Milton's Cottage is a timber-framed 16th-century building in the Buckinghamshire village of Chalfont St Giles. It was the former home of writer John Milton, and is open to the public as a writer's house museum. In 1665 John Milton and his wife moved into the cottage to escape the Plague in London. Despite Milton having spent less than a year at the cottage, it is important because of its being his only extant residence. While at the Grade I listed 16th-century cottage, Milton completed his best known work, Paradise Lost; the seeds for Paradise Regained were also sown here. Milton's friend Thomas Ellwood called the cottage "that pretty box in St. Giles".
The ground floor of the cottage is now a museum dedicated to Milton and his works. The four museum rooms contain the most extensive collection in the world on open display of 17th-century first editions of John Milton's works, both poetry and prose. Tours vividly describe and explore the extraordinary career of this blind genius in his refuge from the plague, where he wrote some of the finest poetry. The thoughts of John Milton and the diverse nature of his published works are the evidence that demonstrates why he leaves such an enduring legacy. The cottage's garden is also open to the public and is planted in a traditional style.
John Milton was born in 1608 into a century of revolution — in politics, print, science and the arts. By the time he died, in 1674, Britain had experienced the governments of three different Stuart monarchs, the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, a few short-lived experiments in republican government – as well as Civil War. Milton was at the centre of this turbulent period. Having postponed his early poetic aspirations to support the Republican cause, he served in Cromwell’s government as the Secretary for Foreign Tongues. During this time he devoted himself to polemical, theological and historical prose – much of which remains relevant to readers today through its exploration of personal, religious and political freedom. After the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660, now blind, politically out of favour – and lucky to escape with his life – Milton returned to his first love, poetry. During this time he produced his greatest masterpieces, including the epic Paradise Lost. Begun while imprisoned in the Tower of London and completed at Milton’s Cottage, it was published in 1667 and immediately hailed, in the words of the poet John Dryden, as “one of the most sublime poems this age or nation has produced.”
By 1654, Milton had become totally blind; the cause of his blindness is debated but bilateral retinal detachment or glaucoma are most likely. His blindness forced him to dictate his verse and prose to amanuenses (helpers), one of whom was poet Andrew Marvell. One of his best-known sonnets is presumed to date from this period, When I Consider How My Light is Spent, titled by a later editor "On His Blindness". There is wheelchair access and guide dogs are welcome throughout the museum. There is a free visitor’s car park adjoining Milton’s Cottage for cars but coach parking must be arranged in advance by email or telephone.
Location : Milton's Cottage, 21 Deanway, Chalfont St. Giles, HP8 4JH
Transport : Gerrards Cross (National Rail) then bus (353, 305) OR Amersham (Metropolitan Line) then bus (353). Bus Routes : 305, 353, 580, 730 and BB12 stop nearby.
Opening Times : Wednesday to Saturday, Bank Holiday Sundays + Mondays, last Sunday of Month 14:00 to 17:00
Tickets : Adults £7.00; Children (under 16) £4.00
Tel. : 01494 872313
