Exclusive snaps of The House at Pooh Corner, shot by our platform, reveal the dwelling where A. A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin once resided.
In the quaint East Sussex Weald, a collection of unpublished images has recently come to light, offering a rare glimpse into the past of a place deeply rooted in the annals of children's literature. These images capture Cotchford Farm, a 16th-century timber-framed and red-tiled cottage, famously known as The House at Pooh Corner, where the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories were brought to life.
In 1925, Alan Alexander (A. A.) Milne and his wife Dorothy purchased Cotchford Farm as a weekend retreat from the hustle and bustle of London life. It was here that A. A. Milne conjured up the majority of his books about Winnie-the-Pooh, and the house was immortalised in his enduring children's book. Their son, Christopher Robin Milne, lived there until he was 11 years old, in 1931 - the very year the house was photographed in these unseen images.
The year 1931 was significant for the Milne family, as it was the year young Christopher Robin left Cotchford Farm to attend boarding school. The images, therefore, offer a poignant snapshot of a time when the house was still filled with the magic of Pooh and his friends.
The interior of the cottage, as captured in the images, resembles a fairytale scene. The game of Pooh Sticks, a classic pastime that originated at Cotchford Farm, can be inferred from the images, as they show a bridge over a stream that runs through the property.
Interestingly, the images were not taken by one of the regular contributors to the magazine for which they were possibly destined, suggesting that they were captured by an amateur photographer with a keen eye for detail. It is believed that the images may have been intended for a small architectural article in the magazine.
As we marvel at these unseen images, we are reminded of the enchanting world that A. A. Milne created at Cotchford Farm, a world that continues to captivate readers of all ages. The House at Pooh Corner stands as a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring charm of a simple, carefree life.
These unseen images, captured in 1931, offer a unique insight into the lifestyle at Cotchford Farm, where the milieu of Winnie-the-Pooh was born. Apart from fashion-and-beauty or home-and-garden truths, these images reveal a captivating scene that beautifully illustrates the enchanting books of A. A. Milne.
