17th Century Thatched Cottage Torn Down Without Permission in Nursling

Residents of Nursling, Hampshire, were shocked and outraged after the 17th-century Wychwood Cottage, considered a hallmark of the village and featured on a local history book cover, was demolished without planning permission in under an hour. Lawrence Harfield, a long-time resident, expressed disbelief, noting that many believed the cottage was listed and were devastated to see it destroyed so quickly by a JCB digger. Test Valley Borough Council confirmed it had not been notified about the demolition and has launched an investigation to determine whether proper planning procedures were followed. Though the cottage was not officially listed, the council is contacting the owners to understand the reasons behind the unauthorized demolition. The last approved planning application related to the site was for building a new home on adjacent land, not for demolishing the original cottage, and no work had begun on that project. Villagers are now hoping the council will require those responsible to rebuild the cottage as it was to preserve the village's heritage.