Apparently, none of the cottages were on the mains water supply until the 1970’s. Until that point, water was collected from a spring 200m down the road using a barrel and a well barrow! Seems a bit difficult to believe in this day and age when we take running drinking water for granted.
But there is something here that doesn’t stack up. Why would someone in the 1750’s build three cottages where there was no water supply? It is fairly common for old properties in the area to have their own well. Often very deep – 40-50ft would not be unusual. But there is no sign of a well on the property at all today.
So where might it have been? I can’t imagine that it would have been at the rear of the property since there is no sign of any doors or access on that side. I can’t imagine that it is going to be directly in front of the cottages as this area forms a sort of farmyard. The access has not changed over the years so it looks like it has always been a farmyard.
So the only other option is that it has to be located some where in the front of the property, beyond the farmyard, and in (what is now) the orchard. But still no sign. But it must be there somewhere. Surely.
My husband Stephen lived there in the sixties and says there was never a well near the house apart from the one along the road that you mention. He fetched water from that well for a number of years and would have preferred not to but had no choice. The house looks really good, hope you have settled in ok. Regards, Denise.