REPORT ON THE APRIL 2008 MEETING

Cottage Interiors

The speaker at the April meeting of the Alston Moor Historical Society, making a welcome return visit, was Richard Young and his subject was ‘Cottage Interiors'. The artisan's cottages which Richard has studied are of a style used extensively for centuries throughout England, Scotland, Wales and particularly Ireland. However by 1920 numbers were falling rapidly and very few remain apart from those that have been restored and maintained by heritage centres and similar organisations,

It has been possible to establish a picture of what these buildings looked like by examining various sources of data. Archaeological work on sites and ruins has given information on both design and construction materials. Further information can be gleaned from contemporary pictures and engravings. References can be found in written material from the period and there is also an oral legacy. Photographic records are available from the more recent past.

Using all this data it can be ascertained that the typical cottage dwelling would have been a single story small building with a high roof space. There would have been no windows and the only source of natural light would have been the door. This is the origin of the expression ‘never darken my door'. These cottages were a world apart from the modern understanding of what a cottage should be like. There was none of the romantic features which we associate with the idyllic ‘chocolate box cottage' with roses round the door and a beautiful garden. Early cottages would have only one room in which the whole family lived, slept and ate. An obvious omission to the modern life style is that there were no bedrooms. People slept around the fire or in the loft space above the living area.

Fires were essential all the year round for both heating and cooking and these were often on the floor in the centre of the living area. It is difficult to imagine how unpleasant the smoke must have made living conditions. In due course ventilation was provided by the development of holes in the roof which evolved into fireplaces and chimney stacks. Some later cottages had a second room, or parlour, but sleeping was still concentrated near the fire. Later, beds were built into furniture but still kept near the fire.

The flooring material was often beaten earth made of clay, lime and ash and coloured by oxblood. By compacting this mixture a smooth and durable finish could be achieved, provided it could be kept dry. Other floors were bricks set on earth or, in better quality housing such as that on estates, flagstones were used. From 1750 timber floors were introduced, placing the wooden boards on joists laid on earth. Tongued and grooved flooring was a much later development and these butted boards needed the cracks sealing to prevent draughts.

The basic coating for walls was lime wash but a better finish was obtained from lime render made from lime putty, sand and hair. The hair was usually horse hair but analysis has shown that other hair, including goat could be used. Lime is a disinfectant and was used to protect oak beams from insects, particularly woodworm. Distemper, a simple paint, was also developed and could be coloured by natural stainers such as ochre and woad.

As people had little by way of belongings there was not a great need for furniture, most cottages having a table, bench or stools and perhaps a chest for linen. Beds would be a mattress with blankets and sheets but not the bedstead which we now regard as the norm. Whilst furniture was cheap and very basic, the linen was significantly the most expensive material in the house.

The walls were used for hanging all manner of useful, rather than decorative, material to keep them off the floor e.g. food such as game, tools and herbs. It is clear that life for the working artisan was grim and living conditions unpleasant with few creature comforts.

The subject for next meeting of the Society, to be held in the Alston Masonic Hall at 7.30 pm, will be ‘2000 years of Carlisle History' and the speaker will be Anton Hodge.