Home / Environment / Nightingale Cottage Rises From Ruin
Nightingale Cottage Rises From Ruin
29 Oct
Summary
- Historic Aqueduct Cottage, visited by Florence Nightingale, is restored.
- Over 50,000 visitors have flocked to the restored museum since March 2023.
- A team of 60+ volunteers contributed 10,000+ hours to the restoration.
Aqueduct Cottage, a 19th-century cottage built by Peter Nightingale, uncle to Florence Nightingale, has been transformed from a ruin into a vibrant museum and community space. The cottage, where the nursing pioneer visited as a child, had been empty since 1970 before a four-year restoration project concluded.
The restoration, completed in March 2023, saw over 50,000 people visit the site. A dedicated team of more than 60 volunteers contributed over 10,000 hours, clearing approximately 50 tonnes of debris and undertaking extensive repairs.
Work included replacing roofs, laying stone floors, and repairing dry stone walls. Local businesses supported the £90,000 project with £25,000 in materials, alongside significant crowdfunding and trust contributions.
The Grade II-listed cottage is now open to visitors on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, offering a glimpse into its history and a space for community events.
