Norton Villa / Cold Elm Villa (Leighbrook House)
At the time the Inclosures came to Norton in 1806 there was no building on the site where Norton Villa now stands. The land was Plot No 165, was 3a 2r 2p, and was owned by Thomas Paytherus who owned a lot of land around the village. Thomas owned the land in-absentia being a surgeon-apothecary who had worked in Ross- on-Wye but who, at this time, was practising in London. The site where Norton Villa was actually built was a narrow spur of land that joined the plot of farmland to the road.
Jonathan and Giles Arkell, brothers, had been at Norton Farm which was known as Arkell’s Farm from the early 1800s. On 15 May 1815 Jonathan, then a 40 year old, widower and farmer of Norton, swore an allegation to marry Frances Allen, a 30 year old spinster of Norton, at St Mary’s. Jonathan and Fanny’s first child was Henry born in 1815 then Edwin, born in 1817 whilst they were at Norton Farm.
The ‘Terrier and valuation of the messuages, lands, and other hereditaments liable to poor rate in the parish of Norton’ dating from 1838 records that Part of Plot No 165, Cold Elm, was a house and garden, 0-1-12 in area, apparently owned by Fanny Arkell and let to Henry Arkell, her son. The same Arkells also seem to have owned neighbouring Plots 166 and 167 from 1809. The description of this property would match the location of what became Norton Villa and maybe the Arkells had the house built on land that had already belonged to them ?
In 1827, the time of King George IV, Parliament passed an Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors and men who had been jailed for reasons of debt could apply for relief under its terms. At Gloucester in the 1830s we find a number of local men who appeared before a Court of Commissioners to apply for such relief including, on 18/19 March 1839, Jonathan Arkell, formerly of Norton, farmer. This states that Jonathan was 'formerly' of Norton and his insolvency may be the reason for his absence and why the new property wasn't in his name. It may also be that Jonathan's insolvency caused them to lose Norton Farm and move to a new property here.
In 1841 Jonathan, Fanny and Henry were all still living together at Norton and were still farmers but it is not clear where they were. Jonathan died in December 1843, Fanny in 1856 and both have a memorial at St Mary’s, Norton.
In 1851 the electoral list for Norton records an Edwin Arkell of Camelford, Cornwall, who was qualified to vote here on the grounds of owning a freehold house and land on the turnpike road. In 1850 Edwin married Florence Lean at Camelford, Cornwall and had a daughter, Georgina. Wife Florence died in 1860 and in 1861 Edwin was a widower living with his daughter Georgina at Octagon, Plymouth St Andrew, employed as an assurance agent. In 1871 Edwin was living with his daughter at East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, and records his occupation as landowner. Edwin remarried Gertrude Wills at St Austell in 1874, had another daughter, and in 1881 was living at Alton, Hants, employed as an assurance agent. Edwin died in 1883.
Edwin last appears in the electoral list in 1862 and by 1863 he has been replaced by Henry Arkell, presumably his brother. Henry was living at Southgate Street, Gloucester, and continues to appear on the list until 1870 holding a qualifying property of a freehold house and land on the turnpike road. Henry married Elizabeth Serle in Cheltenham in 1843 and by 1851 the family were living in Eastgate Street, Gloucester. In 1871 Henry was living with his wife Elizabeth and two children, Daniel and Elizabeth, in Gloucester employed as a builder. Henry died in 1874.
In 1870 Nathan Cotton's name first appears in a Trade Directory for Norton as a cider dealer at Norton Villa. Nathan had been born at Ashton on the Hill in 1799 and had married Mary Elizabeth Potts at St Nicholas, Gloucester, in 1841. In 1844 Nathan had taken on a small shop in London Road, Gloucester, once the site of 'the tap' of the former Horse and Groom Inn, and a large garden at the rear of the premises was also his. In 1849, the Gloucester and Dean Forest Railway had bought the whole of the site as they intended the route of their railway to pass nearby but Nathan held a seven year lease from 1844 that the company wished to purchase but a price could not be agreed upon so it had come to court. Nathan argues that he "had made improvements to the premises since they came into his possession; that he was carrying on an extensive business there as an exporter of fruit to Manchester, Birmingham, &c, and enjoyed a brisk trade as a retailer of cider and beer". The jury decided upon what they thought was a fair price to buy out the remaining one year and three quarters of the lease. By 1851 Nathan held 'a tenement or shop, in the occupation of Nathan Cotton, fruiterer, with the yard behind the same, in King Street". This was on the corner of King Street and Oxbody Lane but in 1851 this too was being sold. In 1861 Nathan was living with his wife at Barton Street operating a fruiterers business and in January 1866 was fined 5s and costs as keeper of a beerhouse called the Clarence Inn, in that same area, for remaining open after the legal closing time. Wife Mary Elizabeth died in 1863 and in January 1865 Nathan, living in Albert Street, remarried Mary Faville.
