GHUZNEE - A MYSTERY HOUSE
PETER ANDREWS

When I came to West End in 1955, being in a new bungalow, (I used to come up to see it being built in my lunch hour) there was a great deal of work to do, apart from decorating, the gardens - front and back, looked like the Somme battlefield, so it was some time before I could take more interest in my surroundings. One of the old houses that caught my eye was "Ghuznee Cottage", or, as I thought like many others "Chuznee" and the date "1851". (you are in good company Peter, one of the compilers of Kellys Street Directory also misread the name one year and put it down as "Chuznee"! Ed.) Much later I learnt the true spelling and as it sounded like an Indian word I did a bit of investigating, coming up with Afghanistan!

The Victorians were very fond of naming their houses after battles - but only if they won, so I called on my neighbour who is a numismatist, no, not another foreigner, he collects medals. As soon as I mentioned Ghuznee he came up with the date 1839, when it was besieged by the British who ousted the Shah (who was inclined to favour the Russians) and installed their own choice.

From 1841 until 1842 further fighting took place, each campaign earned a medal, of which my neighbour had both, plus two others belonging to a Major Sotheby, but he didn't live in West End. The Major did, however, reside in Grosvenor Square in London. When my neighbour obtains medals he likes to acquire all the paperwork appertaining to the recipient.

So, did the first occupier of Ghuznee Cottage, West End fight in those battles, or was it a whim of the builder? Perhaps one of our members could trace back using the box of magic tricks in the Museum, or do Kellys Directories go back to 1851?

PS. We were ever fearful of the Russians slipping in the back door and taking over India during Queen Victoria's reign, hence our constant expeditions into Afghanistan until we virtually gave up and stood guard at the Khyber Pass.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
Well Peter, an interesting project - to find out the history of one of our villages oldest houses, and yes, Kelly's Street Directories go back to at least 1848, I have checked and "Ghuznee Cottage"  does appear in a much later edition as "Chuznee". In those days insertion in the Directory was by subscription and only the better off people could afford an entry - hence many houses and names are missing. If anyone has any information regarding the cottage please contact me at the address shown on the front cover. Many thanks.