Over the course of one hundred years a building has to change and adapt. This is of course the same for the Memorial Cottages.
We’re continuing to research when and how some of the changes and developments took place, but here are a range of key changes.
Early on a portico was added along the back of the cottages. This does not appear to have been in place from the outset.
Coal shutters eventually gave way to radiators and central heating from a boiler house.
The caretaker cottage itself became a house and ceased to have that more general use.
Wooden shutters originally graced all the windows along the front of the buildings, but over time as the windows were refurbished these shutters were eventually removed.
In 1988 the cottages finally got given Grade 2 listed status (after originally being turned down).
In 1994, there was still a common room used by residents, trustees and villagers. At that stage, after many decades of planning it, the room was finally converted into another house, bringing the total to seven. Records show that conversion was formally completed on 5th October 1995 and the first residents (Mr and Mrs H Waddington-Johnson) moved in on 2nd November 1995.
In 2020, a small grant was obtained that will allow for the conversion of the basement in the centre of the block to be tidied up and brought back into use. So in 2021 these conversions will take place as the latest in a long evolution of the cottages.
Back of the cottages in 1956
Front of the cottages in 1956.
Note that sometime between construction (1926) and here, 1956, the front windows have lost their shutters.
Go to an overview of everything about the building
Learn how the cottages were commissioned and built
Explore the architectural details and read about the Grade 2 listing
The cottages are also homes
View a gallery of images