Visit
'Cobb Cottage', the restored forest cottage and garden which is thought to
date back to 1560
“Our cottage is a traditional thatched New Forest Cobb Cottage probably built in the 16th century and with timbers reputed to have come from the Tudor boatyards at Lymington.
Children love to see the tiny bedroom where 13 children once slept. This has now become the focus of “The Furzey Oak” storybook which tells the tale of a great Oak tree from the Forest which in turn became a ship, then a house and is now a fine place to see how people used to live.
Recent restoration work confirmed not only that the beams are ancient ships’ timbers but also that the floorboards were once decking. Just imagine them being swept by sea gales and spray! Some of the oldest deck timbers which were dug up from under the floor in 2006 now form part of “Typhoon Tower” in the gardens so once again feel the full force of wind and rain.
In Regency times the parlour was “modernised” with the present windows and stairs replaced what would have been a wall ladder up into the two bedrooms. Right up until 40 years ago water had to be carried to the cottage from a well beyond what is now our car park; a walk of 300 yards with a heavy bucket.”
