Chamber member, Uckfield Heritage is issuing an open invitation to visit Bridge Cottage. A number of people who came to our market at Late Night Shopping remarked that it was the first time they had been inside the building, which gave us an idea.
On Fridays from 7 February, the Cottage will be open to visitors from 10-00 am to 12-00. We’re not offering guided tours on these Friday mornings – you will be met by one of our volunteers, who will give you a ‘Self-guide tour’ leaflet, and you will then be free to explore the Cottage. The leaflet will give information about the building, and the volunteer will be on hand to answer any questions you have. We will be putting some pictures from our archives on display, but there will not be a specific exhibition. The focus on these Fridays will be the Cottage and its features.
While Friday mornings are for self-guided tours, if a group would like a guided tour of the Cottage, to look in more detail at its historic features, this can be arranged. Please contact the Uckfield Heritage for more information.
The Cottage is a Grade II listed building, built in c. 1436. It was lived in from then up to the late 1960’s, when the last residents moved out. It then stood unused for some years, and was at one point in danger of being demolished, until the joint efforts of Uckfield Town Council and Uckfield Heritage (or Uckfield & District Preservatiion Society as it was then known) ensured its preservation. A major restoration in 2016, funded by the National Lottery, means the Cottage can now be used for events such as markets, small social events, concerts and local history talks. The building has underfloor heating, wi-fi and a small kitchen, and it meets current fire and public safety regulations. It also retains many period features. We have meeting rooms which are available for hire by local groups or businesses.
Information about future talks, Society membership and room hire rates will be available on these Friday mornings. You can also contact the Cottage at other times to explore possibilities. We look forward to welcoming anyone interested in seeing the inside of a 15th Century building!