Derelict Thursday: Mary's Cottage

There is a sad tale behind the sale of this cottage.  It was owned by lovely lady, Mary, who died about 6 months ago.  For about 15 years before her death (she was well into her eighties) she had acted as housekeeper and carer for her brother-in-law (Mike) who lived in a nearby farmhouse.  Mike’s wife Claire was Mary’s sister and when Claire died of cancer, Mary stepped in to help.  Although her own cottage was a very short walk away, gradually she spent more and more of her time caring for Mike until she abandoned living in her own place altogether.  Unfortunately the cottage was totally neglected and fell into complete disrepair; it could hardly be seen for all the foliage that grew up around it. Mike died about 9 months ago and Mary followed a short time after.  I suspect she had worn herself out. Now the cottage is up for sale and is in such a bad state that it will be hard to recover.  Definitely one for the DIY enthusiast!

The Estate Agent’s blurb:
A beautifully enchanting two bedroom cottage in need of complete refurbishment. This stunning property is thought to date back to the 18th century and would have originally housed farm workers. Internally the property tells a charming tale of its past with features including an inglenook fireplace with bread oven, original parquet flooring and exposed oak beams. Now the property offers a unique chance to acquire a piece of local history. The accommodation includes a large living area, spacious kitchen, dining room, family bathroom and two double bedrooms. The property is situated on a generous gated plot backing open fields.