making and the production of sail cloth eventually employed more than half of Bridport's population, while ten times that many worked in the outlying villages. I am sure that the 16 acres of fields that formed part of Yandover estate were used to grow Flax, which was a staple of the Sail Cloth making business . The Plants had to be prepared before they could be used for spinning and in most the preparation was carried out in mills, such as Kitts.
The earliest Poor Rates List for the village describe Mr. Jacob Kitt of "Yandovers" and in the same year William Gale is shown as an Apprentice to Kitt, Sail cloth manufacturer. The Parish Records reveal that he married Mary Ruttley and they were to have two children- William and Jacob Ridley Kitt. Sadly he is to die in 1770 aged just 50 and leaves his business to his wife, as his children are just 16 and 14 respectively at the time of his death. But in 1776 Mary remarries John Randall, a widower living in the village and it is his name that appears on the Land tax and Poor Rates lists for Charmouth. A detailed lease to Yendover estate in 1779 showing John Randall as Landlord and James Harris paying £42 per annum as Tenant for a large house and 16 acres of fields. He is very unhappy about paying too much Land Tax and takes the parish officers to court over this. The record of the case (PE /CMO//OV2 1779- 1782) still to be seen in the Dorset Record Office supplies an insight into the ownership of property in the village at the time.
The 1783 Record Book for a Map of Charmouth (now lost) shows that Mary and John Randall owned the buildings comprising Houses, workshop and gardens of nearly an acre on The Street and the Yandover fields to the east of the River Char of nearly 16 acres. They are detailed as follows with their value and acreage:
Mr. John Randall -House & Orchard (£12-0-0d) 3r 21p.
Yandovers - (1) Long Mead (£8-16-0d) 5a 2r (2) 3 Cornered Close (£4-9-0d) 2a 3r 38p (3) 3 Acres (£3 5s 8d) 2a 3r 3p (4) 5 Acres (£4-9-0d) 3a 3r 26p (5) Coppice (8-4d) 1r 24p.
Much of the following information about the progress and division of Yandover has been found by studying the annual Poor Rates and Land Tax for Charmouth that still exist from 1780 until 1834 and provide valuable insights, which cannot be found elsewhere. The Fields are rated as Yandovers at £1-15-7d and the buildings on the Street as 3s-3d. But in 1786 Jacob Ridley Kitt is shown as paying the rates on the House. Two years later Mary dies and her estate goes to her two sons Jacob Ridley and William. In 1789 Jacob Ridley Kitt is shown as a Sail Cloth Maker with William Burnard as his apprentice. William was to go on and build his own business up and by the time of his death owned a number of properties in the village and rented Woods Farm from Mrs. Austin, no doubt to grow Flax which was the staple he needed for his cloth.
The Deeds for Yandover in the year - 1793 are very descriptive:
William Kitt conveys to Jacob R. Kitt all rights to House with workshops, Courtleys, garden, Orchard hitherto belonging to Jacob R.Kitt and that Jacob Kitt shall convey to William Kitt house belonging (now 2 houses bought by Francis Rutley and John Davie and now in possession of Jacob R. Kitt as tenant) to William Kitt and to the several pieces, parcels and closes called Yandover formerly 7 closes and now 5 closes containing 16 acres” .
In 1795 the Land Tax return confirms that the fields known as Yandover are owned by William, but rented by Jacob Ridley, who also owns and lives in the house on the Street. By 1804 the rates on the houses has jumped from 3s 8d to 17s 3d that must show a number of additional buildings on the site. He is also renting a number of fields along the coast known as “Sealands” which adjoined his, no doubt for growing Flax. In 1809 he takes a mortgage with Richard Graze of Bridport , which describes a house with coach house, warehouse, workshops, gardens, orchards and stable. William Stephens, who is the landlord of the 3 Crowns (Coach and Horses), on the opposite side of the road, is shown as renting stables at this time. During the next few years there is an obvious boom in Sail Cloth with the increase in ships needed for the Napoleonic Wars, Jacob obviously benefits from this and rents additional fields including Hurlescroft.
Sadly his success was to come to an end with the sharp decline in the market for sails after the end of the war in 1815, when it would appear that Jacob was to lose his business. For the Land Tax list show that Richard Graze, who had lent him money, was now the owner of the Yandover fields with James and Stephen Atkinson owning most of his buildings, though fortunately, his daughter Ann Kitt had been provided for with a house and garden on part of the site.
It is difficult to know what exactly happened to Jacob, but his Will gives an insight into his changed fortunes, for it reveals that by 1823 he had been living in Charterhouse Almshouses in London for 8 years and it would seem had lost his fortune and had little to his name at the time of his death. He leaves £5 each to his children and £8 to Thomas Morgan, grandson of the late Thomas Morgan of Charmouth in Dorset “who has sustained a loss by my failure”.
It would seem from the Land Tax records that by 1816 the Yandover fields mentioned earlier by the river were now owned and being rented to Robert Slader by Richard Craze and that the group of former Sail Cloth manufacturing buildings facing on to The Street were bought by James and Stephen Atkinson. They seem to have been early property developers as they demolish as well as sell on various buildings to Joseph Bradbeer and William Stephens.
Little Lodge – formerly Charmouth`s earliest Store and School.
It is to Jacob Ridley Kitts daughter Ann that we must turn to now, for the deeds show that:
“in 1816 Stephen Atkinson, merchant of Cheddington, Thomas Hart, grocer of Bridport. Richard F. Roberts, Yarn Manufacturer of Burton Bradstock and Mrs Jacob Kitt provide Ann Kitt, with a house”.
