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Sandford Cottage, The Street, Charmouth

"Sandford Cottage" stood on the corner of Sea Lane. The first owners that I have notes of are George Hodges and his sister Ellennore 2nd daughter of John, the butcher. At the beginning of this century it was occupied by Miss Baxter and her niece Margie, who told me that she was descended from the old Saxon Kings in England and from Malcolm III in Scotland and the French King Pcpin le Bref. On the unofficial side, her grandfather Pierre de Ilaceritz, private secretary the Tzarina of Alexander II, was the son of a Russian Duke and a German Princess. The Tzar was extremely angry with the princess into a convent and took the baby himself to be brought up almost like royalty. Maceritz's son married a Scotswoman and Margie was born in the Winter Palace, but her mother could not endure life at the court and with the Tzar's permission withdrew with her children to Switzerland. Her mother died in Italy and her father was drowned when the "Mohigan" was wrecked in 1898 off Jersey. When Miss Baxter left,"Sandford Cottage" was owned by Mrs.Birkett whose daughter married Colonel Campbell Little. When the Colonel retired they lived in the house for many years, and Captain Brock Birkett R.N. lived with them. Mrs Little exhausted her strength during the 1939-45 war by her work for the British Legion and W.V.S, and died suddenly in 1949, Col. Little died shortly afterwards in 1958 and the house was purchased by the Dorset County Council and pulled down to improve the entrance, to Lower Sea Lane.

Frank Radord who was the owner of Sandford in 1895 is shown as the Auctioneer, Radfords at Broad Steet in Lyme Regis in the Jury List for 1883.
1899 reference to Frank Radford, Auctioneer of Lyme Regis who was owner of Sandford House and would have rented it out.
An Abstract from the 1895 Poor Rates showing ownership and occupiers of properties in order with their rental values below, with Frank Radford as owner of Sandford House.
Sandford - Unoccupied - Frank Radford - House and Garden - Charmouth Street - £25
Littlecote - Edward Archer Vince - John Edwards - House and Garden - Charmouth Street - £25
Carrum - Harriett Goddard - George Mortimer - House and Garden - Charmouth Street - £25
Beech House - Eliza Wild - Richard Hodges - House and Garden - Charmouth Street - £25
Winton House - Alfred Stanton - Richard Hodges - House Shop and Yard - Charmouth Street - £17
Coach and Horses - Alexander Cox Pagan - Executors of Job Legg - House and Yard - Coach & Horses - £50
1911 Census shows that Edward Birkett, aged 68 is living at Sandford with his wife, Frances, aged 53 and theiur daughter Margery, aged 24.