Izaak Walton's Cottage facts for kids
The cottage in its restored state
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Quick facts for kids General information |
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| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Country | England |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 1952 |
| Reference #: | 1374177 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Timber framed |
The Izaak Walton Cottage is an old house from the 1600s. It's made of wood and is located in a place called Shallowford, in Staffordshire, England. This cottage used to belong to a famous writer named Izaak Walton. He is best known for his book, The Compleat Angler, which is about fishing. Today, the cottage is a special historic building and works as a museum.
Contents
The Story of the Cottage
Izaak Walton was born in Stafford in 1593. After working in London, he bought some land and this cottage in Shallowford around the 1650s. The cottage is very close to a small river called the Meece. This river flows into the Sow. People believe Walton loved the area because of the great fishing spots. When he passed away in 1683, he left the cottage to help the poor people of Stafford.
Changes Over Time
The area around the cottage is still mostly countryside. However, in 1837, the Grand Junction Railway was built. This railway line went through the valley near the cottage.
Over time, the farm and the cottage became very run-down. But people still lived in them until 1920. Then, the property was put up for sale. Some business people from Stafford decided to form a group called The Izaak Walton Cottage Trust. Their goal was to create a small museum about the famous writer.
They managed to raise £50 to buy the cottage. They also raised £500 to fix it up. Lord Stafford officially opened the museum on April 30, 1924.
Fires and Repairs
In 1927, sparks from a steam train caused a fire. The fire destroyed the cottage's thatched roof. The museum had to close for a year because of this. There was another fire in 1938. When the cottage reopened in 1939, it had a new tiled roof instead of a thatched one. In 1952, the building was officially listed as a historic site.
The trust that owned the cottage ended in 1965. The Stafford Borough Council then took over the building. In the 1990s, the original thatched roof was put back on the cottage.
What You Can See Inside
The ground floor of the museum looks like it would have in Walton's time. There are information boards that tell you about Walton's life. You can also learn about his writings and the history of the cottage. Upstairs, you can see a collection of old fishing items. Some of these items are from the mid-1700s. There is also a room dedicated to his books, Lives and The Compleat Angler.
Visiting the Cottage
The Izaak Walton Cottage and its gardens are open to the public. You can visit them on Sunday afternoons during the summer months.
See also
- Listed buildings in Chebsey
