Monument record 347/2/3 - Cottage in the Wood

<1> Chris Burnett Associates, 2012, Combermere Abbey, Parkland Plan: Final Parkland Plan, p.17 no.31 (Unpublished Report). SCH6895.

The site of the Cottage in the Wood. The first known mapped depiction of this dwelling is on the tithe map of 1843 (see 2), where the cottage is shown surrounded by a sub-circular enclosure. The cottage and the enclosure are depicted on the Ordnance Survey maps published in 1880 (see 3), but not on the Edition of 1912 (see 4), suggesting that the cottage had ceased to be occupied by that date. The site of the cottage is marked by scattered masonry and domestic artefacts (e.g. a wine bottle, cast iron cooking pot and a cast iron stove). Some of the masonry (dressed red sandstone slabs and a large piece of slate) has been neatly piled up next to a Chilean Pine (a Monkey Puzzle Tree). This tree is reckoned to be about 150 years old and is therefore contemporary with the occupation of the cottage. The distinctive nature of tree, set within a mainly deciduous wood, provides a marker to the site of the structure. The dressed sandstone and other pieces of masonry, such as ceramic roof tiles, clearly give the impression of a dwelling of some pretension. It is possible that some of the masonry came from the ruined summerhouse 230m to the south.

<2> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 290/2 c.1845 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ54ne, 1882 (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1911-1914, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ54ne, 1912-1913 (Maps and Plans). SCH3843.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5844, 1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

This map depicts (and names) the Cottage in the Wood. The cottage lies within an irregular oval enclosure. A second small building is depicted against the enclosure c.20m north-east of the cottage.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5844, 1898 (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

Depicts the cottage and the second building, but not the enclosure.