James & Sandra Jenkins

Research by Joan West

James and Sandra Jenkins moved to Turnip End. They were not members of the Local History Group, but gave me an enormous amount of information about their neighbours and the other cottages there.

James lent me a picture of a document found in their house. It was framed behind glass and securely taped in. He said there was writing on the back and suggested that I should take it out of its frame as it might be interesting. It was with some trepidation that I took the picture out of its frame. James had not been aware that the writing on the back was the history of a former house that had stood on the site of Turnip End Cottage. It had belonged to a man that I had been researching, having found his long and complicated will.

William Pleeth by Sandra Jenkins

In the 1970’s William Pleeth had a mobile home in Turnip End Lane.   He was a famous cellist.   Jacqueline du Pre came to him for lessons.   His home was in London.   He had become friends with Edmund Rubbra, a renowned composer, whilst they were serving during WW2.   Rubbra had a home in Highwood Bottom and composed music especially for him.

Dawn Cottage at Turnip End by Sandra Jenkins

About 1946 Dawn Cottage was lived in by Peter & Margaret Goffin.   At that time Peter was well known as a set and costume designer for the D’Oily Carte Opera Company.   He was often in London all week.   Presumably they had no car as they relied on buses or people giving them lifts.   The cottage had a water tank in the garden where they hung the butter and milk which they bought from the Parslow's at Flowers Bottom Farm in order to keep it cool.   The privy was outside and there was no bathroom for many years.