99 Pakefield Street

Olney Cottage , Pakefield

Olney Cottage was built about 1840.

An article in the Eastern Daily Press, dated 17 December 1901, says, “Olney Cottage, now standing in Pakefield Street, was built of the bricks saved from two houses which were pulled down sixty years ago to prevent them from toppling over the cliff.”

[(1901, December 17). The Sea Encroachment at Pakefield. Eastern Daily Press, 3. www.findmypast.co.uk ]

1871 England Census - Pakefield Street ,Cottage (unnamed) next to Croydon Lodge, shown as unoccupied.

[Census records. England. Pakefield, Mutford, Suffolk. 02 April 1871. -, -. PN RG 10 1778. FL 95. SN Unoccupied. ED 6f. p. 17. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 20 March 2025.]

18 March 1875. Marriage at St. Peter, Kirkley of John Morris Matchett, Farmer, residence Kirkley and Naomi Cole Youell , residence Pakefield.1881 England Census - Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage. Occupied by John Matchett, married, aged 50, agricultural labourer, born in Kirkley. Also in the property: Naomi Matchett, wife, aged 51, born in Barsham. Emmett Lincoln, nephew, aged 14, scholar, born in Kirkley. Verena E B Lincoln, niece, aged 4, born in Kirkley.

[Census records. England. Pakefield, Mutford, Suffolk. 03 April 1881. MATCHETT, John. PN RG11/1901. FL 28. p. 20 www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 20 March 2025.]

1891 England Census - Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage. Occupied by John M Matchett, married, aged 60, born in Kirkley. Also in the property: Naomi Matchett, Wife, aged 60, lodging house keeper, born in Barsham. Louisa M Martin, visitor, single, aged 25, dressmaker, born in Ipswich. Charles A Martin, visitor, single, aged 22, solicitor’s clerk, born in Beccles.

[Census records. England. Pakefield, Mutford, Suffolk. 05 April 1891. MATCHETT, John M. PN RG12/1491. FL 18. ED 6. p. 30. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 20 March 2025.]

From about 1884 to 1901, Olney Cottage was a lodging house.

Visitors to the town, probably the Middle classes, would leave their calling cards with the local newspaper, who the publish a weekly list of who was staying where.

[(1900, August 25). Visitors List. The Lowestoft Journal, 6. [ https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL/0001977/19000825&page=8&article=165&stringtohighlight=pakefield+olney+cottage]

1901 England Census - Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage.(Not Named) Occupied by John M Matchett, married, aged 69, living on own means, born in Kirkley. Also in the property: Naomi E Matchett, Wife, aged 71, born in Barsham.

[Census records. England. Pakefield, Mutford, Suffolk. 31 March 1901. MATCHETT, John M. PN RG13 / 1801. FL 114. SN 46. ED 6. p. 8. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 24 March 2025.]

1911 England Census - Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage. Occupied by Naomi Matchett, Widow aged 82, born in Barsham.

[Census records. England. Mutford, Suffolk. 02 April 1911. MATCHETT, Naomi. RD 218. PN RG14 11032. ED 9. SN 91. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 24 March 2025.]

1921 England Census - 77 Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage.(Not Named). Occupied by Edward Charles Bennett, Married, aged 71, Railway Clerk, Great Eastern Railway, (out of work), born in London. Also in the property; Annie Gertrude Bennett, Wife, aged 56, born in Lowestoft.

[Census records. England. Pakefield, Suffolk. 19 June 1921. BENNETT, Edward Charles . RD 218. PN RG15 09531 . RS Kessingland. ED 16. SN 405. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 24 March 2025.]

1939 Register of United Kingdom - 77 Pakefield Street, Olney Cottage.(Not Named). Occupied by Edward C Bennett, Married, Birth Date 16 Feb 1850, Retired Railway Clerk. Also in the property: Annie G Bennett, Married, Birth Date 16 March 1865.  Charles Graham, Single, Birth Date 21 April 1862, Retired Compositor.

[1939 Register, England. Lowestoft MB. BENNETT, Edward C. 29 September 1939. Schedule 21. RG101/6623A/004/24. National Archives (Great Britain), Kew, England. Collection: 1939 Register. www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 24 March 2025.]

1959 Kelly’s Street Directory 77 Pakefield Street (Not Named), Mrs. Duff

[Kelly's Directories. (1959). Kelly's Directory of Lowestoft.]

Pakefield Street renumbered approx 1970

1974 Kelly’s Street Directory 99 Pakefield Street (Not Named), Mrs. Duff

[Kelly's Directories Ltd. (1974). Kelly's Directory of Lowestoft.]

3 October 1977, Olney Cottage is made a listed building

House. c1800, enlarged to rear late C20. Colourwashed brick. Pantile roofs. The front block is the original. Two storeys in two window bays. Central gabled porch with a timber door displaying six incised panels. Early C19 lock and striking plate. One sash right and left and two to the upper floor, all with 6/6 glazing bars and exposed boxes. Dentil eaves cornice below gabled roof. Internal gable-end stacks. To the rear are late C20 colourwashed brick extensions of two storeys, forming an apparent double pile plan.

INTERIOR. Two principal ground-floor rooms separated by a plain single-flight staircase. The two rooms have six-panel doors with HL hinges. The south room is heated from a brick fireplace with a stilted arch: the arch bar is late c1989. The roof has been replaced. 

Listing NGR: TM5372290601

[(n.d.). Olney Cottage, Pakefield Street. Historic England.  https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/results/?search=1292486&searchType=NHLE+Simple ]

 1891 Censu

s Pakefield