This is now the site of “Little Lodge” that adjoins Charmouth House (The Limes). She was only there briefly, but appears to have run a General Store. There are 2 references to this. The first is a billhead dated 1816 with a receipt for buttons, cotton and a hat to the Overseers of the Poor. The second a small guide to Lyme Regis in the same year, where she is listed as “Kitts” in Charmouth - where copies of the book could be bought . This must have been the forerunner of Charmouth Stores (Nisa) that now occupies the building on the opposite side of the alleyway.
Ann is aged 27 when she marries John White who is also a shopkeeper from Ilminster. They then sell the premises to James Welsh a Mariner from Lyme Regis just 2 years later. He is later described as a Grocer and in due course in 1822 sells it to William Stephens, who also owns a neighbouring property for £390. William then leases the shop to Charles Cookney, described as a Linen draper in an 1830 Pigots Directory for Charmouth. But by 1834 William has moved to Exeter and sells it on to George Biddlecombe of Winsham, Somerset who is also a Linen draper, for £425. In 1837 his nephew Samuel Aplin rents it for £26 per annum from his uncle and opens a general store, of which billheads have survived. It is short lived and the business is advertised in the local newspaper on 7 April 1837 as follows:
“To Drapers, Grocers, Ironmongers, and General Shopkeepers. To be let, with immediate possession, in the populous village of Charmouth, Dorset, - A good, extensive shop, warehouse, and dwelling house adjoining, lately in the occupation of Samuel Aplin, where a considerable trade has been done, and susceptible of great improvement, Rent moderate. Apply (if by letter, post paid) to George Biddlecombe, Winsham, near Chard. " 
A George Denning takes on the lease but by 1841 the Tithe map and census shows Charles Frost, a Draper renting the shop. George Biddlecombe dies in 1846 and leaves it to Daniel Hitchcock, who managed his other shop in Winsham for over 20 years. But by 1848 he is in financial difficulties and mortgages the property with a Mrs Edwards of Winsham, for £400. But he is soon unable to pay the interest and she forecloses on him, but when she dies in 1856 her executors are Brown and Tucker. The 1851 Census shows Samuel Byles, described as an Ostler aged 52, renting the property.
The devastating fire of 1864 reveals that this property was only just prevented from being destroyed by removal of the thatched roof. In 1870 they sell to Rev Montefiore, the owner of the adjoining property (The Limes) for £325 “ the messauge, shop and garden” . It is detailed as being used by the National School and in part occupied by Henry William Pryer and namely the property with frontage of 41 feet and garden behind with depth of 66 feet. The School is only there briefly whilst a new building is erected on their site in Lower Sea Lane. The neighbour and owner Rev. Montiefore appears twice in the School Log Book (now kept in the Dorchester Record Office), complaining about the excess noise of the children and there is also a reference to the building being a former shop. Reginald Pavey notes that the premises were burnt down in the middle of the 19 th Century and the present building was built on the site. When the Whittington's later purchased the adjoining “Limes” they were to run a private school from here for many years, and there are still villagers who remember going to the school when they were young.
The Limes (Charmouth Lodge)
Returning to the building we know today as “Charmouth Lodge”, but formerly “The Limes”, after the row of trees that fronted the Street.. The deeds to this property record it being two houses in 1793. But after its purchase by James and Stephen Atkinson in 1816 considerable expansion on the site is shown when it is assigned to Stephen three years later. It is described as:
All that dwelling house, formerly 2 houses. With a newly erected warehouse and plot of ground behind the same and also a workshop standing on the plot and adjoining the wall which separated the same from the close or meadow, afterwards described, and all the warehouse etc to be abutted and bounded on north by the wall which separate the same from the close. On the east by a road leading to Wootton on the south by the street and on the west by messuage belonging to Ann Kitt. And by a wall which separates the plot from the garden of Ann Kitt. Also all the range of old buildings parallel with the northern end of the garden of Ann Kitt and the garden of William Stephens , Inn Holder and extending from the northern end of the wall which separates the plot form Ann's Garden up to the piling adjoining the garden of Joseph Bradbeer and which said range of buildings contained in length from east to west and also that meadow containing about 3 roads abutted and bounded on the north by land belonging to the Rev. Brian Combe. on the east by road leading to Wootton on the east by a wall which separates the close form the plot of ground by the range of old buildings and on he west by the orchard of Joseph Bradbeer”.
A later deed dated 7th August 1819 reveals that the house with Warehouse and workshop were pulled down and on the site have erected 2 new houses. Stephen Atkinson dies in 1839 and a marble memorial to him can be seen in Beaminster Church. In the same year, Susan Bidwell buys the house for £1200 with a garden of about 3 roods. She is the daughter of Thomas Bidwell who for many years owns The Fountain Inn (Charmouth House). Susan is shown in directories of the time as running a boarding school from the house, but later marries William Jones Penkivil.
In 1866 the Rev. Thomas L Montefiore, Rector of Catherstone, and the Misses Poulson occupied the 2 houses. Later T.L.Montefiore became owner and joined them. Remains of a former archway can still be seen by the dining room window. A coach house abutting the Street and stables were built and also a conservatory above the kitchen entrance. Early in the 1880s, the historian, Reginald Pavey's family occupied the house until 1892 when they left Charmouth, and Alfred Haggard and family became tenants. They left in 1900 when Canon Whittington and family came to live there. There have not been many changes since. The coach house and conservatory were removed and the back entrance and front garden slightly altered. The Misses Whittington were descended in a direct line from William de Whittington of the County of Warwick, who died in 1283. Sir Richard Whytington Knight (Dick) was also descended from William.
