Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Essex Dutch Cottage

Dutch Cottage

This octagonal cottage is the smallest and the oldest council house in the United Kingdom.

Essex, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  John Myers / CC BY-SA 2.0
  John Myers / CC BY-SA 2.0
The Dutch Cottage   Julian Osley / CC BY-SA 2.0
A similar Dutch cottage in nearby Canvey Island   Glyn Baker
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This building takes its name from the 17th-century Dutch immigrants who lived in this area and constructed many of Essex’s coastal sea walls.

However, the exact history of this odd cottage is rather vague—even its year of construction is something of a mystery. Inscribed above the door is the number 1621, leading many to believe that was the year when the cottage was built. But experts in history and architecture believe that the house was actually built until around the year 1740.

The cottage's octagonal shape is unusual, but serves some useful purposes. It is sturdy and easy to thatch, and in addition to the architectural benefits, it has a supernatural advantage. A common superstition at the time held that evil spirits could become trapped in right-angled corners and linger. Luckily the irregular shape of the Dutch cottage contains no sharp angles, leaving it free of bad luck and hauntings.

The cottage is technically a council house as it is owned by the local district council and currently occupied by a tenant. However it is so small that furniture must be specially made to fit within the small rooms or, like on one occasion, lifted through a window to bypass the narrow stairs.

Related Tags

Houses Octagon Buildings Immigration Architecture Homes

Know Before You Go

The cottage is open for guided tours on Wednesday afternoons.

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Published

December 23, 2019

Updated

February 7, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/3644394.rayleigh-dutch-cottagesmallest-council-house-in-uk/
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/7595492.stm
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/7463473.stm
Dutch Cottage
33 Crown Hill
Rayleigh
Essex, England
United Kingdom
51.587077, 0.602347
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Graveyard of Lost Species

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

The Cutlass Stone

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Essex

Essex

England

Places 8

Nearby Places

Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Graveyard of Lost Species

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

The Cutlass Stone

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Essex

Essex

England

Places 8

Related Places

  • Swedish Stone House.

    Lindsborg, Kansas

    Stenhuset (Stone House)

    The oldest house in Lindsborg, Kansas, includes some fascinating inscriptions.

  • Pomerode’s German architecture on display at the Carl Weege house museum.

    Pomerode, Brazil

    Carl Weege Immigrant House Museum

    The preserved home of the first settler of "the most German town in Brazil."

  • T.M. Younglove Octagon House.

    Hammondsport, New York

    T.M. Younglove Octagon House

    In the mid-19th century, an eight-sided house was the latest fad.

  • This house was transported piece-by-piece from the Huizhou region of China.

    Salem, Massachusetts

    Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home

    A rare 16-bedroom Qing Dynasty house re-erected on the campus of the Peabody Essex Museum. 

  • Valladolid, Mexico

    Casa China

    A mysterious, abandoned Chinese building in Mexico pays homage to the area's East Asian immigrants.

  • Alatskivi Castle

    Alatskivi, Estonia

    Alatskivi Castle

    A wealthy aristocratic family built this Disney-worthy, fairy-tale castle.

  • 9904 Colesville Road (Polychrome II)

    Silver Spring, Maryland

    Polychrome Historic District

    These five Art Deco homes were meant to solve the "small house problem."

  • Stone Mansion

    Alexandria, Virginia

    Stone Mansion

    Originally dubbed "Retirement" by the Navy Commodore who built it in 1780, this beautiful mansion is now the centerpiece of a suburban community park.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.