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1: Plans
There is nothing particular in the cottages of
this county. Upon the farms they are for the most part built-in rows of
one-storey only, having alternately a thick gable wall, with the
fireplaces of two cottages, and a thin wall as the other division. They
are now universally built of stone and lime, and for the most part roofed
by pan tiles. In some instances they are slated, and some are covered by
thatch.
A thatched roof is certainly warmer in winter and cooler in summer, then
either slate or tile; but is much more liable to take fire; and farmers
are not now disposed to permit any part of their straw to be diverted
from its proper object, manua Thatched roofs, especially in towns
and villages, are attended with such eminent danger of spreading
conflagration, that they ought to be prohibited under heavy penalties.
The floors of Berwickshire cottages are mostly formed of clay or a hard
rammed earth, but they are sometimes paved with bricks. Universally
they consist or one floor only, generally about 21 feet by 16 within
walls; but by the disposition of the close timber beds used by our
peasantry, and other articles of furniture, they are commonly divided
into a chamber, a closet or backroom for milk, meal, potatoes, and other
household articles, a coal hole, and a small lobby or entrance
passage. The accompanying plan of a farm cottage, belonging to a
row, will give a more distinct idea than could be conveyed in words; and
the elevation will give a tolerable notion of the rubble building used in
Berwickshire.
In the village is the houses are mostly built two storeys high, and
divided into four or more apartments, usually occupied by as many
separate families. The lower rooms often serve as workshops of
various trades or for small grocers, haberdashers, or chandlers
Alehouses and retailers of spirits abound everywhere; yet upon the whole,
the villagers and farm servants are decently sober in their habits; and
orderly in their general behaviour. Few villages of any size now
want one or two public bakers of wheaten bread, and one or two butchers.
2: Expence.
A cottage of the kind usually built on farms for the hinds married
servants, of the size already mentioned, may be built, roofed with tiles,
and completely fitted for habitation, four from £16 to £21, according to
distance of materials. All this, however, is entirely independent
of the furniture already mentioned, which uniformly belongs to the
cottagers, and may cost from £10 tp £15 more.
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