Vine Cottage in Foote's Lane

The pencil drawing by Audrey wife of Ian Lewis, recalls Vine Cottage that stood proudly in Foote's Lane overlooking the football field, 100m along from Woodend Road. The original occupier was John Clarke Foote, engaged in cottage manufacture of hats using fur gathered from beavers living in the millpond north of St Peter's Church. His business was crushed by Christy's large-scale production of hats in Park Lane, so he emigrated to Australia in 1831, living at Ipswich where he created the prominent firm - Cribb & Foote. His descendants who were prominent members of Queensland legislature commenced plans for the Australian Commissioner to visit and affix a plaque on Vine Cottage recording John Foote's occupancy. In 'Past Memories' Ian Lewis recalls his childhood at Vine Cottage but by the1950s their family home was decaying and it was sold. Despite a petition from local residents to save the cottage a builder has replaced it with a pair of four-bedroom houses.