Charmouth Stores (Nisa)
When I produced an article on the history of Charmouth Stores for Shoreline in the Spring Issue of 2011, I was able to take it back to 1837, when I thought that Samuel Aplin had originally opened it. But since then I now believe it was the building on the opposite of the alleyway, now known as Little Lodge which was the site of the short lived shop that he rented from his uncle George Biddlecombe.
But the next shopkeeper I mention in 1840 is correct in being John Carter who runs his business from the site of the present day Charmouth Stores (Nisa). Phil Tritton, the present day owner of the store asked if I could go back further and thanks to the deeds to the neighbouring “Limes” and tax records I can now get it back to 1816 when it was owned by Joseph Bradbeer, who describes himself as Post Master in his Will of 1821. His widow, Lydia continues his trade and in 1827 there is an entry in a directory of Post Offices and later in 1830 in Pigot's Directory as a “shopkeeper and dealer in sundries”.
After the failure of Jacob Ridley Kitts Sail Cloth making business in 1816 and the purchase of the site by Stephen Atkinson. It would seem that Joseph was to buy all or part of the building that extends today from Stanley House to Nisa. There are references in the 1816 description of boundaries for Little Lodge as follows: “…the wall which separates the plot from Ann's Garden up to the piling adjoining the garden of Joseph Bradbeer …and on the west by the orchard of Joseph Bradbeer”.
In 1832 Lydia marries William Watts, a schoolteacher and the Land Tax for the year shows them living in part (3s.) and John Carter renting a larger part (5s8d) of the building from them. In the same year the Post Office records William Dodson Watts as Postmaster, but 7 years later there is an entry that he had been dismissed and John Carter, Grocer was now the Postmaster. By 1841 William had deserted Lydia and the Tithe map clearly show her living in the end east part of the thatched building with John Carter operating his General Stores from the larger middle section and Giles Pryer, stone mason at the western end. She was 66 years of age by then, and was said to have run a small sweet shop, popular with school children. When she died in 1865, aged 91, she was receiving 2/6d relief from the parish and was blind and infirm.
The Charmouth Stores, Breeze, Rupert House and Stanley House form a group which occupy almost the same site as shown on the 1841 Tithe map. But what we see today is considerable different to what existed then. For the 1864 fire mentioned earlier destroyed most of the thatched roofed building that stood there before, though the rear of Charmouth Stores may well be part of the earlier structure. We have Giles Pryer to thank for the brick faced building we see today. He was living at the end of the block in 1841 aged 30 with his wife Elizabeth, ten years younger and described as a Mason. The following year he is summoned to appear in court as a witness to a committee looking into corruption in the previous Election. A volume of valuable information about many of the inhabitants of the village at the time describes as follows:
" Giles Pryer is a mason and plasterer lived in Charmouth about 15 years. He has some back offices and a shed behind his house. He pays Mr Waring £12 a year, but he bought it on 27th May last, when it was put up for auction. He occupied it 4 years as tenant. He paid poor, church and highway rates he has parlour, kitchen in front. Two rooms over and a large lobby, which has, room enough for a bed to stand on. He takes in lodgers in summer months.
He went on to rebuild the block after the fire in brick as we see it today and called it Prospect Place.He and his son ran their building business from a yard in Pear Close, where the shops are today. Giles and his family lived in Stanley House for many years. Next door is Rupert House was later occupied by James Wellman described in Kelly's Directory as being a watch maker and toy dealer, but he was also a news-agent and about 1865 published a comprehensive guide to the village with a number of adverts. He died in 1881 aged 52 and Miss Wellman succeeded him. She is mentioned in Kelly's Directory as owning a Fancy repository, but she also sold toys and newspapers. Her shop had a counter across the room and a large cupboard with a glass front in which were her toys. Martha Wellman died in 1896 aged 70.
A comprehensive history of Charmouth Stores can be found in Shoreline Spring 2011 or on their website as a PDF file.
The Star Inn.
Again I have attempted a history of this former Public House in the Autumn 2012 issue of Shoreline. But the deeds of The Limes and further information that I have found allow me to take it back a little further. For in 1816 William Stephens, an Inn Holder is referred to as purchasing a Coach House from Stephen Atkinson which bordered Ann Kitts house on the west and north sides. By 1822 he had also purchased her former property for £425 and let it to Charles Cookney, Linen Draper. But by 1834 he had sold both properties and had moved to Exeter, and they were owned by George Biddlecombe. William Stephens may well have opened the original Star Inn, which by 1841 was owned by Edward Smith who was there until 1871, by which time he was 81 years of age.
An interesting building at the rear bordering a passageway between Yandovers and the Manor House appears on the 1841 Tithe Map that is later known as “Star Cottage”. It was then owned by Francis Waring and rented by John Moore, aged 55, a gardener and his family. He was succeeded by John Stamp, who was coachman to Captain Bullen, who lived in the lower part of the Manor House and whose stables were at its rear.
In conclusion it would seem that this important site in Charmouth has been its commercial centre. Initially for Sail Making, then at the beginning of the 19 th century with its Public House, General Store, Post Office and Drapers. Today we can experience some of this past when we step in Charmouth Stores and its neighbour Breeze with a history nearing 2 centuries.

