Thimbleby Cottages

This pair of stone-built semi-detached dwellings are clearly Victorian in origin and their appearance suggests a construction date of about 1880. The Ordnance Survey Map of 1891 shows them but the map of 1853 does not nor does the earlier map show anything on the site other than what seems to have been agricultural or orchard land.

With the exception of their windows the houses do not appear to have changed since they were built. We know little about them but one old photograph seems to show a delivery taking place at number 2 . . . . .

(click photo to enlarge)

. . . . . the driver of the motor car/van seems to be taking an order from the occupant!

In the 1920s number 1 Thimbleby Cottages was the home of the village policeman P.C.Briggs of whom George Wainwright (see the first of the Village Society's books) said, . . . . ."a wonderful man, highly respected by the local community. He took many a young man in hand, cuffing him behind the ears and making him behave himself. I recall a mate of mine, who had a bike which he used to ride at night without a light. I think he had a girlfriend up at Killinghall. On one occasion Briggs was waiting for him when he got there, took the bike and lamp from him, and told him he could walk home until he learned to behave himself. He never did it again. You see, that was a much better punishment than nowadays, when young lads are brought to court and just laugh in the face of the judge, when they get off with a warning or a small fine".

For information about past owners Click here

Click here for census returns for No. 1