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
| date | source | owner/buyer | occupier | comment |
| 1811 | Pre enclosure plan/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | royal oak |
| 1818 | Enclosure award/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | house and orchard 1 rood 3 perch |
| 1825 | Land tax/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | |
| 1826 | Land tax/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | |
| 1827 | Land tax/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | |
| 1828 | Land tax/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | |
| 1830 | Land tax/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage |
| 1834 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | cottage and land cottage and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1835 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | cottage and land cottage and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1836 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | cottage and land cottage and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1836 | Hertfordshire Quarter Sessions/HALS | James Lake | 29 Nov 1836 conviction; Contravention of Licensing Act; ; defendant | |
| 1836 | Hertfordshire Petty Sessions/HALS | James Lake | 19 Jul 1836 summary conviction; Contravention of Licensing Act; ; defendant | |
| 1836 | Hertfordshire Petty Sessions/HALS | James Lake | 29 Nov 1836 summary conviction; Contravention of Licensing Act; ; defendant | |
| 1837 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | house and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1838 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | house and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1839 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | house and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1840 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | house and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1841 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | cottage and land In the lane leading to Holwell | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | James Lake | Little Green James Lake – Carpenter age 50 | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | William Stapleton | Little Green William Stapleton – Agricultural labourer age 30 | |
| 1841 | Census 1841 | Elizabeth Cook | Little Green Elizabeth Cook – age 20 | |
| 1842 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land In the lane leading to Holwell |
| 1844 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1845 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1846 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1847 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1849 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1850 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1850 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Lake | carpenter | |
| 1851 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | James Lake | James Lake – Carpenter age 62 | |
| 1851 | Census 1851 | George Lake | George Lake – Ag Lab age 32 | |
| 1852 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1853 | Register of electors/HALS | James Lake | James Lake | cottage and land Holywell Lane Leading To |
| 1855 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | James Lake | carpenter & beer retailer | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | James Lake | James Lake – Carpenter age 74 | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | George Lake | George Lake – Dealer age 41 | |
| 1861 | Census 1861 | George Wilsher | George Wilsher – Agricultural labourer age 24 | |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | James Kimpton | James Lake | beer shop & land rateable val £8 16s 0d |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | James Kimpton | George Lake | cottage rateable val £2 0s 0d |
| 1863 | Rates/HALS | James Kimpton | George Wilshere | cottage rateable val £2 0s 0d |
| 1864 | Cassey – trade directory/HALS | Frederick Boyd | carpenter & beer retailer | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | Thomas Lake | Thomas Lake – Carpenter & beerhouse keeper age 42 | |
| 1874 | Hertford Petty Sessions/HALS | George Lake | 22 Sep 1874 summary conviction register; Theft; ; defendant | |
| 1874 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 27 Aug 1872 – 25 Aug 1874 | |
| 1875 | Hertford Petty Sessions/HALS | George Lake | 7 Dec 1875 summary conviction register; Theft; ; defendant | |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Mr Kimpton | Thomas Lake | Royal oak royal oak with yard & garden. 1/3 shared well, drainage-None. 3 inmates sharing 2 living rooms, 3 sleeping rooms and 1/3 shared privy |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Mr Kimpton | George Lake | Royal oak Royal oak with yard & garden. 1/3 shared well, drainage-None. 5 inmates sharing 1 living rooms, 2 sleeping rooms and 1/3 shared privy |
| 1877 | Sanitation report/HALS | Mr Kimpton | Charles Hanscombe | Royal oak royal oak with yard & garden. 1/3 shared well, drainage-None. 3 inmates sharing 1 living rooms, 1 sleeping rooms and 1/3 shared privy |
| 1878 | HALS | Charles Handscombe | Katie Handscombe born 26/11/1875 enrolled 13/5/1878 | |
| 1878 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Thomas Lake | carpenter & beer retailer | |
| 1879 | Register of electors/HALS | Thomas Lake | house and land occupier Holwell Road | |
| 1879 | School admission register/HALS | Thomas Day | Stephen Day born 11/1/1871 enrolled 1879 | |
| 1880 | Register of electors/HALS | Thomas Lake | house and land occupier Holwell Road | |
| 1880 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 24 Aug 1880 | |
| 1881 | Register of electors/HALS | Thomas Lake | house and land occupier Holwell Road | |
| 1871 | Census 1871 | George Lake | George Lake – Dealer age 50 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Thomas Lake | Thomas Lake – Publican & carpenter age 52 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | Arthur Lake | Arthur Lake – Agricultural labourer age 26 | |
| 1881 | Census 1881 | George Lake | George Lake – Ag lab – formerly farmer’s son age 56 | |
| 1882 | Register of electors/HALS | Thomas Lake | house and land occupier Holwell Road | |
| 1882 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Augusta Lake born 30/4/1879 enrolled 18/9/1882 | |
| 1883 | Register of electors/HALS | Thomas Lake | house and land occupier Holwell Road | |
| 1883 | School admission register/HALS | Charles Handscombe | Kate Handscombe enrolled 1883 | |
| 1885 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 25 Aug 1885 | |
| 1886 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak carpenter & beer retailer | |
| 1887 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Pirton Nellie Lake born 30/4/1879 enrolled 1887 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1887 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Nr Royal Oak Florence Lake enrolled 1887 | |
