Rosedene facts for kids
Rosedene is a special old cottage in a place called Great Dodford. It was built as part of a unique village created by a group called the Chartists. This cottage is the best example of a Chartist home still standing today. It is a listed building, which means it's protected because of its history. The National Trust now owns and looks after Rosedene.
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What is Rosedene?
Rosedene is a cottage that tells an important story about a group of people called the Chartists. The Chartists were a movement in the 1800s who wanted fairer rights for working people, especially when it came to voting. They believed everyone should have a say in how the country was run.
A Home with History
Rosedene was built on a piece of land known as Plot 29 in the Chartist village. A man named William Hodgkin bought it. He paid a large amount of money, £120, as a kind of deposit. Later, he paid another £130 to fully own the property when the National Land Company, which helped Chartists get land, closed down. This was the most money ever paid for a plot in a Chartist village!
Life at Rosedene Long Ago
When Rosedene was first built, it had two bedrooms and a living room. It also had a dairy, which was a room for making and storing milk products, and a store room. There was a back hall with its own well and pump for water. Outside, there was a piggery (where pigs were kept), a coal house, and a privy (an outdoor toilet).
Over the years, the cottage changed a bit. Before 1889, a stable was added. This was useful for carrying fresh produce like strawberries, pears, and plums to markets in Birmingham. Later, between 1915 and 1920, the piggery was turned into a laundry room. This probably happened because the village was doing well with its market garden, so keeping pigs wasn't as important. In the 1930s, more changes were made. The old store room became an extra bedroom, and the laundry room became a new kitchen. The dairy room was also changed into a sitting room.
Bringing Rosedene Back to Life
The National Trust bought Rosedene in 1997. They wanted to bring the cottage back to how it looked when it was first built. A group called the Bromsgrove Society helped by donating £1,000 in 1999.
The National Trust worked hard to restore the cottage. They even got help from Mrs. Florence Crane, who had lived in Rosedene for a long time. She shared her memories, which helped the Trust make sure the restoration was accurate. Her stories are now kept in the Trust's records.
Visiting Rosedene Today
Today, Rosedene has a beautiful organic garden. It still has its plum and pear orchards, just like in the old days. You can visit Rosedene and learn about its history. Tours are available on the first Sunday of each month, from March to December, by appointment. You can also arrange a visit at other times.