Nathan's time at Norton must have been brief as and he died in March 1870. The Gloucester Journal newspaper of 26 March 1870 advertised; “Messrs Townshend & Co have received instructions to sell by auction the whole of the effects of the late Mr Nathan Cotton, Norton Villa, Norton, on Wednesday next, March 30th, 1870, at eleven o’clock”.
The survey for the Gloucestershire 1st Edition Ordnance Survey 25" map, as depicted below, was conducted between 1873-1884 and by this time Norton Villa has appeared with several outbuildings in a field to the rear accessed by a road down the side of the house.
1844-1888 OS 25” 1st Edition
In 1870 the owner of the property was Samuel Newman who appears on Norton’s electoral roll living at Walton Hill but qualified with a house and land ‘near the roadside’. The property was let to Mr Brunsdon.
Samuel Newman was born at Sandhurst in 1829, married Mary and in 1857 their first child was born at Walton, Deerhurst, where they settled to farm. In 1881 the family were living at The Leigh, farming and by 1891 they had moved again to Sandhurst, still farming, and where Samuel died in 1898. John Brunsdon had married Sarah Harriett Herbert at Tewkesbury in 1841 and they originally settled at Twigworth with John employed as a cattle dealer. In 1871 they were living here with four teenage daughters all born at Twigworth, the last in 1862 so they must have arrived here after that.
The first reference to a property with the name 'Norton Villa' has been identified in September 1871 when the 'proprietor' at that time was selling up to leave the neighbourhood. Unfortunately the auction notices do not record their name; "Norton Villa, about 3 miles from Gloucester on the Tewkesbury Road. Mr R W Holtham has recieved instructions from the proprietor, who is leaving the neighbourhood, to sell by auction on Friday, September 15th, 1871, at one o'clock punctually; - the valuable mahogany and walnut wood furniture, large oval pier gilt glass, excellent barometer, mahogany toilet tables with marble tops, mahogany chests of drawers, brass Arabian bedsteads, spring mattress, wool mattresses, feather bolsters, bedding, Brussells, Kidderminster, and other carpets, ironing stove with flat irons, kitchen requisites; also a few dozens very choice old sherry, prime perry. Greenhouse plants, wire flower stands, scythe and usual garden implements". It is only furniture being advertised for sale at this time.
On 7 June 1873 the following advertisement appeared in the Gloucester Journal newspaper; “Cold Elm Villa, Norton, near Gloucester. to be sold by auction, by R W Holtham, at the New Inn Hotel, Gloucester, on Thursday, the 12th June, 1873, at five o’clock in the afternoon, - All that dwelling house, with the millhouse and large room over, now used as the Parish Schoolroom, stable, gighouse, piggery, yard, garden, and valuable orchard, thereto adjoining, containing two acres more or less, most desirably situate adjoining the Turnpike Road leading from Gloucester to Tewkesbury, in the occupation of Mr Brunsdon, as under tenant to Mr Samuel Newman”.
Sarah Brunsdon died in 1871 and by 1881 John had moved into Gloucester so perhaps it was John selling his furniture in 1873.
By November 1872, Simeon Warder was in residence when he appeared at Gloucester Police Court for assaulting Albert James at Norton. He was fined 6d with costs of 8s.
Samuel Newman last appears on the electoral list in 1877 presumably when he sold the property and the Gloucester Journal newspaper of 23 February 1878 included the following advertisement; “Norton, about six miles from Tewkesbury and four from Gloucester. Desirable freehold investment. To be sold by auction, by Phillip Thomas & Sons, at the Kings Head Inn, Norton, on Monday next, the 25th day of February, 1878, at three for four o’clock precisely, in one Lot, - a convenient brick-built villa residence, known as ‘Norton Villa’, with gardens in front and behind the same, greenhouse, stable, gighouse, piggery, and pasture orchard, well planted with choice fruit trees, the whole in the occupation of Mr Simeon Warder. The above property is eligibly situate adjoining the road leading from Gloucester to Tewkesbury, and is bounded by lands of Miss Webb and the late Mr John Weston”.
