Until 1973, the house was known as The Cottage, The Square. The engraving by Robert Bryden, made in 1905, shows there was a building directly next to it, on Workhouse Lane. In 1974, the building was very dilapidated, as is shown in the photographs by the National Monuments Record, taken at the suggestion of the Curator of the County Museum.
Edward Roberts surveyed Heycroft and his notes are the second image in the gallery. He estimated the date of construction of the original house at 1525, plus or minus 50 years, and of additions C – D at around 1600.
It was bought in 1973 by retired solicitor Freddie Standfield and architect Brian Tyler, who decided to restore the building. A letter from Edward Grainger of the Petersfield Area Historical Society summarises his interpretation of the history of the building. ’It is a timber framed house of 4 bays in which the two eastern bays appear to be older than the western. The chimney and fireplaces are part of the original structure which makes the date about 1580 – 1600.
A PDF is attached of a report, unsigned, which describes the work done in 1974/4. ’A direct labour force of two craftsmen was recruited, to be fortified later by a labourer.’ ’In the early spring of 1975, it is hoped that the rather sad old house of a year before will have completely regained its former dignity, charm and usefulness, and be ready for occupation, but reconstruction costs of approximately £14,000 are anticipated before completion … due to worldwide economic conditions it is feared that the venture will prove financially disastrous …’
Place
East Meon, Heycroft House Contributor
Capt David Bailey Reference number
EM/0110 Accession number
2014-03-010 Storage location
Prints of National Monuments Record photographs, Library B/21, Album
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This was the (rented) home of Frank and Rose Collyer, my grandparents. I spent many happy times there as a child, but it was fearsomely cold in the winter and too ridiculously large to heat efficiently! Even as kids, there was always mulled home-made elderberry wine to ‘warm yer innards.’ And hot water bottles, of course. It was, and is, a beautiful building. ‘The Cottage’; that was a misleading name if ever there was one. Yes, fond memories, and many of them…
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