Raising the Roof on Dutch Cottage

It has been a bit drafty in Canvey’s Dutch Cottage since the thatched roof was removed.

Scaffolding has mushroomed around the 350-year-old Canvey cottage which is undergoing reno­vation work to the roof and founda­tions for the next couple of months.

Castle Point Council has agreed to spend £50,000 on the work, which started two weeks ago.

Principal architect, Mr Barrie Whitley said: “The roof has been taken off and we are looking at the structure to see what can be done with cracks in the walls.

“When the roof was put on in 1960 it was not done correctly and we will be putting it back on a meter higher.”

Mr Whitely said: “We have put scaffolding over it so we can work regardless of the weather.

“But the recent gales were so bad they just went straight through it.”

The work should be finished by the beginning of March, but mean­while archaeologists have moved in to study the cottage.

Mr Whitely said: “We are carry­ing out archaeological digs there while the work is being undertak­en. It was just too good an oppor­tunity to miss.”

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You can see more photos on Stan and Vera Oaker’s page but the date says 1998.