The Cottages of Sunset Boulevard
This view has not been possible for a few years as the hedgerow and trees behind Farm and Signal Cottages had grown to "mature" heights, blocking off the vista east over the Hill Field and on to York beyond. A pressing need to replace the fence brought about a severe cropping back of the hedge and a crown lifting of the impressive oak which grows in Signal Cottage's garden. As residents are now getting used to the more open aspect we will soon be replanting the hedge to thicken it out after its upward growth had severely weakened it.
Farm Cottage (left) consists of two distinct halves: The higher part is the newset part and was at one time called Noyce's Cottage after the farm manager who lived there. In the middle is the oldest part which was originally 17th century farm buildings with recent work on one of its windows suggesting it was a hay barn and pigeon loft although, in the 1960's and 70's, the ground floor was the school's model railway room.
Signal Cottage is a renovated part of the old farm buildings and used to be a large pigeon loft with animal stalls below. It was taken down brick by brick in 1982 and rebuilt on the same footprint using the original bricks and tiles.