The Wellhead Cottage

Wellhead cottage in September 2005

The picturesque stone cottage in the Wellhead Gardens at Bourne is one of the town's listed buildings which means that it is protected and cannot be altered or pulled down without government approval.

There was once a farmstead here known as Castle Farm, built on the site of the Norman castle or Saxon manor house that is reputed to have existed in past times and probably destroyed in a prolonged bombardment by the artillery of Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary army during the English civil war of 1642-51.

The present property, known as the Wellhead cottage, dates from the early 18th century, perhaps even before, and is one of  the listed buildings in Bourne that have been identified as being worthy of preservation. The frontage can be seen although the rear of the property is obscured by high hedges.

The cottage is owned by Bourne United Charities and let to a suitable tenant, being currently occupied by the park manager responsible for the upkeep of the Wellhead Gardens and Abbey Lawn.

Photographed circa 1950

THE WELLHEAD COTTAGE TODAY

Photographed in January 2002
Photographed in April 1999

Photographed in April 2009

Photographed in August 2011

 

WELLHEAD COTTAGE IN PAST TIMES

Photographed in 1960

This rare photograph taken from a picture postcard published circa 1960 shows the rear of the Wellhead cottage before the Wellhead and War Memorial Gardens had been fully developed and was taken from the site of the old water cress beds with the Bourne Eau in the foreground.

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