The Elms, The Street
 
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Captain and Mrs. Dixon and their four daughters lived at the Elms at this time. They considerably enlarged the house and garden by purchasing and demolishing the neighbouring property known as Miss Hyde`s Cottage.   
 
Captain and Mrs. Dixon and their four daughters in the garden of The Elms, which is now the Parish Council Offices. Their daughter Georgia married Dr. W.D. Lang in 1908, who was a relative of Miss Templer of No.l Hillside, with whom he used to stay.  He was famous as a Geologist and came to live in "Lias Lea" Lower Sea Lane in the 1930s.  
 
   
 
   
 
   
 

22 Dec 1674
Joan Chapple alias Hutchins of Charmouth, spinster
2 Edward Edwards of Lyme Regis, merchant Abraham Podger of Whitchurch, yeoman
Recites tha the property was leased to Richard Piers by John Petre in 1575 for a term of 2000 years. The property has since passed to the hands of Andrew Lymbry who mortgaged it to William Lymbry in 1665 for a sum of £120.
Andrew Lymbury defaulted on payment and has therefore forfeited his estate in the property. William Lymbry died in 1674 leaving 1 as his executrix. 1 to 2 in trust
Property: Mans Tenement comprising 4 dwelling houses, 2 of which were burnt by 1665, Mans Mead (2a) and Mans Common (1a) in Charmouth (D-1265/2/2)

  
8 Dec 1676
Lease. 1 James Parson of Charmouth, yeoman. 2 Henry Henley of Leigh.
Recites that Andrew Lymbry of Bradpole mortgaged the property to William Lymbry in 1662. Andrew Lymbry has since defaulted in payment and therefore forfeited his estate in the property. William Lymbry died in 1674, leaving the property to Joan Chapple alias Hutchins who has since married 1 1 to 2 Consideration: 10 Term: 900 years Rent: 1d pa Property: an orchard in Charmouth ( a)(D-1265/2/3)		  

19 Sep 1689
Mortgage. 1 James Parsons of Charmouth, yeoman. Joan Parsons his wife. 2 John Edwards of Lyme Regis, merchant. 1 to 2. Consideration: ??6. Property: as in D1265/2/3.(D-1265/2/4)

  
1684-90
Legal Case. [1] John Edwards of Lyme Regis, gent. [2] William Limbry, an infant.Nathaniel Peirse and Mary Limbry spinster acting on his behalf. Defence of [1] to complaints made by [2] about land transactions in D1265/2/2 and D1265/2/3 and other transactions concerning land in Charmouth n.d. (1 doc) [incomplete](D-1265/2/5)		  
The said Samuel Burrow  rightfully possessed of all that Tenement commonly known as Mans Tenement, consisting of a dwelling house, an orchard, 2 fields a meadow and one field of pasture in Charmouth late in the possession of James Parsons of the same place, yeoman, his tenants and now of Samuel Burrows for the residue of a term of 2000 years from 1575.
 
153. Burgage Orchard ( Mrs Frances Oke) (£2-10-0d) 3r 24p in 1787.
In 1841 John Morris is the owner of t.no.196 which is 2a 2r 17 perches
  
 
Will of John Paul, from whom Thomas Shute bought a property, could be The Elms?  
 
1804 Land Tax showing Thomas Shute Esq, paying 1s 5d for his house.  
 
1808 Land Tax showing Thomas Shute Esq, paying 1s 5d for his house. He is also paying for the estate that formerly belonged to his mother in law- Frances Okes which he had bought in 1806.  
 
1824 Mrs Shute is living in House bought from Samuel Paul and paying 1s 51/2d still in tax.
  
Frances Shute Will: Piece of meadow enclosed by Edward Mabell containing 3 acres formerly an orchard at Langmoor formerly of John Burridge in my occupation.Dwelling house which was purchased by late husband Thomas Shute of Samuel Paul and 3 acres behind the house which husband purchased off executors of Mrs. Oke in my occupation into Henry Alford and Benjaimn Cleave of Crediton.Plate, furniture etc to daughter Rebecca Alford. 1824 Rebecca Alford wife of Rev. Samuel Alford.  
 
