Old Doctor's house - 54 High Street

Many people have memories of going to the old doctors’ house in the High St where Dr Young, Dr Webb, his son-in-law, then Dr Townley worked.

When did it become a surgery or have doctor’s rooms?

The house was there on the 1885 map. The 1910 land valuation map told us it was owned by Ruth Northfield, one of four sisters who lived on the other side of the road at Evergreens, No 39 High St, and was rented to William Fisher. We checked the 1911 census for this property with 9 rooms next to the Coach & Horses and, although W Fisher wasn’t present (he was a solicitor in London), only the housekeeper was, it had his name crossed out and called the property Fermoy Cottage.

We have the Northfields old account/rent book from 1850s-1950s and checked for Fermoy Cottage. From Nov 1909 to Jan 1914 William Fisher (son of Harlton Rector) rented the property. From July 1914 Mr William Ward rented the property. He ran a cycle/motor repair shop next to the Three Horseshoes over the road (see photo). There were 3 lodgers living with him and his wife in 1939. He was buried 27 Jan 1940, noted as of Fermoy Cottage. His wife Jeanetta Mary continued to pay the rent until July 1947, but when she died in April 1955 she was recorded as of Surgery House, Harston/ crossed out and written over with Fermoy Cottage. As no more rent was paid to the Northfields after 1947 we assume either one of the doctors bought the property and Mrs Ward remained as housekeeper or Mrs Ward bought the property and rented out the rooms to the doctors, as her estate in 1955 was £333. So the doctors may have been there since about 1940.

The house deeds show that in 1969 Dr Webb applied for permission to connect the surgery and kitchen to the public sewer which had recently been built, so at some point he had bought the house.

In 1973 the owners applied for change of use from Doctors Surgery to offices when the Surgery was moved to London Rd.