'Time-Capsule' Cottage Left Untouched For Decades With Jars Of Food Left Out

Incredible photographs have been shared online showing an abandoned cottage that has been left untouched for decades.

The crumbling remains of a former cottage has now been all but overtaken by nature, however, inside very little has changed, with clothes and crockery still hanging on the walls and teddy bears sat in dusty chairs.

According to reports, no one has lived there since its owner died 20 years ago, and it has been left to ruin.

Richard Walden, from Woolacombe, Devon, happened upon the decaying cottage while out walking with some friends in the countryside near Exeter on Tuesday (28 July).

He said: "I just stumbled across it and we were both like, 'Wow,' and we thought, 'Let's go and explore.'

"One of the boards had been removed and the kitchen window was wide open so we took some photos inside.

SWNS

"It was incredible. The house was literally untouched for about 20 years.

"It had clearly been lived in by an older person, probably a woman. There was still a tin of pilchards that hadn't been emptied and the rotten remains of fish.

"There were lots of jars of food, Marmite, and a woodburning stove. There was still wood in a bucket and hanging above were clothes that she had drying over the heat.

"The bed had been moved into the kitchen so it looks like in her final days she had been sleeping there.

"There were teddy bears placed in chairs, a couple of family member photos, and lots of books. You could see she was interested in art the countryside and birds."

SWNS

But while it's fascinating to see a house frozen in time in this way, Richard said it was also quite emotional.

He added: "It was terribly sad. The cottage is so overgrown you could walk right past it and not notice anything.

"It is clearly a snapshot of someone's life nearly 20 years ago. Presumably, she sadly passed away and the house has been left since.

"It is a real time capsule. There is a clock, personal items lying around and her glasses still sit on the table next to the bed.

"Her body was clearly taken away but nothing has happened since. Someone must own it, but whoever does did not even have the courtesy to empty it. It is now all mouldy and just really sad.

"How can someone's whole life just be left to rot away, untouched and of no interest to anybody. It is really sad."

Topics: UK News

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom