The cottages at 132 Piccotts End house wall paintings that date back to 1527. A recent dendrochronology survey and new research by Karen Murphy, looking at the religious unrest in the area at the time, enables these important and unique wall paintings to be considered in the historical context of the period in which they were commissioned. They offer a unique view into the mindset of a member of the "middling" classes on the eve of the Reformation.
Latest News
July 2026
Dates announced for HERITAGE OPEN DAYS this year set for 19th and 20th September 2026.
Click here to book your one hour visit.
February 2026 -
June CREAM TEAS
The cottages are open for a few group visits in June, including an afternoon of cream teas on Thursday 18th June open to the public, for a cost of £20 for the talk and cream tea. If you would like to book a place ring Janet on 07771637735
And we are holding our annual two days of charity bridge events on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd June (for improvers). Again, please ring Janet to book on 07771637735.
We will also be open again in September for a part of the Heritage Open Days. Dates to be confirmed
18 June 2025
Dates announced for Heritage Open Days this year set for 13th and 14th September 2025.
Click here to book your tickets.
22 April 2025
Paul Christian from The History Channel has produced a youtube video on the wall paintings, with our in house expert Karen Murphy, that can be found here.
20 Feb 2025
The importance of the work we do has been recognised by the Charities Commission and we have been granted charitable status as THE PICCOTTS END CHARITABLE TRUST
(registered charity number 1212217)
21st May 2024
We are thrilled to have been awarded a grant from The Vernacular Architecture Group to enable us to create a 3D visualisation of the Hall and the wall paintings.
26 Feb 2024
We would like to thank the Guides of St Albans Cathedral for kindly making a donation, which has been spent on additional cleaning of the wall paintings by our wonderful painting conservator Bianca Madden.
7th Jan 2024
We were featured on Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip, with a visit from Anne Heggerty and James Braxton. See it on BBC Catch up, series 11, episode 12. Repeated on 6th Jan 2024 on BBC2.
21 March 2023
Once again we will be open during the annual Heritage Open Days event on 16th and 17th September 2023. Click here to book your tickets.
17 December 2022
CELEBRITY ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP - Series 11, episode 12
The paintings were featured on Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip, with a visit from quizzer Anne Hegerty and her expert James Braxton.
Karen gave a wonderful talk about the importance of the paintings, followed by a printmaking demonstration.
25 April 2022
We are delighted to be able to open again this September as a part of the Heritage OPen Days Event on 10th and 11th September.
25th July 2021
It has been a difficult time for us as we have been unable to open due to Covid, and have had to cancel all of our planned fundraising events for 2020 and the first half of 2021. However, we are pleased to say that we will be opening for the annual Heritage Open Days event this September, and will welcome any and all support. We look forward to welcoming you back again on September 18th and 19th (details to the left).
10th November 2020
Email message from Lesley Owen, repeated for interest
"My father, Leslie (Bunny) Read, was with Arthur
Lindsey and. US serviceman, Elmer Davies, when the paintings were discovered. The three had had rather a boozy evening at Bovingdon airforce base and were sobering up in the cottage before going home
to their wives. We lived at 114 Piccotts End. The Davies rented 120 from Arthur. Mr Lindsey was talking about renovating the cottage with Bunny’s help. My dad pulled at a corner of the wallpaper that
was hanging off the wall. Paper and plaster came away - and there were the paintings. I remember seeing them 65+ years ago when the cottage was still in a
pretty delapidated state. I’d love to visit next year,
if you’re able to do an open day.
20th June 2019
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 22nd September 2019. Entry is free, but there is a suggested minimum donation of £5 per person which contributes to the annual upkeep of the paintings. All profits go to the charity.
To book, please go to eventbrite by clicking here or email Karen at info @piccottsendpaintings.uk
24th May 2018
We are again taking part in the Heritage Open Days event and will be open on Sunday 9th September 2018. We are taking bookings in hourly slots, on the hour, so that you can come and listen to a talk, have a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and have a close up look at these amazing paintings. This year Karen will be giving the talks to update people on her current research on the paintings.
17th July 2017
We are again taking part in the Heritage Open Days event and will be open on Sunday 10th September 2017. We are taking bookings in hourly slots, on the hour, so that you can come and listen to a talk, have a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and have a close up look at these amazing paintings. This year Karen will be giving the talks to update people on her current research on the paintings.
To book, please go to eventbrite by clicking here or email Karen at info @piccottsendpaintings.uk
12th September 2016
A HUGE thank you to all of our visitors over the Heritage Open Days, and also to all of our helpers and especially to Alastair Lindley who gave the talks. We had 180 visitors on the day and got through 14 homemade cakes!
28th April 2016
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
The Cottage will be open again this year for Heritage Open Days on Sunday 11th September 2016. Reservations need to be made for one hour time slots during the day. Tea and cakes will be available.
27th September 2015
Press Release
The paintings will be featured in Simon Schama's "The Face of Britain" to be aired on Wed 30th September, BBC2 at 9pm. If that captures your imagination we are putting on an extra Opening of the cottages on 24th and 25th October 2015. See our event page to book your slot.
Christmas Cards featuring the wall paintings now available.
14th August 2015
Simon Schama has been to Piccotts End and is including the wall paintings as part of the introduction to his new 5 part television series to be aired in September "Simon Schama's Face of Britain".
This will run alongside an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and there will be a book to accompany the series.
Simon is also hosting a series of talks on the exhibition.
17th July 2017
We are again taking part in the Heritage Open Days event and will be open on Sunday 10th September 2017. We are taking bookings in hourly slots, on the hour, so that you can come and listen to a talk, have a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and have a close up look at these amazing paintings. This year Karen will be giving the talks to update people on her current research on the paintings.
To book, please go to eventbrite by clicking here or email Karen at info @piccottsendpaintings.uk
12th September 2016
A HUGE thank you to all of our visitors over the Heritage Open Days, and also to all of our helpers and especially to Alastair Lindley who gave the talks. We had 180 visitors on the day and got through 14 homemade cakes!
28th April 2016
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
The Cottage will be open again this year for Heritage Open Days on Sunday 11th September 2016. Reservations need to be made for one hour time slots during the day. Tea and cakes will be available.
27th September 2015
Press Release
The paintings will be featured in Simon Schama's "The Face of Britain" to be aired on Wed 30th September, BBC2 at 9pm. If that captures your imagination we are putting on an extra Opening of the cottages on 24th and 25th October 2015. See our event page to book your slot.
Christmas Cards featuring the wall paintings now available.
14th August 2015
Simon Schama has been to Piccotts End and is including the wall paintings as part of the introduction to his new 5 part television series to be aired in September "Simon Schama's Face of Britain".
This will run alongside an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and there will be a book to accompany the series.
Simon is also hosting a series of talks on the exhibition.
Contact us today!
If you have any queries or wish to make an appointment, please contact us:
info@piccottsendpaintings.uk
Or use our contact form.
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