The table below gives details about who owned and occupied the house. The sources for information vary; the records pre 1800 are mainly manor court rolls. Every time a property changed hands, even between family members, the transaction had to be recorded at the manorial court. The names of those who surrendered and those who were admitted and the entry fines they paid were written in the rolls of parchment by the clerk. An entry fine was paid to the lord of the manor and the new owner was given a written copy of the transaction, hence the term copyhold.
All records were in abbreviated medieval latin until 1752 except for a short period during the commonwealth between 1650 and 1660.Freehold property is rarely mentioned but can sometimes be found in the manor rentals. It is difficult to trace the history of a house as addresses are never given ad therefore the only way is to use the owners name or very occasionally the name of the house.
Post 1800 there are many more sources of information although actual addresses are not used until mid 20th century. One method of identifying a house in the records is by the description of the land that went with it or the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor which often didn’t change over a hundred years.
The table is arranged over five columns. The first gives the year of the record and the second is the source document sometimes with a reference number. The next two columns record the transfer of ownership and the occupier of the property. Click on the names to link to the people database. Sometimes there is no link to the database so go to the people page on the top navigation bar and simply type in the name you are searching for. The search function returns all documents where the name searched for appears in that document. Click on a name match to view the document in which that name appears. When viewing a record that contains other names, it is possible to perform a new search on that name by clicking on the name link.
The last column shows information about the property and any comments.
It is exceedingly difficult to trace the history of these houses before 1811 and the table may be inaccurate. I know that this area of the village belonged to the Manor of Pirton. Information about these houses was only recorded in Manorial Rolls when the whole estate changed hands unlike copyhold houses. Looking at manorial rentals and estate papers leads me to think that the Lord of the Manor Docwra, Warburton and later Radcliffe sublet, which is more difficult to trace. All these properties then passed to Priory Estates in Hitchin because the Delme Radcliffes lived at the Priory. After 1811 the pre-enclosure plan and book the properties identifies owners and tenants
| date | source | owner/buyer | occupier | comment |
| 1504 | VCH | Thomas Docwra | Bought the manor and estate | |
| 1597 | lay subsidy national archives | Thomas Docwra | Thomas Docwra | |
| 1599 | VCH | Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra | Docwra married Jane Periam | |
| 1617 | Court roll/HALS | Agnes Richte transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra | Chepyng Grene | |
| 1620 | VCH | Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Periam Docwra | Thomas died father to son | |
| 1642 | VCH | Periam Docwra transferred ownership to Thomas Docwra | Died and left to his son Thomas | |
| 1680 | VCH | Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Martha Warburton | It passed from Thomas to his only daughter Martha wife of Sir Peter Warburton of Cheshire. Martha died 1707 and the Pirton estate passed to her son George. | |
| 1706 | Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS | Thomas Docwra transferred ownership to Dorothy Docwra | ||
| 1726 | VCH | George Warburton transferred ownership to Ralph Radcliffe | Ralph Radcliffe bought the manor of Pirton and its estate | |
| 1740 | Delme Radcliffe collection / HALS | Elizabeth Burrell transferred ownership to Ralph Esq Radcliffe | Joseph Howe | Tenements South Side Of Green 2 tenements adjoining on east to a messuage owned by Radcliffe [mess occupied by Howe carpenter.] Howe leases tenements for 21 years at 40s a year |
| 1740 | HALS | Ralph Esq Radcliffe | Tenement Chipping Grene John Radcliffe-Joseph Howe: Copies of Lease for 21 years of tenements on south side of Great Green, Pirton (endorsed: Not executed). tenement now divided into 2 | |
| 1811 | HALS | Emilius Radcliffe | ||
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | Emilius Henry Delme Radcliffe | House and gardens 1 rood 10 perch | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | William Taylor | Great Green. William Taylor – Agricultural labourer age 20 | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | Samuel Parkins | Samuel Parkins – Straw plaiter age 27 | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | Elizabeth Pratt | Elizabeth Pratt – Mistress of plaiting school age 52 | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Radcliffe | Widow Parkins | Cottage Great Green rateable value £3 0s 0d |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | Radcliffe | William Pratt | Cottage Great Green rateable value £3 0s 0d |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | Samuel Parkins | Samuel Parkins – Strawplaiter age 37 | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | Elizabeth Pratt | Elizabeth Pratt Strawplaiter age 62 | |
| 1877 | School admission register/HALS | Marylinn Parkins | Ellen Parkins born 23/4/1868 enrolled 1877 | |
| 1877 | School admission register/HALS | 0 Parkins | Ralph Parkins born 28/1/1866 enrolled 1877 | |
| 1877 | HALS | Ann Parkins | Samuel Parkins born 12/9/1873 enrolled 1877 | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Squire Radcliffe | Mary Ann Parkins | 1/2cottages with garden. Well, drainage-into main. 6 inmates sharing 1 living rooms, 1 sleeping rooms and privy |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Squire Radcliffe | William Pratt | 1/2cottages with garden. Well, drainage-into main. 2 inmates sharing 2 living rooms, 2 sleeping rooms and privy |
| 1878 | HALS | George Walker | George Walker born 2/11/1875 enrolled 6/5/1878 | |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | James Walker born 15/12/1872 enrolled 1879 | |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | Samuel Parkins | Ruth Parkins born 15/4/1872 enrolled 1879 | |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | Samuel Parkins | Samuel Parkins born 12/9/1872 enrolled 1879 | |
