Between January and June of this year, at the eastern end of Water Street, the Bermuda National Trust transformed an old Bermuda Cottage, “Davenport” into a functional two-bedroom home. The preservation of Bermuda’s built heritage is one part of the Trust’s mandate; the other is to save places of natural beauty, and to promote their appreciation.

The Trust received ownership of Davenport Cottage in 2000 thanks to a generous gift of the property from the late Dr. Raymond Spurling. The building is named after the early 19th Century St. George’s merchant, John Davenport. It comprised four small rooms over a large unused cellar. The building was in poor condition and unsafe so the Trust knew that it had to carry out improvements to make it fit for habitation.

The Trust’s Architectural Heritage book on St. George’s identifies Davenport Cottage as the site of Ruth Massey’s House. This house is now long gone and the current house was built in about 1935 and is not a listed building. However the building is subject to a preservation order as a part of the adjoining properties of Samaritan’s Cottages and Lodge. The Trust felt that the restoration of the cottage was important to maintain the historic character of the properties in the surrounding area of the St. George’s World Heritage Site.

Funding for the restoration was made possible by a significant bequest in 2003 from the late Mary Gwen Williams, a retired matron from St. Brendan’s Hospital. Her major bequest of $1.3 million was the largest received by the Trust and enabled an endowment fund to be formed and the Davenport capital project to be carried out.

OBM Architects were commissioned to carry out a survey for the Trust and they sketched out some options. Charles Tatem, the Trust’s Historic Buildings Committee Chair volunteered to assist with the supervision of the restoration project and working with the Trust’s Property Manager, Valerie Wallace, appointed AJ Lewis Contracting and Coral Construction to carry out the main contract work.

Major internal works were carried out but the exterior was unchanged for the most part with the exception of front porch and steps and a small addition to the rear for a spiral staircase to connect the main floor to new living space in the cellar.

Extensive termite damage in the ceiling timbers required their complete replacement, and all the floor boarding needed replacing. New wooden windows, blinds, and Dutch doors were installed; many of the internal features were retained. Ms Wallace described it as “a total team effort”.

The new tenants, Jen and Drew Pettit, are delighted with their new home, and both have a strong appreciation for things historic. Mrs. Pettitt is a teacher and Mr. Pettitt is a landscape architect working for the Parks Department.

His current projects are mostly East End based, and include the restoration of various Bermuda Forts, and Cooper’s Island, so living in this World Heritage Site suits them very well.

Trust Director Steve Conway said: “Davenport is important as a part of the townscape and historic character of Water Street and as an income-producing asset for the Trust to assist with our work in St. George’s.

“The Trust has focused on acquiring a range of properties to reflect architectural styles of different eras, but is also interested in owning newer properties which generate income and a good return.”

Ms Wallace added:<\p>“To see an empty building transformed into a cosy home for a young Bermudian couple gives me a very positive feeling, and we would like to thank AJ Lewis and Coral Construction for doing a great job on Davenport.

“This is also an opportunity for me to appreciate the Trust’s landscaping team of three who maintain the gardens to all our properties in St. George’s — Saleem Madyun, John Glynn, and David O’Neill, and our Building Team of three who maintain the structures — Allan Van Putten, Randy Denbrook, and Cyril Dowling. I couldn’t do it without them.”