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The secrets behind one of Bristol’s last remaining thatched homes
A stone’s throw from a petrol station and a fish & chip shop, a 200-year-old property has a fascinating history and many stories to tell.
The Grade II listed building has long been a focal point in the history of Henleaze, originally one of a pair of lodges at the entrances to the former Henleaze Park House.
Now known as The Old Lodge, it dates back to 1810 and was first said to be home to agricultural labourer, James Blackmore.
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The Old Lodge is on 166 Henleaze Road – photo: Safiya Bashir
Since being James Blackmore’s residence back in 1810, the cottage was also home to farmers, Samuel and Jane Martin, and was later home to author Walter Derham.
Fast forward to the 1920s and the building became a private property. In 1958, it was purchased by Helen McLachlan.
The Old Lodge is no small feat when it comes to maintenance. Like all thatched properties, it needs to be rethatched every 20 years and was most recently rethatched in 2017.
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Local historian and author Veronica Bowerman researched the building for The Henleaze Book.
“All places have some interesting local history; it’s just a question of finding it,” she told Bristol24/7.
“One lovely sunny afternoon in the 1980s I walked down to the lodge and knocked on the door. The owner Helen McLachlan who had lived there since 1958 answered. I said I would like to interview her at a convenient time for a local magazine.
“Although she was a little disappointed that I was not from Country Life and even though she did not know me at all she invited me in and showed me around her beautiful home. I spent a couple of fascinating hours with Helen learning about her home and her life.
“Helen loved her thatched cottage home and as the thatched roof had not been rethatched for over 100 years, she arranged for Webbers of Dunster of Somerset, a thatching family for some 400 years, to carry out the work.
“The subsequent article I produced following my interview with Helen started me on my journey of writing articles about local history.”
Former residents are pictured here at the gate in the 1920s -photo: McNeill/Sleigh collection
If you happen to be passing the home, look out for the special spy window on the ground floor which was angled to the drive to Henleaze Park.
Veronica explains: “Anyone in the dining or sitting rooms could see a coach, other traffic and people coming down the drive from Henleaze Park and ensure that the gate was quickly opened for them.”
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For those who are knowledgeable about Bristol’s thatched roofs, you may notice the distinct similarities between Henleaze’s Old Lodge and the cottages that make up Blaise Hamlet.
Built in 1811, Blaise Hamlet is a collection of nine thatched cottages designed by John Nash belonging to the Blaise Castle estate.
Despite the similar features and time period, it is not known if John Nash – who also designed Buckingham Palace in London and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton – was also responsible for Henleaze’s Old Lodge.
Also in north west Bristol is the thatched cottage based on Mariners Road in Sneyd Park that acted as the Lower Lodge to Old Sneyd Park in the early 19th century.
To find out more about Veronica’s research in Henleaze, visit www.henleazebook.com
Main photo: Safiya Bashir
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