The name ‘Norton Villa’ first appears on the Norton electoral roll in 1883 when Simeon Warder and family were in residence. Simeon Warder, was a vet and castrator originally from Deerhurst, and was living with wife Susan and young son William. Son William had been born at Norton in 1874 so its likely they took on the tenancy from the 1873 sale. Simeon Warder died in 1887 and was buried at Norton. Throughout 1888 the widowed Susan Warder was placing newspaper advertisements to let a 'furnished or unfurnished apartment' in part of Norton Villa and she was still here with another son, Hubert, and lodger, George Trigg, in 1891. Susan Warder died at Cardiff in 1920.
In 1889 Norton Villa was owned by Edward Dewsbury Robinson who was living at Rockleaze, Conway Road, Cardiff
The Gloucester Citizen newspaper of 30 March 1892 advertised; “SALE, Norton Villa, with orchard, at Norton, near Gloucester.— Apply Montpellier Road, Gloucester.”
Between at least 1897 and 1902 Joseph and Annie Mann were in residence at Norton Villa. Whilst it was recorded that they were ‘living off their own means’ they were also keeping fowl as this advertisement from the Gloucester Journal newspaper of 31 October 1902 confirms; "Twelve pure and cross-bred pullets, early hatched; also 18 hens; Mann, Norton Villa, Norton".
In 1903 the un-named owners were advertising a "furnished sitting room and bedroom to let".
The following is largely conjecture but I felt it worth including. Between approximately 1904-1910 there was a ‘dame’, or private school at Norton. The Norton CofE School Log Books for 1904 contain two references. The first of 12 February states “A dame-school has been started close to the school. Dorothy and Winifred Turner (Stnd III and I) have been removed and sent to it. Reported this (with other information) to the Attendance Officer requesting him to put it before the Secretary.” This is followed on 16 February by “The Attendance Officer called and says that the Education Committee can do nothing as to this dame-school ! at present; but having a similar case at Cirencester will no doubt frame a bye-law to meet it. This school will be a serious drawback to us and a fruitful source of irregularity; it is to be feared.” The log books from The Leigh school from 14 January 1910 may relate to the same school; “Admitted Lillian and Blanche Tucker aged 13 and 11. They had been attending a private school at Norton. They are bright and intelligent I think but their attainments do not place them beyond St III”. These are the only three references that have been identified. A grandson of Cyril and Phyllis Phelps, who were residents at Norton Villa later, and will be discussed below, remembers that there was a story around in the 1960s that Norton Villa was once a dame school and that there were still a row of coat hooks at a child’s height in the entrance hall at that time. Some support is offered to this story with the reference in the 1873 sale to the room over the millhouse being used as the parish schoolroom.
By 1910 a Mrs Ewens appears briefly and in 1911 Charles Frederick, Selina Ann Draper and 7 children were here living in what was described as an 8 roomed house. Charles was a stone mason and shortly after this time they moved to ‘Wellcroft’, The Leigh, where they remained for many years.
The next reference to the house is in 1924 when Thomas and Gertude Davis were here. The family had moved to Norton from The Lodge, Hatherley Court, Down Hatherley, where Thomas had been the gardener, an occupation he continued through their time at Norton. The Davis’ were still at Norton Villa in 1932.
In January 1932, Gertrude's mother Susan Morgan was living with them at Norton Villa when she died.
The Davis family ran ‘refreshment rooms’ at Norton Villa in the late 1920s early 1930s being listed in 1927 Kelly’s Trade Directory for Gloucestershire, again in 1931 but not in 1935 or afterwards.
The Old Road through Cold Elm in simpler times, early 1930s, with Norton Villa Tea Rooms to the left.
[Although not apparent in the copy of the photo above, upon enlargement many of the advertisements become readable. We have Lyons Tea, Cadbury’s Chocolates (Made in Bourneville), Will’s Gold Flake and Will’s Star cigarettes, Royal Seal Tobacco, Franklyn’s Superfine Shagg, Home Safes, Sun Maid Raisons and Almonds (There’s a smile in every piece) and a poster advertising what looks like a forthcoming football match between Gloucester and Cheltenham. Also above the shop window is a board for The Cyclists Touring Club].
