Pendeen Highfield Road Sedbergh

How Pendeen Highfield Road Sedbergh got its name.

Image from OnTheMarket website ^[1] (2011)

My grandparents John and Mary Johnson bought Number 3 Highfield Road in 1946 and the house remained in the family until 2016. I have often wondered where the name Pendeen came from. The name is prominently inscribed in locally cast concrete on the front of the pair of houses in Highfield Road. Other than three years in the 1970s I never lived in Pendeen. It was only some years later that I came across Pendeen, the village, in Cornwall. This set me wondering whether there was a connection between Pendeen Highfield Road Sedbergh and Pendeen the village in Cornwall^[2].

Highfield Road – in the beginning

The 1891 census contains no references to houses in Highfield Road. An 1894 image^[3] and an 1897 map^[4] show only Briarwood and “The Gowans”. The 1901 census, and a 1901 image^[5], show Pendeen along with its neighbours Fernleigh, The Gowans and Briarwood. The 1897 map appears to indicate that “HighField Villas” included all these named houses. Certainly Highfield Road and house number did not feature in the postal address. In the 1901 census, Pendeen’s occupants in the 1901 census are as follows. Two school masters, status of “Boarder” occupy number 3 and a Thomas Dennis with his wife Elizabeth Ann and their 5 children aged 21-11 live at No. 4. Presumably Thomas Dennis also owns No. 3. It is Thomas who had links to Pendeen, Cornwall.

Thomas Dennis era at number 4

The 1901 census shows Thomas Dennis was born in “Cornwall” [and an unreadable location], and Elizabeth was born in Penzance. The 1891 census shows similar information for Thomas and Elizabeth, (they were living in Long Lane, Sedbergh). Thomas came from St Just in Penwith – a parish that includes Pendeen.

Elizabeth Ann dies on 11th October 1907. The 1911 census shows Thomas Dennis still at Number 4 but now living alone with Emily Benson Dennis. Two references to “Pendeen” appear on this census record. Firstly, Thomas’s birthplace is “Cornwall, Pendeen”. Secondly the record shows the postal address for the Number 4 is “Pendeen, Sedbergh, Yorkshire”. The link between Pendeen Highfield Road Sedbergh and Pendeen, Cornwall has been established. On 23rd June 1912 Thomas Dennis dies, his time at Pendeen, his creation, lasting less than 15 years.

Emily Benson Fitch at number 4

Meanwhile, Emily Benson Fitch had been living in Long Lane Sedbergh since at least 1900. Then on the 23 December 1909 Emily married Thomas Dennis at St John The Baptist church in Leytonstone, Essex. Emily’s brother Charles William Fitch who also lived locally witnessed the wedding. The couple then returned to live at Pendeen, as recorded in the 1911 census, until Thomas’s death in June 1912.

The 1939 register for Pendeen shows Emily Benson Dennis still living there. Also shown are Henrietta Bennett and her husband George Herbert Bennett. It turns out that Henrietta is Emily’s step daughter i.e. Elizabeth Ann’s daughter. Henrietta and George married in Sydney, New South Wales on October 8th 1906.

On 15th April 1950 Emily Benson Dennis dies aged 90. Then on the 26th August 1950 the Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer announced the sale of “Pendeen, Highfield Road”. The Bradford Observer reported the sale on the 7th September 1950: “Pendeen, Highfield Road sold for £1,750. Solicitors: Hague & Hague Sedbergh”

3 and 4 – the later years

George Braithwaite lived at number 4 – presumably buying it in September 1950. Subsequent to that Doctor Bailey lived there with his wife – I have vague recollections of them from the 1970s. I can find no local references to them. So ends, for now, Number 4’s story. My grandparents John and Mary Johnson had come to live in Sedbergh in 1941 buying number 3 in 1946. John who was a member of the parish council died in September 1951. Mary continued to live there until 1968? Mary returned to Pendeen in 1974 when it became the family home again with Basil, Johnny (Iva Mary Johnson), Brian and Roy. Johnny died in 1982 and Basil continued to live on in Pendeen until his death on 2013.

Pendeen the legacy

Pendeen was sold in 2016 ending 70 years of occupation by the Johnson – Appleyard family. Amongst the 70 years of accumulated stuff were a number of items from the time John Johnson worked as a civil engineer in Nigeria. A set of posts is coming soon.

John Johnson caricature golf swing with pipe and beer at feet — JJ Caricature unknown date

John Johnson source unknown, and a very early Johnnie Walker Red Label whisky bottle – no Striding Man logo -possibly as early as 1942.

Johnnie Walker read label without striding man — From Pendeen pre 1951

References

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