A letter from Bob Hall regarding Doggett Terrace in Alburgh:
I hope you won’t mind this enquiry being directed to you as Chair of Alburgh Parish Council but I am just wondering whether the Parish Council or anyone in the village might have any knowledge or record of why the terrace of 4 properties in the centre of the village and erected in 1925 were named “Doggett Terrace”.
My interest is that I am currently researching the family of my son in law, whose family name is Doggett, and in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries the Doggett family had an association with Alburgh owning and farming land there. Various members of the family had further farming and property interests in Redenhall, Harleston, Wortwell, Mendham, Homersfield, St Cross, St Elmham, Diss, Burston, Winfarthing, Tibenham and further afield along with the Crow family through marriage.
The earliest reference I have found to date is in the Manorial Court Books for Alburgh Holbrook when at a Court held on the 24th October 1684 Richard Doggett ( 1648 – 1720, my son in law’s 7 x Gt Grandfather ) was admitted to 7 acres called “Hawes/Hares Close”, Alburgh, which stayed in the family until 1830. This land is located immediately before the property known as Chestnuts approaching the village along Station Road from Holbrook Hill where further land was owned.
My son in law’s 4 x Gt Grandfather finally made the break from farming in South Norfolk to Hertfordshire in 1819 in which county the family still farm.
What is puzzling me is that there is clearly an early Doggett family connection to Alburgh but, as far as the direct line is concerned anyway, this seems to have ended during the 19th century long before “Doggett Terrace” was built. Sometimes properties are named after the owner of the land on which they were built or the builder or perhaps after the name of the field on which they were built. There would seem to have been some sort of family connection in 1925 for the name to have been adopted.
Another property in the village owned by Richard Doggett in 1687 was a tenement ( Cottage or house ) called “Hockers” but I have been unable to find out whether this still exists today.
I appreciate this is a long time ago but if any local historian is able to help it would be greatly appreciated. Do you still hold the minute books for C1925 or are they lodged with the County Record Office ? it just might throw some light on the puzzle.
My thanks and kind regards
Bob Hall