Plumb Cottage, Old Leigh
| Published: 9th May 2007 13:12 |
Plumb Cottage in "Old Leigh", Leigh-on-Sea is an exact replica of a traditional fisherman's cottage that originally stood at nearby Strand Wharf in the 1850's.
Taking more than a year to complete, the cottage was opened in May 2007 and allows visitors the opportunity to walk through the house and get a feel for what it was like to live in Leigh in the Victorian era.
Visitors enter the building through the Leigh Heritage Centre and once inside the building, with its traditional stone floors, washed walls, brick chimney and Victorian furniture, can begin to understand what life must have been like for the family of 12 who were once crammed into the tiny cottage.
The project to open the museum has been beset by difficulties however, not least when plans to restore the original listed cottage were thwarted by it being demolished without planning consent, while later problems included the theft of slate from the roof of the cottage
After raising £14,000 themselves, the Leigh Society obtained funding from the National Lottery and Cory Environmental, which allowed them to complete the project.
Leigh Heritage Centre is housed in The Old Smithy that was rebuilt from two 18th century cottages. It also maintains displays that guide visitors through the area's history, buildings and natural heritage.
Leigh Old Town.
Tel: 01702 470834
Open daily, usually from 10.30am to 3.00pm (times may vary as the centre is run by volunteers).
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