Names on house deeds.

[Wingedharpy]

Received our house deeds today and have enjoyed looking at the history of it all.
Quick question to those used to reading these sorts of documents, is the first name on the deeds likely to have been the builder of the house?

It often is the original Conveyance of the land to a builder which does form the first deed of an Abstract of Title but it's far from always. If you read through the Deed you will see whether it is conveying a single plot of land or whether it is a block which was sold to the builder who then developed the site. if it is a very old property the deed from the original landowners might contain restrictive covenants which give you a clue, ie that any property constructed thereon has to have a maximum value of so many pounds shillings and pence etc. If it is the sale of the property by the developer then it will most likely contain covenants to not do certain things on the property which could cause nuisance or annoyance to the neighbouring properties (an old favourite was not to sell alcoholic drinks or to do any business that causes noxious smells etc like a tanners.

Thanks for that @ redastherose.
What you say makes sense and I can see that the original plot of land was sold by the landowner, presumably to the local council as that paperwork was signed by the Mayor at the time.
£160 was the maximum value set for the properties built.
It's interesting to see that the land was bought in 1911 but the house doesn't appear to have been sold for the first time for about 20 years.
Presumably, the first world war interrupted house building.