A Victorian Cottage Made of Local Earth
Haddenham Cottage, a Victorian family residence, is constructed from wychert, a unique local material in Buckinghamshire.
Derived from the special white earth found exclusively around Haddenham, wychert is a blend of limestone, straw, and water, producing a concrete-like substance.
The Story Behind Haddenham Cottage
Haddenham Croft Cottage, a Victorian family home, is crafted from wychert, a distinct local material found in Buckinghamshire. Originating from the exclusive white earth near Haddenham, wychert is a composition of limestone, straw, and water, resulting in a concrete-like substance. The reconstruction of the cottage was undertaken by volunteers, led by the Museum's Buildings Manager and aided by specialized consultants. Financed as a community project by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the reconstruction, completed in 2015, incurred a total cost of £59,000. Notably, the cottage presented a learning curve, as a complete wychert house had not been built since around 1939.
Take a Look Around the Cottage
The interior of the building is interpreted to show three different periods in the building’s history; the 1840s, 1910 and 1977.
The ground floor consists of a living room, parlour and kitchen and upstairs there are three bedrooms. The parlour has been left unfinished to show the structure and the different stages of the construction of the building. The toilet was outside in a shed like building.
Haddenham garden was planted in 2020. There is a vegetable and herb garden on one side and on the other side flowers and shrubs that would have typically been grown in a garden like this have been planted. In 2023, part of the garden behind the house was transformed into a fernery - inspired by the Victorian obsession with these plants.
The Heritage Fusion Project
Haddenham Heritage Fusion was a remarkable initiative funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund Your Heritage program from 2013-2014.
The grant facilitated the appointment of a Community Learning Officer to engage the local community in the restoration of Haddenham Croft Cottage.
Throughout the project:
70 volunteers acquired knowledge of historic building techniques, and visitors in 2014 actively participated in constructing a traditional wychert wall.
7 community groups of diverse nationalities contributed their skills to the project, fostering a valuable exchange of expertise.
2 historically inspired handcrafted quilts were created, involving the collaboration of 13 quilting groups.
2 celebrations brought together over 120 community members, including the original cottage owners.
Noteworthy artefacts, such as 2 Bay City Roller posters, 1 historic smelling washing line, 1 historic settle, and 2 antique pillowcases, were generously donated and acquired by the local community.