Rosedene facts for kids
Rosedene is a special old house located in Great Dodford. It was built as part of a unique community called a Chartist settlement. This house is the best example of a Chartist cottage still standing today. It was built by a group called the National Land Company. Rosedene is now a listed building, which means it's protected because of its history. It is owned by the National Trust.
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The Story of Rosedene: How It Was Used
Rosedene was built on Plot 29 in the Chartist village. A man named William Hodgkin bought it. He paid £120 as a special deposit to secure the property. Later, he paid another £130 to fully own the land when the National Land Company closed down. This was the most money ever paid for a plot in a Chartist village.
Original Design of the Cottage
When Rosedene was first built, it had a simple layout. It included two bedrooms and a living room. There was also a dairy for milk and a store room. A back hall had a well and a pump for water. Outside, there was a piggery for pigs, a coal house, and a private toilet.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the cottage was changed to fit the needs of the families living there.
- Adding a Stable: Before 1889, a stable was built next to the house. This was important for carrying fresh produce to markets in Birmingham. The family grew things like strawberries, pears, and plums.
- Piggery to Laundry: Between 1915 and 1920, the piggery was turned into a laundry room. By then, keeping pigs was not as necessary. The village's market garden business was doing well, providing enough income.
- Modern Updates in the 1930s: More changes happened in the 1930s. An extra bedroom was added where the old store room used to be. A new kitchen was built in the space that was once the laundry room. The old dairy area became a new sitting room. These changes made the house more comfortable for the families living there.
Bringing Rosedene Back to Life
The National Trust bought Rosedene in 1997. They wanted to protect this important piece of history. A group called the Bromsgrove Society helped by donating £1,000 in 1999.
Restoring the Cottage
The National Trust worked to restore the cottage to how it looked originally. They got a lot of help from Mrs. Florence Crane, who had lived in Rosedene for a long time. She shared her memories and stories of living there. The National Trust still has recordings of her recollections in their archives.
Rosedene Today
Today, Rosedene has a lovely organic garden. It also still has its original plum and pear orchards. Visitors can take tours of the cottage and garden. Tours are usually available on the first Sunday of each month, from March to December. You can also arrange a visit at other times by contacting them.
