North Laurels House dates from around 1831-1838, though there is evidence of an earlier building on the plot before 1780. An enclosure map of 1799 shows a parcel of land belonging to J. Livett with a tenement, garden, and orchard extending in size to 1 acre, 1 rood and 38 perches. The original house, having frontage directly onto the Great North Road, can be seen at the extreme western end of this plot.
A map dating from 1838 shows that by this time the original dwelling had been replaced by a building that was set back from the road and had a long wing behind its northern end, much like the position and footprint of the current North Laurels House. It is likely that this house was built by John Livett (grandson of the J. Livett indicated on the 1799 map) at sometime after 1831 following the death of his parents. The 1838 map indicates there was a ladies seminary on the plot though it is not clear if this was the original purpose of the house. It does not appear to have existed for very long since there is no mention of it in the census of 1841.
By 1852, the house had passed to the Howkins family who lived here for nearly 40 years. Around 1891 the house changed hands again, this time being purchased by local farmer, George Ingle, who had previously owned and worked the Duloe Windmill. It is said that, in his younger days, George would often entertain people by holding on and travelling round with the sails. The windmill still exists and was converted to a private residence in 1948 though the sails no longer remain.
Later, George Ingle also purchased the neighbouring house, 202 Great North Road, and with it the coach-building business that operated in its backyard. The business was run by his son, George Arthur Ingle, having served an apprenticeship at Wendover’s in Huntingdon. George Arthur later married and moved into 202.
After George Ingle’s death, ownership of the house passed to the family that owned Paine’s brewery in the market square, St Neots.
The photograph below shows the house during this period (circa 1911-12). Close inspection of the nameplate on the gate post indicates that by this time the house had been named “The Laurels” for some while.
In 1923, this family moved out and the next owner was the manager of the bank in St Neots market square and his family. The land valuation of 1925 noted that downstairs there were two rooms, a kitchen, a scullery, a hall, “a lovely drawing room” and upstairs there were 6 bedroooms, 1 bath, with 4 rooms and a lumber room on the 2nd floor. Outside there was a gardener’s shed, an old stable used as a piggery and store, a store place, a wood barn, a hen house, a garage with a concrete floor, a hovel used as a hen house, a large kitchen garden, an orchard, 2 grass tennis courts and a summer house. It was also noted that the property was lit by oil lamps and that all water had to be pumped (the well still exists in the back garden).
In 1932 the house was sold to Thomas Hartop, a local builder. At that time he was rebuilding the bakery for the Budd family (now Regis House, in front of Tesco Express) and while this was ongoing the Budd’s temporarily moved into The Laurels.
The Budd's were the last family to live in the house while it still remained a single dwelling. When the bakehouse was finished, and the Budd’s had moved back in, Hartop divided The Laurels into 2 separate dwellings, which are now 204 and 206 Great North Road. Among the alterations carried out was a large 3-storey extension added to the rear of what is now 204. Hartop was also engaged in renovating the Eaton Socon parish church (St Mary's) after it had burnt down in 1930 (see below). An exposed beam in the breakfast room of 204 is one of the timbers he salvaged from the church. Hartop also separated the land at the rear of the plot, building several houses there and beginning the development that now forms The Crescent.
Around this time electricity and piped water arrived in the village, and the first owner of 206 (in 1933) was in the vanguard of this revolution. He was an electrical engineer who rose to a high executive position within the BCH Electricity Company which served Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. He also acquired the neighbouring house, October Cottage (208), which until 1904 had been a public house (The Black Horse, below) and at the time was still owned by the Newland and Nash Brewery. In 1936, after completion of the new rear extension, Hartop sold 204 and the new owner re-named it Terrington House, though this name was not taken up by subsequent owners.
In 1971, the building was recognised as being of architectural interest and was given Grade II listed-building status. However, not long after this another part of the grounds was used for development when the flats that are now part of the Crescent were built. Unfortunately, less than ten years after being listed, 206 fell into disrepair when the property was repossessed by the bank and then remained unoccupied for the next 2 years. Subsequent owners carried out much renovation work and this included the incorporation of a single storey outbuilding, previously a workshop, into the rear of the north wing creating a music room. Later a second storey was added to this creating an additional bedroom.
At one time during this period 204 served as the headquarters for the local Conservative party during elections. Among prominent visitors on election night in May 1997 were the prime minister (and local MP), John Major, and his wife, Norma. Unfortunately, this was not a happy occasion as it soon became clear as the results came in that Labour was sweeping to victory under Tony Blair, ending many years of Conservative government.
Finally, in 2002, the 2 halves of the building once again came under the same ownership, and a new extension was added across the rear of the entire house. This replaced the old flat-roofed kitchen of 204 (dating from 1930’s) and incorporated the old external washhouse and boiler-house within in a new kitchen/conservatory/sitting area.
With acknowledgments to Sue Jarret and the Eatons Community Association . Thanks also to Guy Boocock for the old photograph of The Laurels