During the C19th and early C20th much of the centre of Meldreth was owned by the Mortlock family. Besides owning orchards and arable land John George Mortlock also built a number of grand houses in Meldreth.
I have prepared a map of Meldreth showing the extent of the property owned by William Mortlock (1778-1833) and put up for auction in 1833 (hatched in green) and the land owned by his grandson John George Mortlock (1835 – 1917) identified from the 1910 Land Valuation Map of Meldreth.
William’s son (and John George’s father), John Mortlock (1807 – 1888) also lived for a time in Meldreth before moving to The Moat House, Melbourn in 1841. It is not known at present where exactly John Mortlock lived in Meldreth.
What can be seen from the map is the huge area of Meldreth owned by John George Mortlock. Many of the grand houses were actually built by John George and we have him to thank for the fine legacy he has left.
John Gipson has kindly donated an old photograph album to the Meldreth Local History Group which originally belonged to John George Mortlock. This album shows a number of the houses owned by JGM. The photos below all come from this album. It is believed that JG built Meldreth Court Lodge and Maycroft. and. He also owned The Grove, The Warren, Meldreth Manor, The Grange, Orchard Dene and of course Meldreth Court and the associated buildings. He built the L-shaped extension onto Meldreth Court which housed the servants (downstairs) with additional bedrooms for the Court upstairs.
Rear View of Meldreth Court showing John George Mortlock and his family. The extension to the RHS was added by JGM.
Photo donated to MLHG by John Gipson
Meldreth Court Lodge, High Street, Meldreth. Built by John George Mortlock, c.1900
Photo donated to MLHG by John Gipson
Meldreth Court Stables and Gardener's Cottage. Owned and possibly built by John George Mortlock.
Photo Donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
Manting House, North End, Meldreth, owned and put up for auction in 1833 by William Mortlock. Later owned by his grandson John George Mortlock.
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
Meldreth Manor. One of the properties in Meldreth owned by John George Mortlock in 1910
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
The Moat House, Melbourn. the home of John Mortlock (1807 - 1888) after he moved from Meldreth
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
The Grove, Fenny Lane, Meldreth. Built by John George Mortlock c.1850. There is a plaque on the wall with JGM's initials.
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson.
The Gables, High Street, Meldreth. Owned and possibly built by John George Mortlock ~1900
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
The Maltings, High Street, Meldreth. Another property owned by John George Mortlock ~1900
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gispon
The Homestead, Melbourn (?). One of the photos in the John George Mortlock photo album and presumably owned by him ~1900.
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson
The Warren, North End, Meldreth. Situated on part of Simeon Mortlock's farm, The Warren was owned by and possibly built by John George Mortlock ~1900.
Photo donated to the MLHG by John Gipson.
Author
Tim GanePage added
11/01/2011
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* Ralph Vaughan Williams, the famous composer & folk song collector rented The Warren in the summer of 1906, when he came for a summer holiday with his first wife Adeline. He collected many songs from the locality.
Ralph Vaughan Williams, the famous composer & folk song collector rented this property in the summer of 1906, when he came for a summer holiday with his first wife Adeline. He collected many songs from the locality.
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