To get an insight into properties and their ownership after the 1918 auction it is possible to look at the valuation of village properties from 1919. At this time each parish was responsible for looking after its own poor (the 1925 Rating and Valuation Act removed that responsibility). At regular intervals the properties in the villages were reviewed and assessed for their rateable value. The overseers would then collect this “Rate” from those deemed wealthy enough to pay it, and used it accordingly for emergency relief, ahead of the district poor law union. More details of the work of the various Parish Officers can be found here. Unfortunately such a register has not been found for Kings Newnham, although the majority of the property transfers were detailed in the report on the auction itself – here.
it is also worthy of note that a number of properties had been sold to “outsiders”, and one side-effect of this was a number of disputes which arose when the new owner was faced with an existing tenant. Disputes which resulted in legal action have been noted in Smithy Lane, Church Road, School Street and on Coventry Road.
The valuation pages are shown below. See here for more details on the various cottages and their numbering.