The 1841 Tithe map showing the Yandover Estate
Today the area has been extensively developed as can be seen above
In the parish records there is a reference to Henry Samways being buried in Charmouth in 1706

He was the father of Mary, who in 1711 married Giles Merefield, and she died the same year. Both were from important families based in Beaminster. Henry Samwayes, Jnr. died in 1711, held the mortgage of £48. his mother Joane,who died in 1722 was made Executrix. Giles Merefield lived until 1735. A memorial to the family exists in Beaminster Church and is illustrated below.
The unusal name of Yandover, though sometimes prononced Yondover or Yendover seems to derive from the ownership by the Merefields who also owned a Flax Mill, producing Sail Cloth in Netherbury. It still stands today and is called Yondover Mill and was established c.1720 and forms part of Lower Yondover Farm in Drury Lane.
There is a Document in Dorset Record Office which relates to Ann Crabb of Yondover renting a meadow:
"Surrender and admission, Ann Crabb of Yondover in the parish of Netherbury, widow of John Crabb, woolcomber, Thomas Beer of Yondover, clothier, and his wife Anne, daughter of Ann Crabb, and William Brinson (or Miller) of Netherbury, mason, to Robert Merefield of Beaminster, for a meadow called Crabb's Meadow, or Yondover Meado
w ".
There is also another small hamlet called Yandover at Loders, just outside Bridport, but at presnet I cannot find anyy aassociations with that in Charmouth. It may wel have a connection with Sail Cloth making as well and is a term used in the process of making the cloths.

