I have decided to enter the above in the amateur category. The theme is hometown. Click on the above link to learn more.
I took this picture a few days ago on one of my short jaunts out (on the way back from the doctor). I took it out of the car window.
The photo is of the Dutch Cottage, Essex, England. It has been known over the years as the Octagonal House and the Round House but is now to be known for all time as the Dutch Cottage.
Why have I chosen this particular image? Well, it is only a couple of miles from me and does represent my hometown or the area in which I live. The cottage was built in 1621 so it reminds me of the wonderful history we have in this country, stretching back thousands of years. It reminds me that in this fast-paced and ever changing world there is and always should be a place for history. I also love the quirkiness of the building. There are only two others like it in the whole of England and one of them is a museum.
The reason it is circular or almost so? The devil and any of his minions like to hide in corners. No corners - complete protection from any evil.
It is owned by our local council who rent it out and I have never known it to be unoccupied in the 46 years I have lived in the area. The tenants have to abide by one stipulation. They have to make the property available (by appointment only) on Wednesday afternoons to anyone who wishes to view the interior. Sad to say I have never been inside.
With its charm, its thatched roof and the beautiful trees and shrubs that surround it, it is a little slice of England and a little piece of history and it is in my area.
48 comments:
How absolutely darling-I would love to live there-at least on Wednesdays my house would be tidy,LOL.
connie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/specialadyfink/Anyway...../entries/2008/01/19/community-photo-challenge-hometownamateur-onlytheme-hometown/1255
Thats a great photo Jeanette in Colchester we have a lot of the Dutch house standing and occupied but not like this.
Have a good weekend
Yasmin
xx
Do you think it might be like the Tardis inside? It is certainly very pretty from the outside. Eileenx
What a lovely little cottage Jeannette, I hope your entry wins. :o)
Love Sandra xxxx
I love it! I love history!
Traci
That little cottage is so cute and quaint. Great photo, good luck with it...love, Sandi
Jeannette, what a lovely cottage. You're so lucky to be able to see this (and, I'm sure, other equally quaint buildings) on your jaunts. Excellent entry into the challenge, too!
Vicki
Absolutely love it!
hugs
d
What a lovely photo.
There is a roundhouse not too far from where I live Jeannette, I saw in the paper not to long ago that it was for sale, quite reasonably priced too. I believe it used to stand at the tolgate. I wish now that I had cut it out of the newspaper.
good luck!
all the best
Freda
a wonderful entry. i love the little cottage...it is very pretty. i would love to view the interior!
gina
How unique. Now you have us all wanting to see the inside. The only thing we have here that small is the coffee kiosk at the ferry landing o High Street. Thanks for sharing your neighborhood. Clyde.
(aka OldeTownePhotos@aol.com)
Ps. We have an Essex on this side of the Pond, where Capt. John Smith set a brief foot in 1607.
Hi Jeannette,
This was very interesting to me. I can't believe that cottage is so old!! Wow! Your country has such a long and amazing history.
Thanks for sharing it.
Love,
Pam
It's so pretty Jeanette.
I love these round houses. They are very interesting. I'd love to see their kitchen.
Carolxx
What a beautiful building. I guess if you lived there, you'd have to clean your house everu Tuesday evening for possible Wednesday afternoon guests. Linda in Washington state
That is beautiful Jeannette. You did good. Helen
Jeanette, great cottage, wonderful picture and the frame set it off too, good job, Bill
Very nice photo! The cottage really is quite charming... Almost fairytale-like. I like the frame also...
Michelle
Well done Jeannette ...delightful ...love Jan xx
Absolutely beautiful. Good luck!
Cindy
Dear Jeannette,
What an idyllic little cottage Jeannette. Good luck in the competition. How do you put a hyperlink to a graphic like that, to make an icon?
http://journals.aol.co.uk/edwardssoapy/LeighsWorld/"
I love that little cottage! You took a great picture from the car.
Missie
I really like that picture. I am glad it is being preserved. Love the frame. I have to figure out how to do that. I lost my PSP program.
Julie
Jeannete I loved the cottage, you need to go and see the inside dear. I love it when buildings like this can be preserved. Have a good weekend your way. Arlene (AJ)
I love your choice! -Missy
How very nice...
How wonderful that cottage has endured so many years. In this day and age we don't have things last that long. Seems most would rather tear down and build new. I love history and all that it teaches us if we take the time to read about it. It would be great if one day when you are out you could stop by and take a look inside. Good choice for your entry ! 'On Ya' - ma
I am impressed with the whole entry, found it very interesting. It a very cool building..............Thank you for sharing the history of this place. Excellent entry!!!
Marie
This is a terrific entry for the photo challenge and I enjoyed reading the story of the cottage. It looks lovely, I love the thatch roof. Very nice presentation, good luck!
Lisa
It's beautiful; can you PLEASE go and take pics of the INSIDE!! LOL!!!
Thanks for sharing,
Joann
awesome now you have got to go inside and take pics for us....... pleaseeeeeeee !!! I hope you win !!!
I remember that photo Jeanette...good luck.. love Sybil xx
Hi Jeannette ,hope you win with that great picture ...all the best .....love Jeanxx
(((((((((((((((((JEANNETTE)))))))))))))))I love this picture,it is very beatiful.I think everyone would like to see the insdie of the cootoge.LOL.I would to.Have a nice dya.
Hi Jeannette,
I LOVE the picture you took! It was so interesting to read about it's history. How wonderful that you live so close to such a unique, beautiful piece of history! I hope you'll make time to go see the inside, wouldn't that be fun? If I ever get a chance to come to England, I'd love to see it myself! Hope you're having a great weekend. Good luck with the contest, let us know how you do, ok?
Take Care,
~Bilinda~
That is absolutely beautiful Jeannette,thanx for showing us,how lovely xxxxxxxx zoe
Oh I love this photo and the history you have added to it. Yes, I have always wanted to see England for its historical places I have read about in so many books and studied photos. When I went to New York everything seems so familar to me because I had been reading about these places for years in books. I told people when I got back I even saw the tree that grows in Brooklyn (name of a book) Gerry
Wonderful, charming pic...and the story with it as well.
Great job!
Nancy
Loved the story and seeing the picture. I had never seen one of those type houses. Good luck.
Take care, Chrissie
Hi Jeannette...
love the picture and story too! I hope your keeping well Jeannette... Take care!
Astra!
http://journals.aol.com/astra1547/astras-new-journal/
ASTRA1547@sky.com
I enjoyed the photograph and the story behind it. There is a home that is built without corners in CA - it is several circular modules together. Interesting to look at but, not as pretty as what you photographed.
Monica
Thank you for the picture and the history.
Lori
Nice shot and great story to go wth it. I never knew about the devil and his minions hiding in corners! I'm going to have to go looking for some round real estate! ;-)
Martha ~
How fortunate you have such as this so close to you! CATHY
Nice photo & history Jeannette....I didn't know that about the corners & such...
Blessings & Prayers of you always.
Michele
That is so cute!!!
You have to go visit inside just once....
Great choice!
Linda :)
Looks like you'd find 3 bowls of porridge there.
what a neat little house. I love it.
I was interested in the Dutch Cottage Photo, mainly due to the no corners story,
Beryl Reid the British Actress (The Killing of Sister George) also lived in a house with round corners somewhere on the River Thames. I loved reading your blogs for the first time ever, keep up the good work ! Paul xx
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