Milton's Cottage

Milton's Cottage:
The Life And Times Of The Famous Poet

Buckinghamshire would probably not be recognised as the capital of the literature world but it does have a very good claim on that title in England as a result of one of the attractions that lies within the county. The attraction is Milton’s Cottage. The cottage once belonged to John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost. In fact, he actually completed Paradise Lost whilst living here and began Paradise Regained before he moved away. This means that the house has a significant impact on the literary worth of the area and is well worth a visit!

Milton’s Cottage is a 16th Century building in Chalfont St Giles. It is in extremely good condition despite its age and is one of those quaint little old cottages with timber frames that fascinate everyone that visits them! Milton and his wife moved in around 1665 and lived there for less than a year. This fact is amazing given the reverence that the cottage is held in by classic literature fans, but it is the only building that Milton lived in that still stands and also the one at which his most important work was completed.

Milton’s Cottage is now a shrine to him and his contribution to English and indeed world literature. The ground floor is now a museum that displays a number of Milton’s works, all of them early versions of it of course. However, if you are a fan of architecture then you may wish to visit for another reason – the building is Grade 1 listed and has largely been untouched for centuries, aside from some maintenance. This is amazing given its age! The garden is also in tact and is rather large so you can stroll around and admire the traditional formal garden style.

Milton’s Cottage is open to the public during March through October, but it does remain open now some weekends during November and December. There re different events held there every year, usually literary ones, so you can go and celebrate the memory of Milton and his peers, as well as celebrate English literature as we know it today!