One of the largest, and later most controversial, properties in Bourne is The Croft in North Road. This imposing house was built in 1922, standing in its own grounds and approached from the main road by a driveway with an attractive avenue of chestnut trees.

It was built as a family home by Richard Boaler Gibson, a wealthy corn merchant, who died on 9th July 1958. It was subsequently sold in August 1960 for £8,000 (£110,000 at today's values) when it comprised an entrance hall, cloak room, lounge, dining room, two kitchens, five bedrooms, a dressing room and a large bathroom. There was also a detached garage for two cars and a well-cared for tennis court. Grassland through which there were two rights of way from North Road, covered more than seven acres and there was also a sheltered orchard with a variety of mature fruit trees.

Among those with fond memories of this house was Air Marshal Sir Maurice Heath (1909-1998), former Chief of Staff, Allied Air Forces, Central Europe, who married Richard and Frances Gibson’s daughter Mary in 1938 and although he re-married after her death in 1988, he left instructions that his remains should be buried beside her in the town cemetery in remembrance of the happy times he had enjoyed at The Croft. They both share the same grave with her parents, Richard Gibson (31st October 1879 - 9th July 1958) and his wife Frances Mary Gibson (29th September 1890 - 9th November 1986).

The Croft with the Victorian lamp standards along the main drive

The house was bought by Mr Andrew Cooke, a local businessman and landowner, who considerably enhanced the property during his forty year tenure. One of the more interesting features he introduced was the erection of three Victorian cast iron gas lamps along the main drive, rescued from the railway station at Bourne when it was demolished in 1964 and converted to electricity to light the way for visitors on dark evenings. Mr Cooke left Bourne in 2004 to live in Norfolk and the house subsequently became the centre of a public wrangle over house building on the surrounding meadowland.

REVISED NOVEMBER 2004

See also   The Croft housing controversy     Sir Maurice Heath