The original Jaggard’s Cottage was built at the end of the 19th century, and has been a notable landmark in the village ever since. Although the property has been extensively revised, the name and the fact the cottage stood directly onto the road that became known as Church Road has been retained.
The cottage was linked for so many years with the Woodward family, and more details are contained in the villager recollections about Arthur Woodward – here – along with details of the previous occupant – Miss Riley.
The reference to Miss Riley living in Jaggard’s cottage perhaps shines a light on the origin of the “Jaggard” name. Catherine May Riley (1858-1942) was the sister of Edward Riley who was the tenant at Manor Farm, Church Lawford from 1887 to 1913. Miss Riley had joined her brother in the village around the turn of the century, probably moving directly to that cottage. The siblings mother’s maiden name was Jaggard, and there is also a reference in 1895 to a “Mr Jaggard” being part of village life (although he doesn’t appear in either the 1891 or 1901 census), so it seems likely this is where the name came from, with the possibility he was a cousin of the two members of the Riley family. The Jaggard family was an established farming family in South Warwickshire.
The cottage was part of the 1918 auction, described thus
