Thatched Cottage

Thatched Cottage was built c.1839, which is recorded on the date stone in the chimney.  It was built for Rev Henry Denny Berners as accommodation for the head gardener adjacent to the magnificent and developing walled garden area.

The cottage is constructed of stud and plaster build, originally under a thatched roof which was replaced with slate in 2012. The cottage was one of only three thatched buildings of the C19 in Woolverstone, one being the thatched cricket pavilion c. 1890 and the other, Keeper’s Cottage. It offered quite sizeable family space with four bedrooms upstairs and a veranda entrance with three downstairs rooms and kitchen. There was also a cellar.

An archaeological monitoring excavation in 2009 revealed part of the substantial brick foundation of a demolished building to the southwest of the existing house.

A fine and ancient specimen of London Plane tree grows at the furthest extent of the garden of approximately 1 acre. This tree is older than the house at likely more than 250 years old, with a girth of over 8m. Within the garden curtilage is a large wrought iron gate allowing access into the east slip garden, of Walled Garden itself. The gateway incorporates pilasters, an overthrow and large single gate. All is of the highest the quality.

Visitors travelling to the hall through the early, curving west carriageway or the later extensive carriageway across Church Field from Freston would have seen this rustic cottage and the magnificent garden gates as the came closer to the Hall, with the church coming up on the left.

“Leaving the medley of beauty to make its own impression, we proceed onwards towards the house. On the right the kitchen garden is observed, embedded on the parkside in evergreens. A clear space is however reserved for a beautiful cottage, embowered with flowers, and, as we are told, replete with comfort for the gardener.”

“The Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette” – 9th Feb 1867