Mary Newman's Cottage

About the museum

Mary Newman’s Cottage stands on Culver Road, above the Tamar in Saltash. The Tamar Protection Society, which runs the cottage, dates the building to around 1480, while the official listing for the Grade II house suggests a date in the sixteenth or seventeenth century and records major alterations around 1700 and again in the nineteenth century. Tradition links the house with Mary Newman, the first wife of Sir Francis Drake.

The cottage is furnished in period style. Visitors can see Tudor utensils, costumes and games, a Tudor equivalent of an e-book and displays on how horn was used in Tudor times. The rooms on the ground floor are accessible; the two first-floor rooms are reached by pole staircases.

Outside, a garden laid out in Elizabethan style looks over the Tamar crossings, and plants grown there are sold to visitors. Finds made while the Tudor-style garden was being developed are also on show. The cottage is one of two heritage properties managed by the Tamar Protection Society, a local charity that aims to protect the lower Tamar and to teach the public about the history of the area through a museum.

Highlights

• Furnished Tudor-style rooms with utensils, costumes and games
• Tudor “e-book” and display on the use of horn
• Elizabethan-style garden with views of the Tamar crossings
• Small café in the cottage garden
• Plants grown in the garden for sale
• Grade II listed house linked by tradition to Francis Drake’s first wife

Permanent exhibition

• Tudor cottage and garden – Authentically furnished rooms with Tudor utensils, costumes and games, plus an Elizabethan-style garden above the Tamar.

Founded

1984

Operated by

Tamar Protection Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; donations towards upkeep are gratefully received. Only cash is accepted at the cottage.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The cottage is entered over a stone step from the road; a wheelchair ramp is available but prior notice is appreciated. The downstairs rooms are accessible to visitors with limited mobility, but the two first-floor rooms are reached by pole staircases and may be unsuitable. The courtyard and garden have a number of steps; portable ramps are available with prior notice.

Kids & families

The Tudor utensils, costumes and games can be looked at in the furnished rooms. The pole staircases to the first floor may be unsuitable for some visitors.

Getting there & parking

The cottage is on Culver Road on the Saltash waterside, with views of the Tamar crossings. The Society does not publish parking or public transport details.

Amenities & dining

• Café

A small café in the cottage garden serves drinks and light snacks. Plants grown in the garden are sold to visitors. Cash only.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit