Elston Mapping Project – Evolution of the Village

A limited number of historical maps exist and it proved impossible to trace the shape of the village back to Anglo -Saxon times. The maps however give some sense of how the village has evolved. Most noticeable is that, despite the joining of Elston and East Stoke parishes in 1872, the village still consisted of a two separate strings of houses along Top Street and Low Street for the next seventy years, and no substantive building took place along Toad Lane or Pinfold Lane until the end of the Second World War.

1260s

All Saints Church built

1479

South aisle of the church extended by nine feet

1485-1603

Tudor house in Mill Road ("Blue Bell Inn") built

1577

Old Chapel built

16th Century

Tudor dovecote behind The Old Ale House in Top Street built

Early 17th Century

Ardmore House , referred to as the oldest dwelling in the village, built

17th Century

Church tower rebuilt

1650s

Holly Byre (barn) built

1653

First school built, possibly where Sharah House in Elston Lane now stands

1710

Tudor Farm House in Low Street built

1720

Berkley Cottage in Low Street built

1724

Elm Cottage in Low Street built

1729

Ivy House in Low Street built

1744

Ann Darwin Cottages built

1756

Elston Hall built

1780

The Hollies built in Low Street

1784

Dove Cottage in Low Street built by this time

1799

Cobbler's Cottage and Kirklevington built on the corner of Top Street and Mill Road

Late 18th Century

Brick cladding added to Ardmore House

The Old Alehouse, formerly King William IV public house, built in Top Street

Hall Farm house built, later known as Merrin's Farm house, off Top Street

Lodge House in Lodge Lane by the Fosse Way built

Early 19th Century

Extensions to Elston Hall

1812

New school house built where Sharah house now stands in Elston Lane

1815

Rose Cottage inMill Road built

1815

First Wesleyan Chapel built where Holydene now stands

1830

Baileys, Willow, Cob, and Rhizome Cottages built in Low Street

1834

Ann Darwin Cottages rebuilt

1837

Garden front added to Elston Hall

1937/8

Church tower rebuilt again to accommodate the clock

1840/1845

Independent Primitive Methodist Chapel in Low Street, now The White House, built

1844

Windmill in Mill Road built

1855

Rectory (now The Old Rectory) built in Top Street

1856/61

Old Schoolhouse in Top Street built

1858

Map shows nine poor cottages at the end of Pinfold Lane onthe same side as the Horse and Gears (now Corner House)

1859

Repairs to the church, including rebuilding the north wall to nave and chancel

1868

Coach house and other outhouses added to the Old Rectory

1870s

First rectory in front of the churchyard demolished

1871

Methodist Hall in Low Street built

1872

Infant room added to the Old Schoolhouse

1872-5

Middleton House / Elston Towers built

Late 19th Century

Windmill in Elston Lane demolished

Pre-1914

Four cottages to the right of the track into Stokefields Farm demolished

1920s

1 and 2 Stoke Field Cottages built

1940

Removal of sails from the windmill

Council houses at the bottom of Toad Lane built

Post War

Oakwood Cottage ceases to be a shop and besomes a residence

1947/8

Central Drive built

1953/1960

Wooden fish shop stood where The Limes is now in Low Street

Mid 1950s

Cottages at the end of Pinfold Lane demolished

1955

Elston Hall becomes a Roman Catholic school

1959

Village Hall built

1960

Sunday school room, kitchen, and amenity rooms added to the back of the Methodist Hall in Low Street

Early 1960s

Demolition of Tudor Cottage in Mill Road

1960s

Wings added to Elston Hall to increase the size of the school

First Weslleyan chapel, a dwelling, demolished. Holydene built later

First extension to Cobwebs built

1962

Orchard View built in the Little Scutchel

1965

Quiet Corner built in the Little Scutchel

1967/8

1-3 Pinfold Lane built

1967-1971

The Green built, starting at 22, moving down the left side, round the bottom and back up to finish at Rectory Farm

