Bet between two men in Boldre Club lasted 50 years. Secrets of Envy Cottage in the New Forest are finally revealed as Apple Tree Development Homes finally finish it.

IT started as a bet between two men - one a brickie, the other a carpenter - over a pint at Boldre Club.

The chippie proudly boasted that he would be able to build a house just as good as any his friend could.

That bet was to last half a century and give birth to one of the most legendary mysteries in the New Forest. Who owns Envy Cottage in Pilley Bailey and why has it never been lived in?

The A&T reported on the intriguing puzzle of Envy Cottage in June 2023 when it came up for sale. At that time, the paper did not know about the long-standing bet.

But now all has been revealed by building project manager Paul Gazzard, of Appletree Development Homes which bought the property after he spotted our story about it.

Paul said: “In the photos the house was completely overgrown, and you could hardly see it.

“But I just knew it was something very special. For a start it has one of the best positions in the Forest, looking out over the village green, with stunning views of the Forest.”

Paul sent the A&T’s 2023 article to Karen Stammers at the company, who, like him, “fell in love with it”.

She said: “The location and the views were just so wonderful; it just needed a little bit of TLC.”

Both were overwhelmed when they finally got to enter the doors of Envy Cottage, on which work stopped in 2000. Paul said: “It was just incredible. Virtually every single thing had been made by hand, from the parquet flooring blocks to the sash windows and kitchen cabinets - even the staircase.

“He had even fashioned the metal hinges for the kitchen cabinets and doors himself. It really was a labour of love.”

Over the months Paul has been labouring on the house, he has learnt more about its intriguing story.

He said: “The carpenter called it Envy Cottage, because so many people were jealous that he actually got planning permission to build it.

“Over the 50 years he had offers to help him finish it but refused them. Apparently, he was very stubborn, and as far as he was concerned he had made a bet and he was going to win it.”

Villager Barbara Larcombe, from Hayward Fox estate agency, who are now marketing the cottage for £1.695 million knew the person who built it.

She said: “He was a very quiet and gifted man. He was at the cottage whenever he had a spare moment. He could turn his hand to anything which showed in the quality of the workmanship in it when we finally got to see inside.”

A neighbour of Envy Cottage was friends with the mystery former owner. He said: “He was very highly skilled man and very innovative. He once created a moving saw machine using the back axle of a Model T Ford car.

“The work he put into the cottage was phenomenal. A lot of it was very difficult and complex.

“He put a great deal of time, effort and dedication into it. He lived with his mother in a bungalow in the village and it was sad he never got to live in the cottage.

“But I think he would be delighted to see it now and be happy to know that someone is finally going to make it a home.”

Paul said there are hopes that the former owner of Envy Cottage, who no longer lives in the village, may get to see how the house has been brought back to life.

It has retained its famous ‘eyebrow windows’ at the front and a rear extension has been added which contains a fantastic open living kitchen and dining area.

Downstairs there is a lounge with log burner and a bedroom with ensuite bathroom. Upstairs are another three bedrooms, two with dressing areas.

The garden boasts a magnificent summer house.

Karen said: “Sadly, due to modern building regulations we have not been able to retain a lot of the original fittings like the staircase, but we kept what we could and recycled a lot of the wood we took out; it was such beautiful oak and we have been able to use it as fireplace mantels and for other things.”

Standing in the garden of the home a proud Paul said: “For me and the team the house has just been a total joy to work on.

“It really is a very special place.”