Hangleton Cottage
Hangleton Cottage stands at the Weald and Downland Museum, which is a showcase of old English buildings. The exhibits are all genuine period pieces which were moved from their original locations and rebuilt on the museum's land. Most were "listed buildings" which nevertheless had to be demolished to make room for new roads or other modern development.
This photograph shows a humble 14th century cottage which once stood at the village of Hangleton, in East Sussex. Unlike the other exhibits, it is largely conjectural. Hangleton is a "deserted mediaeval village"; it was abandoned long ago, possibly as a result of the Black Death, and for centuries there has been nothing to show for it except turf-covered heaps of rubble. This cottage was recreated from the ruins of several of the houses and is based on information derived from more than one building. Certain purists say that, because of this, it does not belong at the Weald and Downland Museum, but it has been there longer than almost any of the other buildings - and, certainly, longer than most of its critics. It provides an insight into a period not covered by any of the other buildings. Moreover, it is both attractive and very popular.
The Weald and Downland Museum is at Singleton, near Chichester, in the county of West Sussex (England).