| 1887 | HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Nr Royal Oak Florence Lake born 4/12/1885 enrolled 1887/88 | |
| 1887 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 23 Aug 1887 | |
| 1888 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Florence Lake enrolled 1888 | |
| 1888 | HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Florence Lake born /9/1884 enrolled 1888/89 | |
| 1888 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 21 Aug 1888 | |
| 1889 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 20 Aug 1889 | |
| 1890 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 26 Aug 1890 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Thomas Lake – Publican age 61 | |
| 1891 | Census 1891 | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Yard Arthur Lake – Railway Labourer age 36 | |
| 1891 | Licensees/HALS | Thomas Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 25 Aug 1891 | |
| 1892 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 12 Dec 1892 | |
| 1893 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 29 Aug 1893 | |
| 1893 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 23 Aug 1893 | |
| 1894 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Pirton Florence Lake born 17/9/1885 enrolled 1894 | |
| 1894 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Sidney Lake enrolled 1894 | |
| 1894 | HALS | Arthur Lake | Royal Oak Sidney Lake born 1/4/1892 enrolled 1894/95 | |
| 1894 | Hertford Petty Sessions/HALS | George Lake | 6 Nov 1894 summary conviction; Theft; ; defendant | |
| 1894 | Hertford Petty Sessions/HALS | George Lake | 6 Nov 1894 summary conviction register; Theft; ; defendant | |
| 1894 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 28 Aug 1894 | |
| 1895 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 27 Aug 1895 | |
| 1897 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 24 Aug 1897 | |
| 1899 | Licensees/HALS | Jane Lake | Royal Oak Pirton 22 Aug 1899 | |
| 1900 | School admission register/HALS | Arthur Lake | Pirton Sidney Lake born 21/4/1892 enrolled 1900 | |
| 1901 | Census 1901 | Stephen Day | Royal Oak Stephen James Day – Carpenter, wheelwright & beer house keeper age 24 | |
| 1902 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Stephen James Day | beer retailer, carpenter, builder & wheelwright | |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house and land Holwell Road |
| 1909 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house and land Holwell Road |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Stephen Day | Stephen Day | beerhouse Royal Oak 34 perch gross val £16 0s rateable val £12 0s |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Stephen Day | Stephen Day | buildings Royal Oak 5 perch gross val £5 0s rateable val £3 10s |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Stephen Day | Stephen Day | land Royal Oak 2 acre 1 perch gross val £3 3s rateable val £3 0s |
| 1910 | Rates/HALS | Sidney Calcult | Stephen Day | garden plot Royal Oak 1 rood 24 perch gross val £1 7s rateable val £1 5s |
| 1910 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house |
| 1911 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1911 | School admission register/HALS | Stephen Day | Cecil Day born 19/8/1907 enrolled 11/9/1911 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Louisa Day | Louisa Day – age 38 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Cecil Day | Cecil Day – age 3 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Walter Day | Walter Day – age 1 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Stephen Day | 5 rooms 4 in household Stephen Day Carpenter & Builder – age 40 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Amos Burton | The Royal Oak Nr 6 rooms 2 in household Amos Burton Independent – age 71 | |
| 1911 | Census 1911 | Sarah Burton | The Royal Oak Nr 6 rooms 2 in household Sarah Burton – age 70 | |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house Holwell Road |
| 1912 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | house Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1912 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Stephen James Day | beer retailer | |
| 1913 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house Holwell Road |
| 1913 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | house Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1914 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house Holwell Road |
| 1914 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | house Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1914 | School admission register/HALS | Stephen Day | Cecil Day born 19/8/1907 enrolled 1914 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1914 | School admission register/HALS | Stephen Day | Walter Day born 8/3/1910 enrolled 28/9/1914 | |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Stephen James Day | house Holwell Road |
| 1915 | Register of electors/HALS | Stephen James Day | Royal Oak, Dead Horse Lane | |
| 1917 | School admission register/HALS | Stephen Day | Pirton Walter Jas Day born 8/3/1910 enrolled 1917 Last school – Pirton Infants, | |
| 1918 | Absent voters/HALS | Thomas Lake | Pirton Autumn 1918 | |
| 1918 | Absent voters/HALS | Reginald Lake | Pirton Autumn 1918 | |
| 1918 | Absent voters/HALS | Ralph Joseph Lake | Pirton Autumn 1918 | |
| 1919 | Absent voters/HALS | Thomas Lake | Pirton Spring 1919 | |
| 1919 | Absent voters/HALS | Reginald Lake | Pirton Spring 1919 | |
| 1919 | Absent voters/HALS | Ralph Joseph Lake | Pirton Spring 1919 | |
| 1919 | Absent voters/HALS | Thomas Lake | Pirton Autumn 1919 | |
| 1919 | Absent voters/HALS | Reginald Lake | Pirton Autumn 1919 | |
| 1926 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | Stephen James Day | wheelwright | |
| 1929 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | S.J. Day | undertakers, builders’ decorators & motor car painters | |
| 1935 | Original rates/Hofton | Stephen Day | Stephen Day | hse, w/shop & premises Holwell Rd gross val 25 rateable val 18 |
| 1935 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | S.J. Day | undertakers Day & sons | |
| 1937 | Kelly – trade directory/HALS | S.J. Day | undertakers | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Stephen J. Day | married DOB 10/9/1867 Carpenter Undertaker Age 72 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Louisa E Day | married DOB 27/7/1871 Unpaid domestic duties Age 68 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Cecil T Day | single DOB 19/8/1907 Carpenter Undertaker Age 32 | |
| 1939 | National Registration Identity Cards/National Archives | Walter J. Day | single DOB 8/3/1910 Coach painter Age 29 | |
| 1960 | Oral | Mike Anderson | cottage | |
| 1960 | Oral | Margot Anderson | cottage |