1826 Land Tax shows Reverend Samuel Alford, husband of Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Frances Shute as renting The Elms to Richard Hawkins  
 
1832 Land Tax shows Captain Morris as owning and living in the Elms, Reverend Alford still owns the field at Langmoor.  
 
1832 Poor Rates shows Captain Henry Gage Morris as owning and living in the Elms, Reverend Alford still owns the field at Langmoor. He died in 1851  
 
1827-1830 Jury List have Captain Henry Gage Morris living at The Elms in those years.
  
 
Henry Gage Morris Will of 1852 where he leaves The Elms to his wife Rebecca and his son Frederick Philips Morris.  
 
1841
1886
  
 
1901
1926
  
 
Today
Today
  
On the left is the 1841 Tithe Map. Tithe number 196 is the Elms and is ownd by John Morris who libves there in that year. It consists of an area of land stretching into Lower Sea Lane with an area of 2 Acres 2 Rods 27 Perches. On the right is the 1887 Ordnance Survey Map showing a number of additions. The large house on the left was known as Miss Hydes Cottage and was originally built in 1798 by her ancestor John Ridges. The Library now stands on the plot.. It was demolished in the 1920s when The Elms was enlarged.  
 
1841 Census shows Henry G Morris, aged 71 living with his wife Rebecca, aged 56 and their childrem living at The Elms in that year.  
   
Dr. Henry Edmonds Norris (1820- 1888)
Born may 1820. Died at Stoke under Ham July 1888
Frances Norris died 23 January 1855
Frank Norris born 6march 1859 the little stepson
1 June 1852 Hugh Norris married Joanna Griffiths. B. 1820
12 Septembet 1857 Simon Bower of Tekesbury married Charlotte M. Norris
23 October 1866 George Robert Norris of Wivelisxombe married Caroline Marryat
26th March 1850'revett Sheppard Norris died aged 17 years.
26th January 1870 Henry Norris died aged 80 was this Dr. Norris father.
Dr H.E. Norris married four times. His favourite wife was his 2nd with whom he was buried opposite east window. The misses Wilson, Misses Poulson living at 1 and 2 Hillside were all quite willing to be Mrs. Norris.
Lived at the Elms, the Village Doctor. The original of " De Le Fevre" in " A Little Stepson" by Florence Marryatt, Friend of J. Harrison
He was a Churchwarden and Captain if the Volunteers 		 
 
Dr. Henry Edmonds Norris (1820 - 1888)
 
 
Cross standing on 3 Steps.
Top Step To the Glory of God/In loving Memory of
Middle Step HENRY EDMONDS NORRIS/Born May 23 rd 1820/Died July 13 th 1888 Bottom Step Also in memory of/FRANCES/beloved wife of xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxx 		 

