The Malt House and Little Malt House

In the 16th Century a medieval house called Woodyers stood at this location, named after the family who then owned it. During the 17th Century the property was converted into a brickyard which was sold in 1661 to a maltster who died of the plague five years later. The property then reverted to the malting of barley until it was acquired by Lord Lovelace in 1851.

In 1867 Lord Lovelace rebuilt this house in his customary style of flint and terracotta brick, making it suitable for a more affluent tenant. The house was given fine decorations including a string course of dentils and guilloche patterns, moulded corbelling and false balustrade brickwork at the first-floor level. A small ornamental gazebo was also erected close to the highway which survives to this day. 

In the early 20th Century, the house was home for a family called Ker, with both father and sonsuccessively engaged in the upper echelons of the Indian Civil Service. During the early 1970’s, the adjacent tennis court on the northern side was sold off to provide land for two new homes, whilst the house itself was extended and divided into two separate dwellings. The name ‘The Little Malt House’ was taken by the northerly wing of the building and ‘The Malt House’ by the southerly part.

A Grade II listing applies to both properties collectively. The gazebo and front wall which run alongside Ockham Road North are also subject to a separate Grade II listing.