 

Memorial to the family in Beaminster Church

"Death, the Gateway of Life. In Memory of Henry Samwayes, Gentleman, who died the 22nd day of July, in the 60th year of his age, the year of our Lord 1706. And of five sons, John, Thomas, George, Garland and Robert, carried off by death in boyhood. And also of Henry his eldest son, who departed this life the 25th day of August, 1711. Aged 35. And of Mary his only daughter, the last of his children and wife of Giles Merefield, Gentleman, who expired the 18th day of July, a.d. 1712. Aged 23. Five moons (months) saw her married and buried in the tomb. Joan Samways the widow erected this monument as a lasting token of her wifely and motherly love, earnestly desiring that her remains should, after the funeral (after her death) be deposited beneath, and under no circumstances in the future, be removed." - There is a reference to samways being buried in Charmouth in 1706


Lower Yondover Mill & Farm in Drury Lane, Netherbury, Bridport

The Deeds show that Joan, widow of Henry Samways and her son in law, Giles Merefield of Beaminster sell Yandover in Charmouth to William Hutchins alias Chappell in 1718. The deeds to the Elms refer to a conveyance between Joan Chappell and Edward Edwards of Lyme Regis in 1676, where she is referred to as the executrix of William Lymbry. His will reveals that she is the main beneficiary of his estate.
"Lease 1 James Parson of Charmouth, yeoman 2 Henry Henley of Leigh Recites that Andrew Lymbry of Bradpole mortgaged the property to William Lymbry in 1662. Andrew Lymbry has since defaulted in payment and therefore forfeited his estate in the property. William Lymbry died in 1674, leaving the property to Joan Chapple alias Hutchins who has since married 1 1 to 2 Consideration: £10 Term: 900 years Rent: 1d pa Property: an orchard in Charmouth (¼ a) (D.1265/2/3)"
William Chappell may have well taken over an existing Sail Cloth making business from the Samways/Merefields, but it is not clear at this moment in time. But he himself is shown as having Warehouses, Workshops and a Coach House on the site which he leaves to his wife Agnes after his death in 1742. A copy of his Will survives in the Dorset Record Office.

Francis H. Newberry painting in Bridport Town Hall of Sail Cloth Weavers
The Parish records show that William , son of William and Agnes Chappell was baptised in 1716
In 1743 Sarah Clapcott and Agnes, wife of William Hutchings alias Chappell sell to Jacob Kitt, a Sail Cloth Maker:
“ all that dwelling house with coach house, warehouse, workshops, courtlage, gardens , orchard, stable with several pieces and parcels, closes called Yandover formerly 7 closes and now 5 closes consisting of 16 acres”.
This section of the 1754 Poor Rates for Charmouth show Mr. Jacob Kitt for "Yandovers"

In 1754 William Gale is shown as an Apprentice to Jacob Kitt of Charmouth -Lin & Cherh (?) Manufacturer

I am sure that the 16 acres of fields whcih formed part of his estate were used to grow Flax which was a staple of the Sail Cloth making business.
He marries Mary Ruttley and they have two children William and Jacob Ridley Kitt. He is to die in 1770 aged just 50 and leaves his business to his wife as his children are just 16 and 14 repectively. But by 1776 she has remarried John Randall, a widower living in the village and it is his name that appears on the Land tax and Poor Rates lists for Charmouth.

Marriage between John Randall and Mary, Widow of Jacob Kitt in 1776
A Lease to Yendover estate in 1779 showing John Randall as Landlord and James Harris as Tenant.Mr James Harris rented the House and part of Yendovers from 25th March 1779 to the 25th 'March 1780

31st March 1779 this day contracted and agreed between John Randall and James Harris both of Charmouth in the County of Dorset That the said John Randall do set unto the said John Harris all that dwelling house he now occupies, belonging to Yendover Esate in the said parish consisting of a Dhop, Kitchen, Parlour, Pantry, 3 Chambers and 3 Closets, for the yearly rent of £4-15s per annum. To be paid by half yearly payments, the rent to commence from Lady's Day last and it is also agreed by the said John Randall to set unto the said James Harris the Wring, reserving the use of ye Wring to make his own Cyder House or Coach House the inside part of he stable, lindsay and outhouse adjoining together with the wall garden and pleasure house and orchard ( The Linhay and Pigsloose, Mr Randall reserves in the orchard for the yearly rent of £12 1s o be paid by half yearly payments.

Writ to apprehend Jether Cook,George Webber,Edward Farr and Robert Halson to answer John Randall, gentleman on a plea of trespass 1780 Pc/CMO/13/1
Randall v Parish Officers alleged unfairness in poor rate demand PE /CMO//OV2 1779- 1782

1781 Land Tax - John Randall - Yandovers occupied by John Randall and Mr. James Warden £1-10-3d
John Randall - House & Garden, etc - John Randall and Mr Robins 2-10d

The 1783 Record Book for a map of Charmouth (now lost) shows that John Randall owned the buildings comprisoing Houses, workshop and gardens of nearly an acre and the Yandover fields to the east of the River Char of nearly 16 acres.

