Strawberry Cottage - 3 Radwell Road Milton Ernest

3 Radwell Road 1962 [Z53/82/12]

Strawberry Cottage was listed by English Heritage in August 1987 as Grade II, of special interest. The cottage dates from the 17th or 18th centuries, is built of coursed limestone rubble and comprises one storey and attics, in a T-shape, beneath a thatched roof. The gable end facing the road has an 18th century bow window.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 stated that every piece of land and building in the country was to be assessed for its rateable value. Like much of the county Milton Ernest was largely assessed in 1927. The valuer visiting the cottage [DV1/C1/47] found it divided into two. It was owned by G. Marsh and the front portion was occupied by B. Marsh who paid sixteen shillings per month in rent, a figure fixed the year before.

The front accommodation comprised a parlour, a living room and a kitchen, with three bedrooms (“two very old”) above. Outside were an old barn and two small fuel stores. The valuer noted “Water from well (“fair only”) and “Very Bad – low roof”. There was a small garden

The rear portion of the cottage was occupied by the owner. It comprised a living room and one bedroom above. Outside was a washhouse, a small open shed, a brick and tiled barn and a timber pigsty (all “bad”). There was also a large garden.

In 2008 the property was on the market. The sale particulars [Z449/2/186] noted that it was formerly the Strawberry Tree village restaurant. The ground floor comprised: a reception hall/family room measuring 5.5 metres by 4.8 metres; a lounge measuring 7.4 metres by 4.5 metres; a dining room measuring 5 metres by 4.5 metres; a hallway/study corner; a kitchen/breakfast room measuring 3.9 metres by 3.6 metres; a utility room measuring 3.6 metres by 1.2 metres; a sun room measuring 4.3 metres by 3.1 metres; a ladies' W.C. and a gents' W.C. Upstairs were: a landing; a bedroom measuring 6.8 metres by 4.3 metres; an en-suite bedroom measuring 5.8 metres by 3 metres; two bedrooms measuring, respectively, 3.8 metres by 3 metres and 3 metres by 2.9 metres and a bathroom. There was a front garden, two garages, a side courtyard, a rear driveway and a potting shed.

3 Radwell Road - The Strawberry Tree February 2011