Walnut Cottage

 click Kiln Lane and also click 'Malmsmead'

Renaming the property ‘Malmsmead’, the retired schoolteachers spent numerous happy hours, for well over thirty years, tending and nurturing many exotic and unusual plants in the gardens. They cultivated a vine, which produced some fine grapes. Kathleen was also an enthusiastic beekeeper. Following the death of Helen Sampson, the house was once again converted back into two dwellings, the western end of the building forming the conversion, hence its renaming ‘Malmsmead West’.

When Kathleen Sampson died in 1980, the property and adjacent meadowland, which from the days of Jabez Claydon had remained intact, was divided up. ‘Malmsmead West’, with a sitting tenant, remained as part of the Estate of Miss Sampson. ‘Malmsmead’ and the meadowland were offered for sale by auction in two Lots.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Piercy purchased the house and R. M. West and Son of Stocken Farm acquired the meadowland. Several years elapsed before ‘Malmsmead West’ was finally sold. The property was brought by Mr. R. Davidson and renamed ‘Walnut Cottage’.