The Fen Cottage was built in around 1700 and is one of the last surviving homes of its type
A historic cottage at a popular National Trust site in Cambridgeshire has been given a Grade II listing. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England has given Fen Cottage at Wicken Fen protected status.
The cottage was built around 1700 using clay, peat, and sedge grass for the roofing thatch that had been collected locally It is one of the last surviving homes of its type.
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England, said: “This 300-year-old cottage is a rare record of how people once depended on their natural surroundings. The Fen fed, housed, and employed the people around it and Fen Cottage stands as evidence of that vital relationship between the people and the land.”
The cottage was originally found in the hamlet of “the Lode” but is now a part of the Wicken Fen Nature Reserve. The fen dwellers used to make their homes by cutting sedge for roof thatching, digging for peat, and digging clay for brick making and floor tiles.
In the 19th century, the cottage was home to Charles and Jane Butcher. The last resident was Alice Butcher, who lived there until 1972 when she died at age 93. The interior of the cottage has back-to-back fireplaces in the two original rooms.
The living room connects to the bedroom, which has a ladder to reach the sleeping loft. The house also has an extended kitchen with an iron range cooker, a bread oven, and a pantry.
The National Trust took over the cottage in 1974. The cottage was restored between 1988 and 1990 and is described as bringing “together natural and social history”.
The Fen Cottage is a popular spot for families to visit with lots of activities on throughout the year including crafting events. There is even a Santa’s Grotto at Christmas.
Emma Ormond-Bones, National Trust General Manager for North Cambridgeshire, said: “We are delighted by the award of Grade II status, which recognises the importance of Fen Cottage, not only as part of Cambridgeshire’s built heritage, but also for its cultural importance as a symbol of the deep, historic relationship between people and nature at Wicken Fen, reflecting the livelihoods and communities that once depended upon this wonderful wetland landscape.
“Whilst the focus for this habitat has shifted away from harvesting for materials and food, Wicken Fen remains vital for our communities, providing access to nature for physical and mental wellbeing, as well as playing a key role in fighting the nature and climate crisis.
”The role of Fen Cottage in storytelling both our past and future is critical, and as such, we welcome Historic England’s protection of this wonderful place for the benefit of future generations.”


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