Mr. John Randall -House & Orchard(£12-0-0d) 3r 21p.
Yandovers - (1) Long Mead (£8-16-0d) 5a 2r (2) 3 Cornered Close ( £4-9-0d) 2a 3r 38p (3) 3 Acres (£3 5s 8d) 2a 3r 3p (4) 5 Acres (£4-9-0d) 3a 3r 26p (5) Coppice (8-4d) 1r 24p

1786 Land Tax - Mary Randall - Yandovers occupied by Mary Randall £1-15-7d
Late Kitts - House & Garden, etc - Jacob Ridley Kitt 3-3d
Will of Mary Randall, Widow of Jacob Kitt and John Randall 22nd April 1788
27 th April 1789 -Salisbury and Winchester Journal - Advert for House
 

1789 Jacob Ridley Kitt is shown as a sail Cloth Maker with William Burnard as his apprentice. William was to go on and build his own business up and by the time of his death owned a number of properties in the village and rented Woods Farm from Mrs. Austin. An interesting newspaper cutting dated -25th October 1823 regarding Mr. Burnard:
"Friday night, in consequence of the great swell of water, owing to the quantity of rain that had fallen within the week, the bridge at Charmouth was washed away. A house occupied by Mr.Burnard, in the manufacture of sail cloth, immediately below the bridge, was carried away by the flood, together with a quantity of cloth and dyeing utensils, of which a valuable copper boiler has been since found in the sea. In a field above the bridge stood a Hay Rick, which was carried by the flood through the field, out at the gate, and lodged in safety at the side of the turnpike road. A temporary bridge has since been erected; before it was finished the coaches were of necessity dragged through the river by men" .

1795 Land Tax - William Kitt- Yandovers occupied by Jacob Ridley Kitt £2-0-10d
Jacob Ridley Kitt - House & Garden, etc - Jacob Ridley Kitt 3-8d

1798 Land Tax - Thomas Forster renting Yandovers to Robert Shepherd £1-7-3d
William Kitt- House occupied by T. H. Kitt 13-7d
Jacob Ridley Kitt - House - Jacob Ridley Kitt 3-8d

1804 Land Tax -J.R. Kitt for Sea Lands 9s-2d
John Craze- Yandovers occupied by Slader £1-7-3d
J.R. Kitt- House J.R. Kitt 17s 3d

1804 11Jun Bradbeer Joseph - Three Crowns Inn Charmouth wife died 1804. He remarries Lydia Margrie in Charmouth in 1806

1805 Land Tax - William Kitt- Yandovers occupied by Jacob Ridley Kitt £1-7-3d
Jacob Ridley Kitt - House & Garden, etc - Jacob Ridley Kitt 17-3d
1807 Ann Liddon rents to J.R. Kitt for Sea Lands 9s-2d
John Craze- Yandovers occupied by J.R.Kitt £1-7-3d
J.R. Kitt- House J.R. Kitt & Stephens 17s 3d
1809 Mortgage between Jacob R Kitt and Richard Graze of Bridport , describes house with coach house, warehouse, workshops, gardens, orchards stable
Agreement of a lease dated 1811 to Richard Hawkins for 7 years by Trustees of Meeting House

1813 Land Tax -Jacob Ridley Kitt - Sealands 9-2d
Jacob Ridley Kitt- Yandovers t £1-7-3d
Jacob Ridley Kitt - Houses 17-3d
Jacob Ridley Kitt - Hurlescraft 11-4d

