Mrs Smith's Cottage Museum in Navenby is a preserved example of a simple, early Victorian, Lincolnshire cottage. With walls only a single brick thick and the only modern innovations an inside toilet, cold water tap and electricity, it offers a glimpse into life in a bygone age. The Cottage and Visitors Centre at the museum display artefacts and information relating the life and times of Mrs Smith in a rural village from the Edwardian period to the late 20th century.

The museum is named after its last resident who lived there happily and independently until 1995, when she was 102 years old. The building and the contents were preserved by the will and effort of local residents as something very special - displaying as they do the simple and contented life of a lady who had little time for modern innovations. Typical of early to mid 20th century rural life, the old black range, a single cold water tap, period furniture, a washhouse and ladders to the bedrooms are all preserved as Mrs Smith used them until she died.

A Day Out for the Family
A visit to the Cottage offers a fun experience to adults who may remember the 'Old days' and to kids of all ages who always ask intriguing questions - 'How did Mrs Smith take a bath without a bathroom?' 'How did she make do without a fridge or a hot water tap?'. We can answer those questions and many more and, if you like, you can dress up in old fashioned clothes and do our fun quiz while you take your tour. Our Giftshop offers mementoes of the cottage and simple, old fashioned toys.

The Cottage will open for the season on Sunday 4th March

Normal openings are 1.00pm to 4.00pm. (Last entry for conducted tours at 3.30pm.)

March	Sunday only.
April and May	Saturday and Sunday. BH Monday 9th April and 7th May
June and July	Friday - Saturday - Sunday. BH Monday 4th June
August	Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday. BH Monday 27th
September	Friday - Saturday - Sunday
October/November	Sunday only
December	Special holiday events only. View Events Page

Adults £2.00 Children under 16 FREE
Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult for all visits and events.
Advanced booking is not required for normal opening hours
Outside normal opening hours, Group Visits can be arranged for daytime and evening tours. Please see Group Visits Page for further details.
Check our Special Events page for other evening and weekday visits.