The Saga of the Cottage

Haven road Dutch cottage

The Dutch cottage in Haven road was nearly demolished in the mid 1970s according to some articles in local papers.

In 1973 the listed cottage was donated to the then Canvey Council by the Cockle family. The cottage had been inhabited continually until 1973 when it was apparently empty and remained so for many years.

During the next few years the building’s condition deteriorated and the local councils amalgamated to become Castle Point as it is today.

The cottage was part of several debates calling for something to be done as it continued to crumble. The council told the people of Canvey if they wanted to keep the cottage they would have to raise the money to restore it. In 1974 Fred McCave started a fund, publishing a booklet called ‘The Dutch Cottage Appeal’ but not enough money came in. Some councillors wanted the cottage demolished and called for the listing to be suspended so this could be done. The previous owners were also contacted to see if they would take it back. Local organisations were asked if they would take over the cottage.

The Benfleet Historical Society said it could not raise the money to restore and run the building but would consider taking over the cottage if the council restored it first and arranged for the cottage to be moved to the site of the other Dutch Cottage now a museum that was already being run by the society. The local Refineries Resistance group offered to restore it.

Discussions went on with the previous owner in the hope they would take it back. It is understood they would consider it, if it was first restored to its 1973 condition.

We are not sure at this time what happened but it was definitely back in the private sector by 1982 because it was then owned by Mr Brooks who had paid £11,000 for the building and he restored parts that had been vandalised. He lived there with his wife and had it on the market for £20,000. We know it has been in private ownership ever since but is currently back on sale for £175,000.

Hopefully someone will see its potential and it will not go down the same road and start to crumble again.

Comments about this page

  • I owned it in 1979 for a while !

    By Jacqueline Bowman (03/08/2020)
  • You don’t by any chance have photos of the inside from that time Jacqueline

    By Janet Penn (03/08/2020)
  • This cottage is always been described as a home to live in built for probably the Dutch workers who came to build Canvey Islands sea defences and drainage dykes. However, talking to a Dutchman on holiday some years back and showing him photos of it he didn’t think it was originally built as a home, but a horse (donkey) powered mill. The horse or donkey would be harnessed to the mill mechanism walk round and turn the mill stones. If you look in the grounds of the cottage there are mill stones and certainly some sort of wheel mechanism. He claimed there are mills like this all over Holland many converted to holiday homes. The building most certainly is Dutch, but much as it may ruin the guided tours of the local schools (have been in plenty of them as a school governor) and their tales of why it was built, where did the mill stones and mechanism come from?

    By John T Pharro (07/09/2021)
  • I own and live in it now and I love it and look after it!

    By Natalie Fry (30/08/2022)
  • Hi Natalie
    I am sure that if he was around now my Dad, Aubrey,would be very touched by your comment. Have to admit that it wasn’t until reading the newspaper cuttings above I had no idea he had expressed himself so strongly for the preservation of your little home. Got a bit of a lump in my throat thinking of his passion for local history, he usually was inclined to be more of a mover behind the scenes but he certainly knew to speak out when necessary! Graham Stevens😀

    By Graham (30/08/2022)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.