Evaluating at Mrs Smith's Cottage Navenby Lincolnshire

 


In the small village of Navenby in Lincolnshire sits Mrs Smith’s cottage. Mrs Smith’s cottage is a step back in time, it dates to the 1830s with some later additions. Mrs Smith’s cottage was first opened as a museum in 1999 but had to be closed in 2012 due to structural needs. Renovation completed in 2020 means that Mrs Smith’s Cottage has been brought back into use as a popular heritage attraction.




The cottage is funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and North Kevsteven District Council and run by a small team who have a programme of events that run through out the year. Culture Syndicates recently have been assisting with evaluation at some of these events.

Who is Mrs Smith?

Hilda Craven was born in Navenby on 28th October 1892.

In 1922, for £75 Hilda bought the Cottage using money from a legacy.  1926 she sold the house to her employer Tom Smith, for £95. In 1937 Hilda bought the Cottage for the second time, paying just £95. It was not until 1956 when Hilda was 64 years old, she and Joseph Smith 73 married and she became Mrs Smith. After only four years Joseph died leaving Hilda on her own again. She was an important part of the local community for the next 30 years. She lived in the Cottage until just after her 102 birthday and died in 1995.

The cottage is full of familiar objects from the twentieth century and is a nostalgic trip back for some and what must seem like a whole new world for the young.









The cottage is open to the public 12 until 4pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (excluding Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s day).

Find out more on their website: https://www.mrssmithscottage.com/visit/

 

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