Blue plaque unveiled for one of Weston-super-Mare's oldest buildings

The building was built in 1791 and has been a restaurant for 60 years

A blue plaque has been unveiled this week at one of the oldest buildings in Weston-Super-Mare.

The Old Thatched Cottage was built in 1791 and is the town's only surviving thatched house.

A Grade II listed building that sits along the sea front, it was originally created as a holiday home for musician and soldier Reverend William Leeves.

Local historian Graham Birrell called it "an incredible landmark".

The blue plaque commemorates the building as being the holiday home of The Reverend William Leeves

The building has been through 10 weather-related and fire "disasters", including having its roof blown off at least twice.

It has had four recorded fires and been flooded at least four times, even being considered for demolition in 1854.

And In 1903, a neighbour's chimney stack fell through the building's roof.

The cottage was used as a dairy during the 1800s

The blue plaque marks the house's creator and most well-known former resident, Reverend William Leeves.

He was connected to Scottish balladry, as the composer of the tune for Auld Robin Gray, but is also said to have been loved locally, being buried under the altar at Wrington Church, commemorated by a chancel window and memorial.

After his death, the cottage had some more interesting residents and visitors, including being rented out as a holiday home, lived in by a dairyman and used as a tea room.

Rev William Leeves was painted by artist Thomas Gainsborough

Since 1959, it has been owned and operated by the Michael family as a restaurant.

Andie Jeffries, daughter of owner Maria Michael, applied for the plaque.

She said: "We are thrilled and immensely proud to be guardians of such an important building."

"The arrival of the prestigious blue plaque is a fitting tribute to the cottage's rich and storied history," she added.

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