“This is a copy of an original pencil drawing lent to me by Mrs Malthro (mother-in-law of Doctor Portas, I think). Its history was somewhat confused, but I think the drawing was found in an attic in a house in London – by whom and when I did not gather at the time.
It is too big to go into my machine complete, and I leave it to you to join the two sheets if you wish.

Unfortunately, it is not dated, but the general appearance of the cottages suggests towards the end of the 19th century, not long before they were demolished. And while the surrounding trees and shrubs, and the absence of the churchyard wall, suggest a certain amount of artistic licence, the drawing is certainly more realistic than some of the other drawings of cottages we have seen !

ML“