Open House Plan for Dutch Cottage

An archaeologist is to look at Canvey’s Dutch cottage museum to see how much work needs to be none. And when repairs are finished the cottage could reveal more of its history by showing how it was built.

Structural faults have been discovered at the cottage, Castle Point Council’s recreation and amenities committee has been told.

Chief technical officer Mr Alan Finch said the council had £2,000 to spend on consultants’ fees to assess the damage.

An archaeologist is needed because of the age of the cottage, which dates back to 1618. The wall at the back appears to be moving from the roof and the kitchen extension away from the main structure.

Mr Finch said it would be a good idea that when work on the cottage was completed parts of the foundations, walls and roof be left exposed so that visitors could see how the cottage was built.

The committee agreed a specialist archaeologist should be called in to look at the cottage.