Along a quiet Cheshire country road, two adjoined cottages stand alone and forgotten, and are unique in that they represent a very specific type of home from a bygone era. They have earned themselves nicknames over the years; Rin Tin Cottages, Dream Cottages, Christmas Cottages, or whatever people have chosen to call them. At the turn of the last century, it was not uncommon for homes to be constructed using materials that were less expensive and more widely used in rural areas such as tin cladding and straw bale insulated masonry. Especially during war times, this was a building technique commonly used by the church to build chapels across poor rural areas, and they actually stood the test of time. Both houses have continued to receive post through their mailbox in the years that they have been left behind. Google Street view shows us that Mr Ruscoe was still living in Flower Patch Cottage as recently as 2012, but by then East View was unoccupied and presumably kept under maintenance by either himself or another neighbour. The cottages did have some supply of electricity and basic plumbing, but that’s where their modern-day conversion ended. Neither have a toilet within the confines of the house, and required their owners to prepare for a short, brisk walk to the outhouse in the garden when nature called. Insulation came from a bare tin roof and the walls are lined with straw. This was undoubtedly common place in the 19th century but houses like this simply no longer exist even among rural villages in the UK, and this would have undoubtedly led to the somewhat reluctant eviction of its last inhabitants. Winters would have been too cold for an elderly couple to live here without risking their health and wellbeing, despite the empty box of a retro-displayed electric blanket found upstairs. However, it’s clear that a young family once enjoyed their lives here; outside is an overgrown greenhouse decaying next to an almost completely hidden set of goalposts, a collection of TV’s are piled up in the living room next to the stove burner, an empty bird cage lies on the counter in the kitchen, boxes of chocolates and condiments sporting their nostalgically vintage labels are still stored in the pantry and a copy of the Shropshire star on the coffee table from Saturday November 13th 1982 reads "England fans pitch invasion during cricket match in Perth leaves Terry Alderman injured." – (Nothing quite like finding a bit of 34 year old news). This visit was a step out of the ordinary, experiencing these cottages that serve as a uniquely personal insight into the memories of these two families from decades gone by, and the fact that they are still standing just goes to show how much better a well-built home can face the elements when their owners disappear, compared to modern buildings that crumble in the wake of abandonment in next to no time at all.
