Source: Duncan, 1908.Commencing at the Catford end of Perry Hill, on the eastern side, the houses are of various dates within the last thirty or forty years as far as Castlands Road. This road is an ancient right-of-way leading across the river to Castle-lands, part of Broadmead, one of the great fields of the manor. At the corner of Castlands Road is Orchard House, on a small estate, shown on plans of 1723 as then belonging to Thomas Dyer, Esq. Beyond this, as far as the foot of the hill is the estate of the Letherseller's Company, anciently known as "Brongers," probably from Walter Bronger, who held land here in the time of Henvy VII. The old house, "Brongers," has recently been pulled down, but the farmhouse, now known as Perry Hill Farm, still maintains the appearance of a small 18th century homestead. In 1723 it was known as Clowders Farm.
Source: Coulter, 1999....but in most cases not their exact locations. The exception is Brongers, which stood between the present Castlands and Datchet Roads.
...the purchase of 2 farms there in 1627 and 1634...
One was Brongers, later White Cottage, and another the forerunner of Clowder's or Perry Hill Farm.
This is worst than trying to read the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles! Am I right in assuming that Bellingham Castle used to stand in Broadmead field, and that's where we should all be digging to find the remains? Didn't anyone ask Duncan to clarify "Castle-lands"?
Now, where was that elusive building known as Brongers AKA White Cottage? It must have definitely been standing in the late 19th century, as it had only been demolished at the time Duncan was writing. He mentions Brongers in-between Orchard House and Perry Hill Farm, so might this be where it was sited?
1) Orchard House
2) Turns out to be a separate residence from Orchard House with a different landowner.
3) Unreferenced.
Perry Hill Farm looked the same between 1843 and 1914.
Therefore, could (2) or (3) be Brongers? If so, which one is it?