| 1880 | HALS | George Walker | Florence Walker born 21/11/1877 enrolled 1/4/1880 | |
| 1881 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | William Walker born 15/12/1874 enrolled 1881 Last school – Pirton Infant School, | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Charles Stapleton | Charles Stapleton – Railway labourer age 23 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Mary Parkins | Mary Parkins – Strawplaiter age 41 | |
| 1883 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Stapleton | John Stapleton born 30/5/1880 enrolled 2/7/1883 | |
| 1889 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton Frederic Walker born 13/11/1881 enrolled 1889 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | George Walker | Great Green George Walker – Farm Laborer age 43 | |
| 1893 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton Gertrude Walker born 25/11/1885 enrolled 1893 | |
| 1896 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton Sidney Walker born 21/7/1888 enrolled 1896 | |
| 1896 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton. (b), Arthur Walker enrolled 1896 | |
| 1896 | HALS | George Walker | Pirton. Arthur Walker born 1893 enrolled 1896/97 | |
| 1899 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton. Bertie Walker born 25/6/1890 enrolled 1899 | |
| 1901 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton. Arthur Walker born 13/11/1893 enrolled 1901 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | George Walker | Near Great Green. George Walker – Farm labourer general age 52 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | Mary Parkins | Great Green. Mary Ann Parkins – Straw plaiter age 61 | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | George Walker | Dwelling house Great Green | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Mary Ann Parkins | House Great Green | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | George Walker | dwelling house Great Green | |
| 1910 | School admission register/HALS | George Walker | Pirton. Alice Walker born 4/5/1907 enrolled 9/5/1910 | |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | George Walker | Dwelling house Great Green | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Charles Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Charles Stapleton General Dealer – age 41 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Ellen Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Ellen Stapleton – age 42 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | John Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household John Stapleton Railway Worker – age 21 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Jesse Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Jesse Stapleton Groom Domestic – age 18 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Ethel Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Ethel Stapleton – age 14 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Richard Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Richard Stapleton – age 9 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Edward Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Edward Stapleton – age 3 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Kathleen Stapleton | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Kathleen Stapleton – age 1 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Mary Parkins | Great Green. 4 rooms 9 in household Mary Ann Parkins Old Age Pensioner – age 72 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Herbert Walker | Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Herbert Walker Roadman – age 20 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Gertrude Walker | Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Gertrude Walker – age 26 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Arthur Walker | Great Green. 5 rooms 3 in household Arthur Walker Farm Labourer – age 18 | |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Charles Stapleton | Dwelling house Near Great Green | |
| 1915 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Stapleton | Pirton. Edward Stapleton born 4/1/1908 enrolled 1915 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1916 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Stapleton | Pirton. Kitty Stapleton born 10/11/1909 enrolled 1916 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1918 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Baines | Cyril Baines born 19/11/1913 enrolled 25/11/1918 | |
| 1921 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Baines | Pirton. Vera Baines born 24/11/1915 enrolled 4/1/1921 | |
| 1923 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Baines | Gladys Baines born 14/11/1917 enrolled 2/1/1923 | |
| 1924 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Baines | Pirton. Vera M Baines born 24/11/1915 enrolled 1924 Last school – Pirton Junior, | |
| 1924 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Baines | Pirton. Gladys Violet Baines born 14/11/1917 enrolled 1924 Last school – Pirton Junior, | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | Charles Stapleton | Charles Stapleton | Cottage and premises gross value £ 6 rateable value £4 |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | Charlie Baines | Charlie Baines | cottage and premises Bought house for £50 from Priory Estates gross value £7 rateable value £4 |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Herbert Stapleton | 4 Bury End. married DOB 4/7/1869 labourer retired Age 70 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Ellen Stapleton | married DOB 25/4/1868 Unpaid domestic duties Age 71 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Gertrude Baines | 6 Bury End. widow DOB 25/11/1884 Unpaid domestic duties Age 55 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Cyril G Baines | single DOB 19/11/1913 Cowman Age 26 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Vera Baines | single DOB 24/11/1915 glove machinist Age 24 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Maurice Baines | single DOB 2/2/1920 plumbers mate Age 19 | |
| 1942 | oral | Charlie Baines | killed in the Welwyn railway accident |
