Percy’s Grandchildren Sue and Jonathan Growing Up at Weardale Cottage

Audrey and Doug married on 4 June 1949 and moved to Weardale Cottages in 1959 with Susan Anne Evans (nee Sue Burbidge).

Situated in the woodland grounds of the demolished stately home Weardale House, on the top of Toy’s Hill, near Westerham in Kent, Audrey and Doug worked with the owner (the National Trust) to create a lovely home for them and Audrey’s retired parents.

Weardale was a project-based upon restoring the original coach and more recently chauffer’s accommodation for the big house into homes. Audrey and Doug took on all the internal work from what had become little more than a ruin, to create what became the lovely house and gardens in the woods we all knew just as “Weardale”.

It was a wonderful place to live, and we have created this “story” page to show a little of how it was to live there, from Percy’s slides and scan of old photos that Sue has contributed.

The Extra Photos below were contributed by Sue Burbidge.

Sue said: “Sue and Jonathan, Taken in Grandma’s garden. Jon looks about 6-7. which makes me 13-14.   (Date: Maybe 1964-5)

Sue said: “obviously taken on the same occasion as the above”!

Sue said: “I think this might be a party for my parent’s silver wedding  (they married 1949)”.