Church Cottage

Church Cottage stands in the village of Broughton, part of Preston in Lancashire. The building dates from the 16th century and is listed at grade II. It began life as a private home before becoming an inn, then a schoolroom. After standing empty for years it was rescued by local people who raised money with help from British Aerospace. Princess Alexandra opened the restored cottage as a museum in 1995. The cottage shows how ordinary buildings change through the centuries. Its oak beams and stone fireplace remain from the 1500s. Photographs and documents tell the story of the families who once lived and worked there. Visitors can see the room that once served as a classroom for local children. The small displays bring to life the daily routines of past centuries. Inside, the ground floor has a single main room with a large hearth. Upstairs a narrow staircase leads to two tiny chambers under the roof. The garden behind the cottage contains a restored well and a small orchard. From the front door the lane leads to the 12th-century church that gives the cottage its name.