East End

East  End is now just a collection of houses on the outskirts of Chewton Mendip but it used to be a relatively populous hamlet. It was one of the five tithings of Chewton Mendip that was accounting for its poor law contributions separately until the 1890’s. What makes this map confusing is that four of the roads marked no longer exist or have been reduced to a leafy, and muddy, footpath. What is shown as Cross Lane is now East End Lane that joins the main Wells to Bristol/Bath road.

The Hippisly family were first recorded in Chewton Mendip in Tudor times when they were based in Barrow Farm  but they may have purchased land in East End at the time. They were originally based in Emborough which is adjacent to East End so some overlap of property may have occurred as early as the dissolution of the monastries.

Richard Hippisley was recorded as living in Chewton Mendip in the middle of the 17th century and he, or his son, Hippisley was signing churchwarden accounts and paying rates in East End as early as 1704. William Hippisley (1693-1783) is first recorded in 1734 when he was preparing accounts for Mrs Hart’s estate in 1734. This could mean that he was her landlord or he was preparing accounts for her because she was illiterate or both. He was recorded as owner or tenant of properties in East End for the rest of his life.

The building marked with red is the site of modern Hippisly farm but Lower East End Farm (marked with a light green dot) is probably the site of the original Hippisley farm. The current Hipisley farm is identified as East End Farm in the 1902 map.

The green spot marks the site of what is known as East End farm  which is marked with a dark green dot. Opposite, marked in brown, is the site of the row of cottages that were built in 1910 to replace whatever is shown in the map.

The T junction was empty in 1794 but is now occupied by the Tithe Barn shown by the yellow dot. This has recently been converted to a private dwelling.

There may have been another farm in what is now called Honeywell Lane (marked with a blue dot) but is not named in the map as such it is now a private house.

None of the  farms are operational today and there may have been a another farm (marked with a purple blob) that can be seen to the right of Rowdens lane which is now grassed over. All that now remains of this possible farm is the ruin of one of the barns but it has been given the name Honewell Farm within this website for ease of reference

What may have been the Mannings estate is also shown but not highlighted because it was probably a Kingsmill property.  Cutlers Green, Double Farm, Franklyns and Quarrs are not shown on this map an may have been in the eastern part of the Town tithing and were probably Kingsmill properties. Dudwell farm was one of the few farms owned by the Waldegraves in that part of the village untill the 19th century. There are several other properties in the eastern part of Chewton Mendip that have yet to be identified.