1817 Land Tax - John Craze- Yandovers occupied by Slader £1-7-3d
Mr. Atkinson - Houses - Atkinson 10-3d
Miss Ann Kitt House - Miss Ann Kitt 4-0d
William Stephens - Stables - William Stephens 3-0d
The Will for Jacob Ridley Kitt (aged68) reveals that by 1823 he had been living in Charterhouse Almshouses in London for 8 years and it would seem had lost his fortune and had little to his name at the time of his death. His sail cloth business no doubt boomed during the Napoleonic wars, which finished in 1815 and the country went into recession.
Overseers records for the village show that on June 18th 1816 they had bought of Ann Kitt, Charmouth , 4 yards of cotton at 12d a yard for 4s0d, a Boys Hat for 2s 3d, beads and Buttons for 2d
The small guide book "The Picture of Lyme-Regis and Environs" was printed in 1817 by M. Phillips and at the bottom of the cover shows that it could be bought at KITT in Charmouth. It refers to Charmouth in that year as follows: "One mile and half from Lyme, is the pleasant village, Charmouth, on the great road from London to Exeter,- The Mail and two other coaches daily pass through the village; which has many handsome lodgings, about a quater of a mile from the Sea".
Stephen Atkinson 1770-1839 Memorial in Beaminster Church
1815 Land Tax - John Craze- Yandovers occupied by Slader £1-7-3d
Atkinson - House & Garden, etc - Atkinson 10-3d
1816 Stephen Atkinson, Thomas Hart, h  Richard Roberts and Jacob Hart to Ann Kitt 1816
Assignment Stephen Atkinson, Thoams Hart, Richard Roberts and Jacob Kitt to Ann Kitt
Stephen Atkinson, merchant of Cheddington, Thomas Hart, grocer of Bridport. richard F. Roberts Yarn Manufacturer of Burton Bradstock and Mrs Jacob Kitt to Ann Kitt all that messuage or tenement  
Ann Kitt marries James White, a shop keeper from Ilminster and in 1818 sell to James Welch, a mariner who lives with his wife Ann. Land Tax show them paying 4s. tax for the house
1816 all that dwelling house, formerly 2 housed with a newly erected warehouse and plot of ground behind and a workshop on plot on the west by a messuage belonging to Ann Kitt mentions garden of Joseph Bradbeer page 731 Pavey  
1816 William Stephens, Inn Holder . Mention of garden of Ann Kitt and orchard of Joseph Bradbeer on the west. James And Stephen Atkinson probably built the Limes after demolishing Warehouses and workshop.  
4 th June1816
Assignment Stephen Atkinson, Thoams Hart, Richard Roberts and Jacob Kitt to Ann Kitt
Stephen Atkinson, merchant of Cheddingron, Thomas Hart, grocer of Bridport. richard F. Roberts Yarn Manufacturer of Burton Bradstock and Mrs Jacob Kitt to Ann Kitt all that messuage or tenement  in length from east to west 41 feet and also garden in length North to South of 66 feet which garden is divided by bound stones and is intended to be sepeated from a garden purchased by William Stephens, Innholder of Stephen Atkinson, Thomas Hart and Richard Roberts by a wall to be erected at his expense – the messuage or tenement and garden are abutted and bounded on the north by a range of old buildings belonging to James and Stepehn Atkinson. On the East partly by a messuage and partly by a wall belonging to James and Stephen Atkinson. On the south by the High Street of Charmouth and on the west by aa coach House lately purchased by William Stephens as at present divided from the said garden of Ann Kitt by bound stones, etc and now in possession of Ann Kitt.  

1817 Land Tax - John Craze- Yandovers occupied by Slader £1-7-3d
Mr. Atkinson - House & Garden, etc - Atkinson 10-3d
Miss Ann Kitt House - Miss Ann Kitt 4-0d
William Stephens - Stables - William Stephens 3-0d

1818  
Assignment of premises for residue of 400 years to John White and wife to James Welch
James White was a shopkeeper of lichens yet who married Ann Kitt. James Welch described as a mariner  
1819 Assignment James Atkinson to Stephen Atkinson

1820 Land Tax - John Craze- Yandovers occupied by Slader £1-7-3d
Atkinson - House & Garden, etc - Ray Edmonds 10-3d
James Welch - House - James Welch 4-0d
William Stephens - Stables - William Stephens 3-0d

An abstract of Will of Joseph Bradbeer of Charmouth, Post master who died in 1821
1822 assignment James Welch to William Stephens, late of Charmouth now of Axminster. James Welch is described as a Grocer. £300 now paid to Willima Stephens who buys he premises outright plus£90.  
In 1822 william Stephens of axminster seems to have bought it and is also paying tax on his stables. By 1824 William  of the Coach and HOrses  is renting he stables  and Charles Cookney the House in 1832. 
1823 Land Tax - Atkinson - Houses Wray and others - 10-3d
William Stephens - House - Hoare 4-0d
William Stephens - Stables - William Stephens 3-0d
1824 Land Tax -Stephen Atkinson - Houses Edmonds & Wray and others - 10-3d
William Stephens - House - 4-0d
William Stephens - Stables - William Foss 3-0d
Lydia Bradbeer -establishment of Post Office on 15th December 1827
1830 Pigots Directory showing Lydia Bradbeer as a Shopkeeper

1830 Land Tax -Stephen Atkinson - Houses - 10-3d
William Stephens - House - Charles Cookney 4-0d
Mrs Bradbeer -Houses (Late Stables) - Hansford, etc. 3-0d

Charles Cookney is described as a Linen darper in 1830 Directory.

