History - The Cottage is Built

By the late 1700s, the functional medieval landscape of the Radway Estate was about to be reimagined. Evidence from historical maps and modern tree surveys reveals a deliberate "clearing" event that forever changed the character of the southern border.

1. The Evidence of the 1789 Map

The first clear visual record of the site appears in William Day’s map of 1789.

• The Location: The future site of Powys Cottage is positioned on the top edge of the map, just above the label "All Saints".

• The Shelter Belt: Tree symbols along the edge of this area confirm that the wooded shelter belt established by the Radway "brothers" was still standing in 1789.

• The Land Use: Markings on the map suggest the enclosed area was being used as pasture rather than arable land.

2. The Disappearing Forest (1789–1820)

Despite the presence of a border of trees in 1789, the tree survey conducted in 2025 confirms they were gone by 1820. Aside from one surviving Sweet Chestnut and one Holm Oak, no trace of that ancient border remains today.

The conclusion is clear: the trees were removed during the construction of Powys Cottage to transition the land from a working farm into a high-status residence.

3. Sacrifice for a View: The Regency Aesthetic

Why would the owners remove a protective shelter belt that had stood for centuries? The answer lies in the Regency desire for a "prospect."

• Elevated Position: The cottage was built on high ground and featured expansive verandas.

• Uninterrupted Views: By removing the tree line, the residents gained a sweeping, pastoral view down toward the seafront and potentially out across the English Channel.

• Strategic Survivors: The Sweet Chestnut and Holm Oak that remain today were likely spared because they did not interfere with this primary "sea view".

4. A Century of Stillness

This decision defined the character of the site for the next hundred years. From 1820 until the late 1920s, the land to the south remained open pasture.

• Unchanged Landscape: For nearly a century, residents of the villa enjoyed a view that remained virtually identical to the one created by the original builders.

• Modern Development: It wasn't until 1925–1930 that the construction of Roselands began, finally closing the open vistas that had defined Powys House for a century.