Hello Richard Greatorex. This is indeed a strange cottage. The bit the two little girls are standing outside looks older than the other bit. I have a photo dated 1901 (George Dibbs was the landlord) where the roof has been taken off the building and an oast house is either built as part of it or just behind it. So I think your photo predates mine. There was an Abraham Thackray of Burn Bridge who died in 1879. In 1901 the oast house is intact in my later (by a few years) photos it is part demolished (a fire). Your photo must be the latter half of the 1800s. In 1838 the Black Swan was owned by Jane Jackson. Hope this is of some help.
Now I must tell you of the rose bush in our garden. I am a very keen gardener and was weeding and stood up. Forgetting the rose one of many that we have had for 40 odd years was there and it caught me across my face. I wiped the blood off and carried on. Then a few weeks later I noticed I had an ulcer thing on my face. I was visiting the doctor for my vertigo just as I was leaving I said what is this on my face. Next thing I knew a letter to go down to HDH. I arrived handed in my letter sat waiting for what seemed like a fortnight. Everyone called in before me. I said to one of the nurses excuse me where am I on the waiting list. He said you are not on it, did you hand in a letter. Yes. Who to. I don't know. Ok wait there. I waited got fed up went to find someone when senior nurse came down said are you Anne Smith. Yes. Well your appointment has been cancelled. You should have received a letter but I know for a fact it was not sent out. Me stood there gobsmacked. Ok I said I am here now I am not leaving. Eventually seen. Told yes we will just take the top off and to come back next week. Did so, doctor looked at it said of no we shall have to go deeper. One hour later having asked the nurse to let my husband know I was going to be longer and I was going to appear with a face dressed for Halloween. My lots of stiches come out on Friday. I have gone up in my grandson's estimations as he said will I have a scar like Action Man? Cool. Another comment from the family was I could audition for Phantom of the Opera. I have been in hiding, no golf but had to have a quick visit to the super market today. Dark glasses etc. as I have a lovely black eye to accompany the stitches. So beware of rose thorns they can be lethal.
Our cats Marble and Tigs two docile little souls have a cat flap and so come in and out. Hell of a racked in the middle of last night fighting, spitting meowing I got up and the utility room was in a mess. Two cats had shot through the cat flap knocked over their beds and were cowering with big fat tails. What had attacked them? Hope it was not a fox.
