It’s hard to believe that this year Oakhurst Cottage is celebrating 40 years since it first opened as a museum.
This little labourer’s cottage, set in the edge of the woodland just off the cricket green, has been owned by the National Trust since 1954. It was given to them by the Allfry sisters, Vera Margaret and Beatrice Evelyn, along with a number of other cottages in the village. The sisters had originally acquired them to save tenants from eviction. When these were passed to the Trust, it was upon the condition that they were ‘not let to well-to-do people’. At the time the tenants were Ted and Elsie Jeffery, who lived there until Ted’s death in 1983.
The only modernity in the property was a single plug socket and a cold running tap. The Jeffery’s still used a range in the hearth, a tin bath and a composting toilet. Although there had been alterations over the centuries, it was this lack of modernisation that made the cottage a rarity. Following some repairs and local negotiations with the villagers and Parish Council, Oakhurst opened as a museum with guided tours in 1985.
This only happened because of support from lots of the local villagers all those years ago. There are so many who have contributed over the years, from the initial setting up, researching the history, or as guides and gardeners. One in particular was local resident Norman Gravestock, who had amazing dedication and passion for the history of the property and took on the role of volunteer curator, as well as guide and cleaner!
Norman, who died last year aged 95, gave an illustrated talk on Oakhurst at the 2025 Hambledon Heritage Society AGM, and more details can be found here – http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=17426
We are looking to celebrate our wonderful 40 years of opening, so would love to hear from anyone who was involved at any time, who can share their anecdotes, research and photos. We would also like contact details to involve you in any celebrations later in the year. Please do get in touch with Camilla Edmiston (camilla.edmiston@btinternet.com).
If you’ve never seen Oakhurst Cottage – this little gem in the oak woods – please come and visit. If you’ve been before, visit again as each guide brings a unique interpretation. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
- Heading into the new season, we still need more tour guides, as two people facilitate each session. We are opening Thursday and Saturday afternoons, as well as Bank Holiday Mondays, with each tour lasting about an hour at 2pm and 3.30pm. Would this interest you? If doing the guided tours is not for you, could we interest you in becoming one of our first Conservation Cleaners? This involves keeping the cottage presentable and maintaining good conservation and housekeeping standards. Of course training on specific conservation will be provided. Sadly, we did have to close on just a few occasions last year due to a lack of tour guides, so we really do need more volunteers. Plus if we were really successful in getting a significant increase in tour guides, in future years we could potentially open on more days in the season, as we used to do.