There then followed a couple of short term residents at Norton Villa. In 1936 Lionel Charles William and Gladys Lillian Chappell were at Norton Villa but by 1939 they had moved to Yeovill, Somerset. In 1937 Lionel Augustus and Rosamund Ellen Madge Harvey were in residence. Lionel had married Rosamund Harvey at Arlingham in September of the previous year so this could well have been their first home together. Lionel was a hairdresser and by 1939 they had moved to Oxstalls Lane, Longlevens, where Lionel was in business.
By 1938 Cyril and Phyllis Phelps had arrived from Churchdown. (Hubert) Cyril Phelps had married Phyllis Mary Jackson at St James’, Gloucester, in 1929 and they had three children; Jean Mary, Robert Derek and Ronald Cyril. Not long after they settled in the Second World War commenced and the Phelps’ were one of the villagers who took in evacuees, in their case two boys; Dennis Walton, who only stayed briefly in 1939, then John Batt, both from Birmingham.
When they first came to Norton Cyril was a coal merchant running 'H C Phelps, Coal Merchant' based at the LMS Wharf, Gloucester, but the business ceased to trade shortly after the war due to Cyril's ill health. The following notice has been copied from The Citizen newspaper of 3 October 1946;
“Notice is hereby given to all consumers registered with Mr H C Phelps, Norton Villa, Norton, Gloucester, that the business has been sold to Messrs The Coal Supply & Haulage Co Ltd, 169 Southgate Street, Gloucester. Any consumer wishing to transfer to another merchant must notify this office within 28 days. H F Freeman, Local Fuel Overseer, Rural Fuel Offices, Midland Bank Chambers, Gloucester”.
Daughter Jean married William Donald Probyn Walker in 1951 and after marriage they lived with her parents at Norton Villa for a few years before moving to Pumpstock, a bungalow near Norton Green. The two sons both married at Norton in 1956; Robert to Denise Amelia Clare Jackson and Ronald to Eleanor Christine Perry.
The following photos were taken in 1966 and have been lent by Bob and Den’s son, Tony.
Phyllis and Cyril Phelps in the Old Lane opposite Norton Villa
Den, Bob Phelps and their sons Tony and Richard in the garden at Norton Villa.
In approximately 1975 there was a house swap with Cyril and Phyllis moving to a bungalow, ‘Giselle’, that stood adjacent to the drive that leads to the vicarage but has since been demolished. Their son Ronnie and his wife Eleanor moved in the opposite direction to Norton Villa and modernised the house.
Cyril died at Holm Hospital, Tewkesbury, in 1977. In 1980 Phyllis remarried widower Charles Henry Phillips, previously of Pumpstock, Norton Green, and moved to live with him at Rodborough. She died in March 1996 at at Fareham, Hants, having moved to be near her daughter, but was returned to Norton for her funeral.
Dennis Williams who has lived at several properties along the Old Road since the mid-1950s shared the following memories;
“‘Norton Villa’ was the home of Mr and Mrs Phelps. Brick built, white stucco painted, under a slate roof. For many years Mr Phelps was the local coal merchant. They had one daughter and two sons. They were village children through to their marriages. Again they could have told many more stories about the village than myself. Always very enterprising, in my time the boys had a log cutting and delivery business. They all did well and their children were extremely successful business people, their grandparents would have been very proud of them. Mr Phelps would bring the house down with his rendering of ‘Little Brown Jug’ at the village hall concerts; Jean, Ron and Bob had fine voices and sang in harmony. Mrs Phelps wrote poetry of a high standard, humorous and to the point. Mrs Phelps spring garden was a joy to behold, it cheered us all up after a long winter. Norton Villa before the Second World War was a tea garden, cycling was popular and the gardens made a pleasant stop on the way to Wainlode. In the paddock at the rear of the house was an open air cider mill”.
In the late 1970s the residents were Chris Hodson and his wife.
At one time Norton Villa was renamed Leighbrook House and in 1985 Anthony R and Susan M Lane lived here. They were followed by Terry and Daphne Hill who built an extension and added the mock Tudor facade.
Was marketed by The Estate Agency, Gloucester, in March 1994 at £205,000; "A detached 4 bedroom house, outbuildings & outline planning permission for further building".
It was still Leighbrook House in 2002 when John and Alison Harris were here.
[2002]
Later the name reverted to Norton Villa but a new house, built to the rear, was given the name Leighbrook House and this is as it remains today.
From approximately 2005 the residents at Norton Villa have been Christopher and Sherri Cheal.