The Elms" has the distinction of being the only house to retain its lease for 2,000 years, which was made between John Petre of Writtle and Richard Piers of Lyme in 27th April 1575. Two other houses had similar leases but they have been lost. John Petre was son of Sir W.Petre, described as being the statesman, who by carefully trimming his sails to the stormy politics of the age, contrived to retain the confidence of monarchs so diverse as Henry VIII, Mary and Elizabeth; Petre's daughter Dorothy married Nicholas Wadham, founder of Wadham College Oxford. Richard Piers was a Lyme draper. The house in 1575 was known as "Mann's Tenement" and was occupied by Thomas Mann. The lease describes it as "a cottage with one acre of land adiorninge (ad­joining) to the south sido also another acar of land lying between the land of Thomas Jese on the north side and the land of William Webber on the south side and comon of pasture for a mare and her fole or two rother bests" (horned cattle, i.e.cows). In 1743 it was owned by Samuel Burrow, blacksmith, who sold it to Walter Oke of Axmouth. In 1805 Thomas Shute was the owner and in 1826 Captain E.Gage Morris, father of the well known naturalist Francis Orpen Morris (1810 - 1893). In 1846 it was leased by Dr. Edmunds Norris, who became owner on his marriage with Miss P.Boshear in 1858. Dr.Norris was then a widower having married Mary Ann Rivett, whose two sons were Charles Hugh and Rivett Sheppard. The latter died at the age of two. His son by his second marriage was Francis Boshear - Scrappie - in Florence Marryat' s "A little Stepson' . She was his favourite wife and was buried opposite the East Window of the church against the wall of the Coach and Horses . His third wife was Emilia Marryat, daughter of Captain Marryat, who died in 1875. Dr.Norris was then widower for the third time and the following piece of gossip was prevalent in the village. "Would he marry one of the six spinsters living in the three houses opposite" Their hopes were never realised as a certain Mrs Metcalfe came home from India and settled in Sidrnouth and later became the fourth Mrs. Morris. Dr. Norris`s gardener was George Pidgeon and the following agreement was shewn to me lay his daughter Annie. Who said the cottage referred to was at Sidmouth. "I agree to give George Pidgeon 12/- per week and the cottage with kitchen, Parlor and two bedrooms. Also to employ his wife as laundress as the mistress and Mrs.Pidgeon may decide" Signed H.E.Norris August 27 1883, and "I, George Pidgeon agree to attend to the horse and carriage, clean boots and knives and do what is required in the garden and greenhouse and to keep the garden tidy for 12/~ per week and the cottage allowing the rent to be 3/6 per week." Signed George Pidgeon, August 27 1883. The son of Dr. Norris by his fourth wife was Hugh Leigh. Ho became Surgeon in the Royal Navy and was killed at the battle of Jutland 31st.May 1916. His memorial is in the north transept of the church. Hugh was sometimes mistaken for the little stepson. Dr.Norris died in 1888 and was buried in his favourite wife's grave with military honours, as he had been Captain of the Volunteers for many years.
"The Elms" then was occupied by General C.M.Ducat, late General Bengal Staff who died in November 1888. In 1892 it was purchased by Captain Dixon (8th The Kings Liverpool Regiment). Captain and Mrs. Dixon and their four daughters had already been staying with Mrs. Potter at "Granville". Their daughter Georgiana Catherine married Dr.W.D.Lang in April 1908. Dr. Lang was a relative of Miss Templer of No.l Hillside, with whom he. used to stay. Dr. and Mrs. Lang came to live in "Lias Lea" Lower Sea Lane in the 1930s. Miss Guili Lister and Lord Lister, who discovered antiseptics, visited "The Elms" from "Highcliff" Lyme Regis where they lived and had lunch with Captain Dixon. Early in the present century "The Elms" was considerably enlarged. A drawing room and billiard room were added and the front door - originally where the large window faces the street � moved to the west side of the house. Miss Hyde's cottage was pulled down and the- site added to it The Elms` garden. Mr. and Mrs.Barber were the last owners and when Mrs. Barber died in 1967 the property was purchased by the Bridport Rural District Council in 1968 .

"Miss Hyde's Cottage". This stood back from the pavement with a grass lawn in front, east of 'Wistaria'. I cannot find a photograph of the cottage except -the railings. It was pulled down when 'The Elms' was enlarged early in the century, but the foundations are still visible. Miss Hyde was great, great grand daughter of Mary Ridges Hyde, who married Charles Albert Target of Napoleon's army as mentioned in Part I. She owned a great many houses in the village and her family had been living here since the eighteenth century. Captain Manning, nephew of Cardinal Manning lived in this cottage; he came from London and as he was an invalid was looked after by a valet named Tom Young and later by William Boltler. On one occasion the miller, John Toms discovered that an otter had killed a number of his geese, the otter ran into the mill and lay on the top of some sacks. Toms went up and fetched Cardinal Manning who came with a spear and killed the otter. This was one of Fred Penny's stories. When Captain Manning left to live with Boltler at Beech House, Miss Hyde took up residence there, where she died in 1900 aged 84.

 
 
LYME REGIS. CHARMOUTH. RADFORD & RADFORD are instructed to SELL by AUCTION, on the Premises, adjoining " The Eiins," Charmoath, Saturday, lOtii February 07 February 1900 - Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser
  
 
The area within the pink border is the garden that stretched to Lower Sea Lane that went with The Elms.
  

09 February 1926 Submitted by: H H Hounsell On behalf of: H Barber Building description: Alterations to The Elms , Charmouth. DC-BTR/BC/1926/2

  
Alterations to the Elms by Mr. Barber in 1926 - plans below.  
 
   
 
A Postcard from 1910 showing rear of The Elms.