The Cat House
One of the most photographed houses in the village, the Cat House dates from around the Elizabethan period and stands in Church Walk, just round the corner from Pinchnose Green. It owes its decoration to Bob Ward, an odd character who lived there in the last years of the 19th century. The story is that a cat belonging to Canon Woodard of nearby Martyn Lodge killed Bob Ward's canary. To keep the outrage in mind the old man placarded the house and added scallop shells on strings which he could jangle when the Canon passed on his way to church. At the same time a black figure appeared at the Zulu hole on the west side of the cottage.
HOUSES 1
Cat House 1: This shows the Cat House in Edwardian times. everything looks very overgrown, including the lane, and the thatch appears to need renewing.
Cat House 2: This is a copy of a rather naive painting from 1882 showing the building in its placarded days.
Cat House 3: a picture from 2005 showing the side of the Cat House and the view up Church walk to the churchyard and St. Peter's Church.
Cat House 4: Another photograph from 2005 showing the façade of the house.
Cat House 5: The Cat House photographed in August 2015.
Cat House 6: A photo from April 2015.
HOUSES 25
Cat House: A hand-coloured print of the Cat House from the Edwardian era. The thatch looks very new here, so the print is probably later than Cat House 1 on the HOUSES 1 page. The flowers and bushes on the front of the house have also been tidied - as has the lane.
HOUSES 42
Cat House 1: Yet another Edwardian photo of the house - with the facade tidied but not yet re-thatched.
Cat House 2: A photo from late summer 2016.
Cat House 3: Also from late summer 2016, showing the path up Church Terrace to the churchyard and St. Peter's.
HOUSES 46
Cat House: A photo from March 2017.
MISCELLANY 16
Cat House sun: A snap from March 2017 of one of the painted metal plaques under the eaves of the house. This appears to depict the sun.
HOUSES 51
Cat House: A photo from late May 2017 showing the flowers in bloom on the front of the house.
HOUSES 62
Cat House front door: A photo from late July 2018 which shows the tiny front door of the house.
HOUSES 66
Cat House: A Photoshopped and edited version of the Cat House - with all the outside telephone lines and cables taken out...
HOUSES 1
Cat House 1: This shows the Cat House in Edwardian times. everything looks very overgrown, including the lane, and the thatch appears to need renewing.
Cat House 2: This is a copy of a rather naive painting from 1882 showing the building in its placarded days.
Cat House 3: a picture from 2005 showing the side of the Cat House and the view up Church walk to the churchyard and St. Peter's Church.
Cat House 4: Another photograph from 2005 showing the façade of the house.
Cat House 5: The Cat House photographed in August 2015.
Cat House 6: A photo from April 2015.
HOUSES 25
Cat House: A hand-coloured print of the Cat House from the Edwardian era. The thatch looks very new here, so the print is probably later than Cat House 1 on the HOUSES 1 page. The flowers and bushes on the front of the house have also been tidied - as has the lane.
HOUSES 42
Cat House 1: Yet another Edwardian photo of the house - with the facade tidied but not yet re-thatched.
Cat House 2: A photo from late summer 2016.
Cat House 3: Also from late summer 2016, showing the path up Church Terrace to the churchyard and St. Peter's.
HOUSES 46
Cat House: A photo from March 2017.
MISCELLANY 16
Cat House sun: A snap from March 2017 of one of the painted metal plaques under the eaves of the house. This appears to depict the sun.
HOUSES 51
Cat House: A photo from late May 2017 showing the flowers in bloom on the front of the house.
HOUSES 62
Cat House front door: A photo from late July 2018 which shows the tiny front door of the house.
HOUSES 66
Cat House: A Photoshopped and edited version of the Cat House - with all the outside telephone lines and cables taken out...