Withern Cottage

Withern Cottage, a mud and stud cottage was originally built in the village of Withern, North of Alford.  It’s specific age is not known, but historical evidence indicates it was lived in from 1798 until 1980 when the last occupant died.

In the early 1980s the then owner had permission to build a new dwelling with a closing order to demolish a brick outbuilding standing on the site. When demolition work began an encased, dilapidated cottage was discovered.

Rodney Cousins, the then curator of The Museum of Lincolnshire Life, initiated a project to dismantle it and have it rebuilt at another location.  It was carefully dismantled and rebuilt with volunteers using as much of the original material as possible and now stands as an exhibit at the Village Church Farm Museum.

It is an important building and legacy in that it raised awareness of, and stands as an example of, our vernacular and cultural history.  It led to a society for people interested in earth buildings, the East Midlands Earth Structure Society [EMESS] being formed to raise awareness, provide information with support, of the local vernacular building style.  Over the years EMESS has helped many people with earth buildings from advice on minor repairs to planning applications.