Vine Cottage

Vine Cottage is a house dating from around 1800. Originally it was a two-storey, two-bay building. It is constructed of red brick, with an ironstone core, and has a slate roof. The original part features two windows on the upper floor and three on the ground floor; one sash window and two modern casements, alongside a French casement door, all sheltered by a verandah. A one-window bay was added in 1890, and further two-bay additions were made in the 1950s. The cottage is listed for its historical significance as the long-time home of George Sturt (died 1926), a celebrated writer considered, following William Cobbett, to be a prominent figure representing rural life. During his residency, Sturt wrote "The Wheewrights Shop" and kept a journal documenting the local way of life. The Wheewrights Shop building itself, located on East Street (number 84), remains standing and is also listed.