Post date: Mar 20, 2013 10:57:14 AM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 22 January 1870. Latter's Buildings are featured on one of the early maps of Wateringbury, so their origin is at least 18th century and possibly earlier.

Dail Whiting's book "In the Steps of George Newman and Beyond" (page 135) quotes an extract from the writings of Mrs Mercy King (born c. 1762), dated 3rd April 1856 -"We now arrive at the Duke's Head Inn; thence to Latter's Buildings, where one house calls my particular attention. It is the oldest among them, and Mr. William Latter, the builder, was my god-father."

William Latter was a common name in Kent, including the nearby villages of Yalding and Offham. The Wateringbury church records show a William Latter married Selina Baker in the Church on 20th February 1755, a second William Latter, married Mary Pound on 26th October 1761, a third marrying Mary Harrison on 6th February 1770, a fourth marrying Martha Hatch on 20th February 1784, a fifth marrying Anne Erskine on 12 December 1795.

A William Latter, aged 77, was buried In Wateringbury Church on 18th September 1808 and another, aged 80, on 4th October 1811. Both were wealthy enough to have registered wills on which probate was granted the years following their burials and in which the first is recorded as a Yeoman and the second as a malster.

Although the houses are surrounded by Manor Farm (formerly Westbury) there is no evidence that it was ever part of thr farm, although of course Latter's Buildings would have made a convenient place for labourers on the farm to live.

In the 1839 Tithe Survey the owner is shown as "Richard Harris and another" and the occupier as "Edward Freeman and others". The section of the Tithe Map including Latter's Buildings can be seen at the page Wateringbury Tithe Survey.

In the 1851 census some 135 people (including children) were living in 29 properties (one unoccupied). One was a Richard Latter (quite a common name in Wateringbury at the time), a widower living as a tenant with John and Elizabeth Shepherd. There were 3 households in Latter's Buildings with the surname Shepherd. There were no brickmakers amongst the occupations cited despite the proximity of one of Wateringbury's two Brickworks. Agricultural labourers predominate but there are also several blacksmiths, a gardener, sawyer, carrier, a railway labourer amongst the heads of house.

At the time of the 1911 census (see attached excel file) Latter's Buildings had 24 dwellings (c.f. 26 in extract below) with 98 rooms and 83 inhabitants. Most of the dwellings there had 4 rooms (defined as including a kitchen but excluding a closet, landing, scullery, lobby, warehouse or shop) but Widow Fanny Shepherd (or Shepperd) who ran the Blacksmith and wheelwright business employing her 3 sons (aged between 30 and 39 and living at home) had 9 rooms and gave her address as Forge House. Farm labourer seems the dominant occupation and at this end of the village only one person worked in the brewing industry.

Memories of WW2 life in Latter's Buildings by John P. Smith are to be found in the Society's publication "About Wateringbury" pages 29-34.

Extract from Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser - Monday 08 November 1869

WATERINGBURY Latter's Buildings, consisting of twenty-five cottages have been purchased by the Maidstone Cottage Improvement Company. These cottages have long needed the improvements which will, no doubt, now be carried out in an efficient manner.

MAIDSTONE COTTAGE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. The annual meeting of the shareholders and directors this company was held at the Town Hall on Thursday, Mr J. Clifford, J.P., was voted to the chair, and there were present the Revs. W. A. Hill, S. Hornibrook (hon, sec.), and Messrs S. Mercer, Hughes, G. Edmett, W. Edmett, S. Bentliff, J. Hodgson, and J. Clifford, jun. The business commenced by the Rev. S. Hornibrook reading the report and balance sheet. The report was follows : The directors have much pleasure in presenting this their seventh annual report. The share capital now amounts to £5,760. The net rental of the Company's cottages has been £350 15s 5d, which, with £12 10s divided on the reserve fund makes the total income for the year amount to £363 5s 5d. The sum of £44 5s. 8d has been spent on repairs, and the whole of the Company's Maidstone property is now in good condition. The expenses of management have not increased, and have amounted only to the very small sum of £7 17s 5d. The dividend proposed, at the rate of £5 per cent, per annum, free of Income Tax, will take £247 12s. A balance of £53 will remain to be added to the reserve fund, which will thereby be increased to the sum of £303 13s 1d. The Company's cottages are well tenanted, and the loss of rent has been very small. This shows that even in a year like the present the Company's cottages are sought after and appreciated as moderate in rental and comfortable for occupation.

During the past year four Cottages in Maidstone have been purchased, and for the first time the Company has been able to extend its operations beyond the town by purchasing at Wateringbury Latter's Buildings, which consist of twenty-six cottages. This property has just came into the possession of the Company, and its very bad condition shows that cottage improvement is urgently required in country villages, as well as in the worst and most neglected parts of large towns.

The Company at present possesses eighty-five cottages. The capital subscribed is now all invested, and a further sum of £1,000 is required to complete the payment for Latter's Buildings, and to carry out the repairs and improvements required on that property. It is, therefore, desired to issue new shares, which your Directors invite the shareholders and the public to subscribe for, with the firm conviction that with ample capital this Company will confer great benefits on Maidstone and its vicinity, and also afford to the shareholders really good security and regular dividends. For the convenience of shareholders a register is now kept at the offices of Messrs King. Hughes, and King, Mill-street, Maidstone, in which, free of charge, can entered the names persons wishing to sell or buy shares.

The Chairman said it must be gratifying for them to see that the society had gone on increasingly prosperous. It had commenced in a small way, but it was very soon seen that the work of the company was of such material benefit to the town that they had gathered friends around them, and having thus made advancement, purchased ail property within their reach, at a moderate cost, so as to do justice to the shareholders and benefit their poorer brethren. The objects of the society ere two fold. They wished to benefit the poor by giving them better accommodation, and at the same time they were a company taking in money upon which they had pledged themselves to pay 5 per cent, interest. It would be seen they had hitherto carried out both these objects,and as far as in them lies they would continue to do so.

He had great pleasure in proposing the first resolution, " That the report and balance sheet printed and circulated, and that a dividend of 5 per cent, be declared." Mr Bentliff seconded. The Rev. W. A. Hill said as the affairs of the company had been so well directed, had pleasure in proposing that the directors be re-appointed for the ensuing year. Mr Edmett seconded. Mr Hodgson proposed that Charles Whitehead, Esq., and the Rev. S. Hornibrook be re-elected hon. secretaries, .and E. Lenden, Esq., hon. auditor. Mr Clifford, jun., seconded. Mr Hughes proposed another resolution, that a vote of thanks be given to both of the hon. secretaries who had given such satisfaction to the shareholders and directors. He hoped at some future time they would render them a vote of thanks in a more substantial form, stating that at Hastings there was a similar society where the manager had a salary paid him. He would also couple with the vote of thanks the name of Mr Lendon for the services he had rendered as auditor. Mr S. Mercer seconded the resolution, and said, as those gentlemen had given such satisfaction, he was glad they had allowed themselves to be re-elected, and hoped that would be the case for many years to come. The Rev. S. Hornibrook said he had always taken a warm interest in the success of the company, and had been only too pleased to have the opportunity of working for it. As to accepting, any pecuniary payment he should do no such thing, and he was sure Mr Whitehead would not. As long as he was in the neighbourhood he should be happy to continue to carry out the duties of secretary gratuitously. A vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr G. Edmett, and seconded the Rev. A. Hill, brought the meeting to close.