The Cottage

The Cottage formed part of the Halfhead Farm Estate which Walton owned and left in his will, to the citizens of Stafford for "charitable use".

As you can see from the photograph, it is a fine thatched timber-framed, “black and white” building.

It dates from the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth the First was on the throne. It has been reported that Izaak Walton purchased it, along with Halfhead Farm in 1655. It is worthwhile to fix this date within the overall context of the changes taking place in England at that time. It was six years after the execution of Charles the First, five years before the return of Charles the Second and during Cromwell’s Commonwealth.
On his death, he bequeathed it to the people of Stafford and it operated as a charity (interestingly, in trying to preserve and develop the Cottage we again find ourselves with charitable status as you will read elsewhere). The rent was to be used for the poor of Stafford including the provision of coal at the end of January and the start of February “the hardest and most pinching time for them”.

The story of past ownership is complex as you can read in the attached History of the Cottage

By 1924 the Cottage was in a rather sorry state but a group of trustees restored it, led by the then Mayor, Cllr. T. Dunn, and made a fine job doing so, as you can see in this contemporary photograph of its re-opening as a museum.
Unfortunately steam locomotives on the adjoining line and thatched roofs do not make good bed-fellows and, in 1927 and again in 1938, fire damaged the building.

It currently houses an Angling Museum but opening hours are rather limited. So, to avoid disappointment, please check when you plan a visit.

It also provides an excellent venue for other activities such as weddings (it has a licence).
The gardens are worth a visit. They include a collection of old fashioned roses and herbs. Remember that herbs had a much wider usage in those days, which the collection aims to show.

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