Western Cottage

Western Cottage, in Madeira Walk, was built during the reign of Queen Anne in 1702, on what was then Crown land, at the back of the former Royal Mews. Between 1863 and 1870 it was the home of Rev. J.S. Stone when he was curate of Windsor Parish Church. Stone was the author of the famous hymn, ‘The Church’s one Foundation’, while living in Windsor. This hymn inspired Rudyard Kipling’s 1896 poem, ‘Hymn Before Action’, published in his Seven Seas collection, which consolidated his reputation as Laureate of the Empire. The house is Grade II listed and was sold in 2013 for £482,500.

Next to Western Cottage is the grave of Charles Knight (1791-1873), founder of the Windsor Express, in the overflow from the Parish Church graveyard. The wrought iron gates were erected to his memory.