Thomas Paine’s Cottage, Sandwich
Rich in character and history Thomas Paine’s Cottage (C 1677) has been sympathetically renovated. While benefiting from the necessities of modern life such as wireless internet there are also many items of 18th century furniture that would have been familiar to Tom Paine centuries ago. In 1759, this house in Sandwich Kent, UK, was the home and shop of Thomas Paine, founding father of the United States and French Republic. He created the phrase “United States of America”, and was author of three of the bestsellers of the eighteenth century, including the cornerstone of American democracy, Common Sense plus the bible of English radicalism, the Rights of Man.
The Cottage
There is a Hall/Cloackroom with space for coats & a downstairs toilet. The lounge features a log burning stove, large screen TV/DVD player, chesterfield sofa/armchairs and a separate reading area. Furnished with a collection of 18th century furniture including a Grandfather clock dating from 1775! The kitchen includes a multiple oven range cooker, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washer-dryer, microwave, coffee maker and a kitchen table with seating for four. Upstairs there is an open plan twin bedroom and a fully enclosed double bedroom overlooking the garden with a carved Victorian mahogany double bed as well as a family bathroom with full length bath and overhead shower. Tom Paine’s cottage has a wonderful south facing walled garden typical of an English cottage garden with outside seating.
The Location
Sandwich is one of the best preserved and most complete medieval towns in Britain. In addition to its own unique charms Sandwich provides a base from which to explore sights such as the city of Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover. It is an easy walk to the railway station with High Speed services to London. Also, you are within 2 miles of 2 championship golf courses and close to many others – Royal St George’s being host to the 2011 Golf Open. A great location to take day trips to France via Dover which is just a short drive down the coast. Howletts Wild Animal Park is not too far away either providing a great day out and helping to support conservation projects worldwide.