1832 Land Tax - Stephen Atkinson - House & Garden, etc - Atkinson 10-3d
William Stephens - House - Charles Cookney 4-0d
William Watts -House & Garden -occupied by John Carter 5-8d
William Watts - House & Garden - occupied by William Watts 3-0d

1832 Poor Rates- Mrs Craze- Yandovers occupied by James Cozens £1-1-1d
Stephen Atkinson - House & Garden, etc - Atkinson £1-16d
William Watts -House & Garden -occupied by John Carter 15-0d
William Watts -House & Garden -occupied by Galpin Carter (drawing teacher) 6-9d
William Watts -House & Garden -occupied by Barton & Welch 6-9d
William Watts - House & Garden - occupied by William Watts 6-9d
William Watts - House & Garden - occupied by Samuel Dunn 6-9d

1834 Assignment William Stephens now of Exeter to George Biddlecombe of Winsham, Somerset, linen draper? He pays £425.

Thomas Bidwell School 1830 Miss Bidwell Ladies Boarding School
Bill Head from 1836 for Samuel Aplin
"To Drapers, Grocers, Ironmongers, and General Shopkeepers. To be let, with immediate possession, in the populous village of Charmouth, Dorset,- A good, extensive shop, warehouse, and dwelling house adjoining, lately in the occupation of Samuel Aplin, where a considerable trade has been done, and susceptible of great improvement, Rent moderate. Apply (if by letter, post paid) to George Biddlecombe, Winsham, near Chard. "  7 April 1837
1839 Stephen Atkinson sells 2 houses  
S premises to Susan  Bidwell for £1200. H Combe Compton owns lands at back. William stephens still has pub?
1839 limited administration of the effects of Jacob Kitt deceased
Assignment of Dwellong house Stephen AtkinsonEsq. Died 1839 to Miss Susan Bidwell
1841 Census showing occupiers of Yandover site, corresponds with Tithe Map below:
1841 Tithe Map with occupiers shown on their properties, below are their descriptions from the Record Book
Tithe no. Owner Occupier Description Roods Perches
49 Painknell BIDWELL Thomas BIDWELL House & Garden 2 30
50 George BIDDLECOMBE John FROST
House & Garden
- 13
51 Edward SMITH Edward SMITH House & Court - 5
52 Benjamin SWAFFIELD Lydia WATTS & another Houses - 4
53 John CARTER John CARTER House & Garden - 14
54 Giles PRIOR Giles PRIOR House & Garden - 12
55 Francis Henry WARING John MOORE House & Garden 1 8
In 1841 Edward Smith is shown as owning and living at the star described as a house and court.  
1848 list of voters show Edward Smith as the owner. The 1851 Census shows him aged 63,unmarried originating from Stoke Abbot and described   as a Beer Retailer.  
He lives with William Gordge aged 39 a tailor as a lodger, Edward Love, aged 29 a butcher and Charles Moore aged 24 a gardener.  
1864 Samuel Byles lessee of Star Inn owned by Mr. T. Swaffield of Wootton Fitzpaine . He was a post boy at Coach and Horses later at Star.  
1885 Kelly's John Lockyer Beer Retailer Star

1841 Francis waring of Lyme Regis owns no 55 cottage back of street rents to Moore measures 1 r 8 p. In 1840 Henry franks Waring living at Lyme Regisn freehold garden near Church street died in 1862 aged 56, born 1806. Francis marries his cousin Frances margaret Waring in 1842 whose father is a captain in the navy.

London, House of Commons. 1842. xx + 305pp. Folio. Rebound in card covers. British Parliamentary Paper HC285. Evidence from over 100 witnesses. Election declared void following extensive evidence of corruption in the Borough over a number of years.
" Giles Pryer is a mason and plasterer lived in charmouth about 15 years. He has some back offices and a shed behind his house. He pays Mr Waring £12 a year , but he bought it on 27th May last, when it was put up for auction. He occupied it 4 years as tenant. He paid poor, church and highway rates he has parlour, kitchen in front. Two rooms over and a large lobby which has room enough for a bed to stand on. He takes in lodgers in summer months".
Houses when rebuilt called Prospect Place.  
An Advert dated 1857 from the "Beauties of Lyme Regis & Charmouth" showing the Goods that William Carter could offer
Newscutting concerning 1864 when a number of the buildings were destroyed in a fire
Pre 1894 View looking down the Street with Little Lodge on the left
Little Lodge and the Limes today
Pre 1896 view of The Charmouth Stores
Charmouth Stores and Little Lodge today
The Limes c.1900 with its first floor conservatory, later to be demolished.
The Limes today
Photograph dated 1927 of buildings fronting the Street

Ordnance Survey Map 1927
Mr and Mrs John Stamp and family.He lived in the cottage behind the Star Inn and was coachman to Captain Bullen who lived in the lower part of the Manor House and whose stables were at its rear.
1851 Census
 
 
1861 Census
1871 Census for Charmouth