Villagers' horror as beautiful 17th century thatched cottage is torn down in one hour without planning permission
Locals in Nursling, near Southampton in Hampshire, said the 300-year-old property was regarded as the 'hallmark' of their parish and was even featured on the front cover of a book about local history.
Test Valley Borough Council has now launched an investigation after the cottage, which was not listed, was demolished.
The council said they had not been made aware of plans to tear down the two-bedroom home.
Lawrence Harfield, 71, has lived in the Hampshire village for two decades and said many of his neighbours have been left 'stunned' by the demolition.
He said: 'First of all we thought they were re-thatching the roof - we were gutted when we saw what had happened.
'We thought it was a listed building. It was a hallmark of the village - I have taken loads of pictures of the cottage over the years, sometimes even in the snow.'
Mr Harfield continued: 'It was gone within an hour - a JCB came and smashed it down.
'I hope that Test Valley Borough Council make those responsible rebuild it as it was.'
The last planning application in relation to the cottage was submitted to the council in 2022, seeking to build a new home on the land next to the cottage.
This application was approved by Test Valley, but no work has yet started on the separate dwelling.
Planning portfolio holder, Councillor Phil Bundy, said: 'I was made aware on Sunday evening that Wychwood Cottage had been demolished at the weekend.
'Test Valley Borough Council was not notified of this work in advance.
'Whilst the cottage was not a listed building, TVBC is currently investigating the matter.
'This includes establishing whether the owners followed the correct planning procedures, and the council is in contact with them to understand why it was demolished.'
Another resident of the Nursling area, where house prices average at around £420,000, said: 'I thought it would always be there.
'I have a book at home on the long history of Nursling - that cottage is on the front cover - that just shows how important that cottage was to our heritage.
'It's such a shock - it was a beautiful little cottage.'
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