Cottage Watch

Over the past twenty years the fabric of Blake’s Cottage has been allowed to deteriorate and our first concern has been to safeguard the structure of the building while we move towards a full and complete restoration.

In the best practice of modern conservation, we are endeavouring to retain as much of the historic fabric of the Cottage as possible. Three structural surveys of the building have been carried out – one with a firm of surveyors who have an expertise in historic buildings, the second with an experienced thatcher, and the third with a structural engineer. The only urgent problem found was the condition of the roof. So acting on the detailed instructions of the structural engineer, twenty supports have been put in at points identified by the survey.

We now believe the structure of the building is secure for the foreseeable future. The thatch is still deep and weatherproof and when the old straw is removed, it will enable us to fully inspect, mend or replace the failed wooden beams.

We have been in contact with Historic England (formerly English Heritage) and while the significance of the Cottage is appreciated, the building is not on Historic England’s At Risk Register. Two conservation officers from Arun District Council have made a preliminary visit to the Cottage and we will be following their guidelines and advice during the renovation.