Restoration of Bridge Cottage

Bridge Cottage Heritage Centre is a 15th Century Medieval Wealden Hall house of above average construction situated in the heart of Uckfield, East Sussex.

In 1983 the building was saved from demolition by the Uckfield & District Preservation Society and Uckfield Town Council. Thanks to a grant in 2016 from The Heritage Lottery Fund, it has now been extensively restored and today looks much as it would have done in the early 1600s.

There have been many changes, the most noticeable of which is the addition of a new section above the lean-to extension at the northern end, re-establishing the original Wealden house appearance.

In addition the restoration has enhanced the sustainability credentials of the original building by the inclusion of underfloor heating driven by a Ground Sourced Heat Pump, sheep’s wool insulation and LED lighting throughout – all sympathetically incorporated in an historic environment.

During the recent archaeological excavations, a hearth from a pre-1436 building was discovered; evidence that a building has stood at this site for many centuries.

Uckfield & District Preservation Society (UDPS) aims to run Bridge Cottage, a Grade II Listed building, as a usable and sustainable building.  Our Aim is to create an historic meeting place available to the whole community for present and future generations to enjoy. 

 The mission of UDPS is to use a range of heritage activities and means of interpretation to enable all sectors of the growing town of Uckfield to understand and appreciate their heritage.  This includes an educational programme at all levels, hands on heritage activities for all ages, local history and craft events, and the use of a heritage hub for historical research. The building is also now registered for Civil Ceremonies allowing the community to enjoy those special moments in a very local heritage setting.

Timeline of the Restoration

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