1968

23 The Green (fronting to Top Street) built

9,11, & 13 Pinfold Lane built

1969

The Pantiles built in Mill Road

1-13,2-8 The Spinney built

1970

7,9, & 11 The Spinney built

1970/71

Rest of Pinfold Lane (south end ) built

1971

1-5 Top Street built

Demolition of the Hall Farm Cottage adjoining Rectory Farm

1972

Rest of The Spinney built

1973

Pemberton built in the Little Scutchel

Demolition of Old Bakery in Old Chapel Lane

All Saints School built in the Village Hall Field

1974

Winston Drive built

1975

Darwin Close, 5 & 7 Carrgate Lane built

New Rectory built behind the old one

Three cottages on the south side of Top Street demolished

1976

Elston Hall converted to flats

1980s

Second extension to Cobwebs built

1981

Closure of Smith's shop in Low Street and first used as a dwelling

1982

The Paddocks built by Ablehomes

1987

Paddocks Close built by Langley Homes

1995-1998

The Orchard built

1999

Tudor Oaks built by Prowtings

Closure of the Post Office in Top Street and continued use as a residence

2005

"Shop in a Box" opened next to the Village Hall

2007

Conversion of Tudor Dovecote in Top Street

Listed Buildings

Elston Towers, Lodge Lane (Grade 2) 1872

Country house and terrace, built in 1872 for Robert Middleton. Built of yellow and red brick with some ashlar, stucco, terracotta and iron and with a slate roof.

Coach House at Elston Towers, Lodge Lane (Grade 2) Late C19

Coach house built of red and yellow brick comprising two storeys and four bays. To the right is a projecting four storey tower, formerly topped with a clock but now replaced with a 20th century stack (chimney)

The Hollies, Low Street (Grade 2) Early C19 (Georgian)

House with two and a half storeys. Built of red brick with some stone (ashlar) and roofed with concrete pantiles.

Ardmore House (formerly Smith's shop), Low Street (Grade 2) Early C17;Late 18C; C20

An early 17th century timber framed house with later 18th century red brick cladding. Formerly a house and shop. Roadside front has a single 20th century shop window above, to the right of which used to be a Cadbury's Cocoa sign. Attached to the right of the building is a red brick single storey and a four bay outbuilding now part converted for domestic use. The interior of the house has many beams and some evidence of posts.

The Windmill, Mill Road (Grade 2) Mid C19; C20

A mid 19th Century tower windmill, now converted to a house. The building is built of red brick, painted and comprises five storeys. Attached to the west are 20th century extensions of no special interest.

Elston Chapel, Old Chapel Lane (Grade 1) C12; C14; C16

Former parish church, now vested in the redundant churches fund. Dates to 12th, 14th and 16th centuries. Built of coursed rubble with some ashlar (stone) and plain tiled roofs.

Church of All Saints, Top Street (Grade 2) C13; C14; 1837; 1856

Parish church dates to 13th and 14th centuries but extensively restored in 1837 (chancel) and 1856 (vestry). The slim tower is 13th century and the clerestory is 14th century. Many 19th century arched windows. The interior has a restored 14th century font. Monuments inside to many members of the Darwin family dating from 1682 to 1838.

Elston Hall, Top Street (Grade 2) 1756; 1837; later C19; 1950

Country house (now 10 maisonettes) dated to 1756 with garden front dated to 1837. Later 19th century and circa 1950 extensions. The house is the birthplace of Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802). Originally laid out on an H plan with 2 storeys and attic and 9 bays. Built of blue lias with ashlar dressings, rendered red brick and plain tiled roof. Late 19th century and several 20th century wings added. Interior contains several panelled walls and ceilings, moulded and carved fireplaces and a dogleg staircase with machine turned balusters.

Hall Farm House, Top street (grade 2) late C18

Farmhouse, built of redbrick, rendered and a pantile roof. The building has two storeys plus a garret (loft). To the left is a red brick lean-to and to the rear is a long lower wing at right angles.

The Old Ale House, Top Street (Grade 2) late C18; C20

Public house, now a domestic dwelling. Built of painted red brick set on a rubble plinth with a pantile roof. All windows are 20th century.