Button Snap is a 17th-century cottage in northeast Hertfordshire, that has been associated with the writer

Charles Lamb Charles Lamb (10 February 1775 – 27 December 1834) was an English essayist, poet, and antiquarian, best known for his ''Essays of Elia'' and for the children's book ''Tales from Shakespeare'', co-authored with his sister, Mary Lamb (1764–18 ...

. It is on a rural gravel road west of the village of

Westmill Westmill is an English village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, with an area of 1036 hectares. A population of 264 was recorded in the 2001 National Census. It lies just to the south of Buntingford, beside th ...

. It has been listed Grade II on the

National Heritage List for England The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is England's official database of protected heritage assets. It includes details of all English listed buildings, scheduled monuments, register of historic parks and gardens, protected shipwrecks, an ...

since February 1967. Button Snap cottage, located about northwest of Cherry Green Farm and Fancy Hall, is significant for several reasons. First, it has changed little, excepting for a possible later extension, since it was built. It is therefore a good example of a traditional cottage with a roof of thatched straw. The heritage listing for Button Snap describes its construction as "Timber frame roughcast on plastered red brick sill". A number of other thatched-roof cottages, known as Cherry Green, exist nearby. This cottage has a unique history. It was originally owned by Francis Field, the uncle of the writer

. In 1812 Field's widow conveyed this property to Lamb, who lived in the cottage until 1815, when he sold it. Lamb mentioned this house in an essay, "My First Play." Lamb even apparently gave the cottage its name of Button Snap. The cottage has two ceramic plaques on either side of the front door that tell of its connection to Lamb. A small bust of Lamb is next to the road (at the verge) in front of the cottage, as well. This cottage was privately owned for many years. In 1947 the owner presented Button Snap to the

Royal Arts Society Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a c ...

. Two years later the Society sold the property to the

Charles Lamb Society The Charles Lamb Society (CLS) celebrates and contributes to scholarship on the life and work of Charles Lamb (1775-1834) and Mary Lamb (1764-1847). Charles Lamb was an English essayist and poet whose literary circle included important figures in ...

, which leased it to tenants. Because of rising costs of maintaining the structure, it was sold in 1985.Deborah K. Hedgecock, ''A Handlist to the Charles Lamb Society Collection at Guildhall Library,'' (Richmond, England: Charles Lamb Society, 1995), at http://www.charleslambsociety.com/docs/Deborah%20Hedgecock%20-%20(supp%201995).pdf.

References

{{Listed buildings in Hertfordshire, G2 East Hertfordshire District Grade II listed houses in Hertfordshire Timber framed buildings in Hertfordshire