*                               West End Cottage  (70 West Street)                              *
Above: West End Cottage.
My own photograph 2024

J Hern was living at West End Cottage in 1866

The Post Office Directory of Somerset and Devon 1866

Thomas Ferris, a 50 year old master tailor, was living at West End Cottage at the time of the 1871 census. With him and his wife Emma was one daughter and four sons, ranging in age from 17 to 2.
1871 census RG10, folio 7 p6

Emma, the wife of Mr Thomas Ferris, died at West End Cottage in November 1880. She was 56.
Western Times 23 November 1880, p5 col2

Frederick Arthur Banks, 27, died at West end Cottage in January 1887.
Totnes Times and Devon News 22 January 1887, p5 col6

Gertrude Bertha Ferris, of West End Cottage, died in November 1897. She was 49.
Parish records

Thomas Ferris, a 71 year old widower, was head of house at West End Cottage in 1891. He was a tailor. With him at the time of the census were two daughters, Gertrude B and Emma L., both dressmakers, and a son, Arthur T (?), who was a grocer's assistant.
Also in the house was John C Ferris, a retired tailor.
1891 census RG12, piece no. 1698, folio 4 p1

Emma Lavinia Ferris was at West End Cottage at the time of the 1911 census. Aged 55 and single, she was a boarding house keeper.
1911 census RG14, piece no. 12725, schedule 29

Emma L Ferris was living at West End Cottage in 1939. Born in July 1857, she was living on private means.
1939 register

1951. A list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest included West End Cottage, Western Road, with the owner/occupier being named as Mrs E I Ferris.
The list was compiled under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947.
With thanks to Pete Webb

West End Cottage was to be sold by auction in April 1952, the first time it had been on the market for 250 years. Described as a 16th century house in excellent condition, it had been 'modernised with restraint'. The cottage had three reception, three bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen, together with outbuildings and an old world garden. There was room for a garage.
Torbay Express and South Devon Echo 25 February 1952, p2 col6

West End Cottage sold on April 4th for £4550, at an auction at the Queen's Hotel, Torquay. The vendor was Mrs E I Ferris, whose family had owned the house for over 200 years.
Herald and Express 5th April 1952, p5 col3

West End Cottage was again up for auction in April 1961. Waycotts described it as having a lounge 19ft x 13ft 6ins, a dining room, study, 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen with an Aga. The house had a walled garden.

It was sold prior to auction.
Torquay Times 17 March 1961, p8 col6
Torquay Times 21 April 1961, p8 col6

In 1992 Historic England described the cottage as 17th century or earlier, built mainly of thick roughcast walls, with a large chimney on the rear wall. Probaly originally two roomed, with the entrance over to the left, two of the three windows were well over to the right. The building was two storeys.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1201039?section=official-list-entry - accessed 6-05-2024