This slightly dated phrase will bring back memories of being sent to bed by parents or grandparents, encouraging young children to go to bed.  The ‘wooden hill’ part of the phrase had been in use as a synonym for stairs for some time.  In 1881 a story called ‘Farmer Tubb’s Revenge’ contained the phrase “I’ll just take a turn round the garden and then toddle up the wooden hill” and in 1885 the East London Press printed “multitudes of little feet climb the wooden hill that leads to counterpane country”.  In 1927 there is a recorded example of the introduction of the ‘Bedfordshire’ part of the phrase, in George Sturt’s A small boy in the sixties, meaning the 1860s; “Going to bed was ‘going up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire.”

It’s not heard very often anymore, but many people are familiar with the phrase, and

The View from the Cornish Cabin.

anyone wanting to literally ‘climb the wooden hill to Bedfordshire’ now has the chance to buy a house with just that opportunity.  It’s not in Bedfordshire, but in St Ives, Cornwall.  A tiny wooden cabin overlooking one of Britain’s best beaches has come on the market, and prospective buyers will literally need to climb into bed, as the sleeping area of the single-roomed cabin is up a step-ladder overlooking the main living space and fantastic views.

Marketed as a holiday home, (as previous owners have used it as a rental property), the tiny cabin is expected to fetch at least £400,000 at auction, perhaps a little steep for a property that only has one room, but not as steep as the ladder (or wooden hill!) that leads to Bedfordshire for any new owners.  However, as the property is being sold with £21,000 worth of bookings for the holiday season, it might be a worthwhile investment for those looking to get on the property ladder.