What makes the English cottage so attractive to us? Why do we aspire to homes which are often cramped and difficult to maintain when we could live in a modern and convenient building - often for less money? In it he lists the key attributes which make the cottage an iconic building type. It breathes history, witnessing centuries of social change. It is made from materials that reflect the local landscape; there are particular features which bring the charms of a cottage immediately to mind; for example, tiny hinged windows and little dormers peaking out of the roof. Best of all is the cottage garden surrounding the property; its beds full of floral colour and with climbers clinging to its weathered walls. The East Anglian Cottage contains a wealth of information both for those who are lucky enough to live in a cottage or who are simply admirers of their beauty.