Squatters Cottage, Jack’s Lane

According to Martin Hankins (born 1868), the old cottage in Wellington Heath Wood in which he grew up was “pegged out” by his grandmother’s father, Jack Phillips (of Jack’ Lane). He used timbers roughly shaped with an axe.

The cottage was timber-framed with a wattle and daub infill, and a thatched roof. Much of the infill was later replaced with bricks and the roof covered with corrugated iron. It was a two roomed dwelling. The upstairs sleeping quarters were reached by a ladder. A baking oven was built at the rear of the building.

This photograph shows the dwelling before it was renovated in 2010.