Contents
Early history
The cottage used to be the farmhouse for a farm of 32 acres, details of which are recorded here.
The present Keeper’s Cottage was originally built as three cottages – it is still possible to see the three entrances, although these have long since been bricked up.
1939 Register
At the time of the 1939 register, the cottages that made up the present Keeper’s Cottage were were known as “High Elm Cottages”. They were occupied at this time by The Gents and Batts in one and Margaret and John (Jack) Juby in the other cottage. The implication is that the tree cottages had been made into two by this time.
The photograph shows the left-most section at the time of the Juby’s occupation.
There is more detailed information on Jack Juby, M.B.E. here.
Photo: Alison Downes
1942
After the Juby’s left Deopham in 1942, this section of Keeper’s Cottage was occupied by “Wiggy” Ward. This nickname, according to Gordon Bales, had something to do with his short stature. He worked for Peacocks milking their cattle.
Recent history
It is not clear when the two cottages were converted into a single property. Martin Abel believes that this occurred around the late 1990s.
John Peacock sold the cottage in 2005 to Paul Rackham and then the Abels, who now live there, purchased the cottage from Paul Rackham in 2006.
Keeper’s Cottage in 2024
Photo: G. Sankey, Oct 2024
Navigation
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 11/3/25 | Comments on more recent occupants |
| 5/3/25 | Published |
Deopham History 