The cottage was built by Hardy's great-grandfather in 1800. It is now a National Trust property, and a popular tourist attraction.[2] The property has a typical cottage garden, and the interior displays furniture which, although not from the Hardy family, is original to the period.[3] The property is situated on the northern boundary of Thorncombe Wood.[1][4] It is only three miles from Max Gate,[5] the house that Hardy designed and lived in with Emma Gifford from 1885 until his death in 1928.
In 2012 the go ahead was given to a project to build a new visitor centre near the cottage.[7] The project also included new trails in Thorncombe Wood.[7] The project, which secured £525,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was a joint partnership between Dorset County Council and the National Trust.[8] The visitor centre opened in September 2014.[8]