A
Anonymous
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Continuing the discussion (see previous posts and Biff's website):
I've been reading 'The Truth about COTTAGES' by John Woodforde RKP 1969
Here's a bit more info:
'...the cottage builders who bothered to be deliberately picturesque were a minority; most stuck to basic practicalities. In the matter of floors, for example, smart pattern books might call for certain types of stone or tile, but one could always follow John Mordant, author of 'The Compleat Steward' (1761) who said that earth floors were perfectly all right. Such floors were made of one third lime, one third coal ashes well siftedand one third loamy clay and horse dung made from grass, these last two in equal proportions. Another sort could be made of loamy clay with one=third new soft horse dung with a small quantity of coal ashes. the material was tempered, rested for ten days, again tempered and rested for three days, then laid upon the ground. Making floors like this was a well-established practice; they were known as lime ash floors.'
(And an apology to Biff - haven't yet manged to get the past articles from the Journal of Architectural Conservation about lime ash and gypsum floors... must try to see if I can find anyone with copies! If anyone reading this has them handy... )
http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk
I've been reading 'The Truth about COTTAGES' by John Woodforde RKP 1969
Here's a bit more info:
'...the cottage builders who bothered to be deliberately picturesque were a minority; most stuck to basic practicalities. In the matter of floors, for example, smart pattern books might call for certain types of stone or tile, but one could always follow John Mordant, author of 'The Compleat Steward' (1761) who said that earth floors were perfectly all right. Such floors were made of one third lime, one third coal ashes well siftedand one third loamy clay and horse dung made from grass, these last two in equal proportions. Another sort could be made of loamy clay with one=third new soft horse dung with a small quantity of coal ashes. the material was tempered, rested for ten days, again tempered and rested for three days, then laid upon the ground. Making floors like this was a well-established practice; they were known as lime ash floors.'
(And an apology to Biff - haven't yet manged to get the past articles from the Journal of Architectural Conservation about lime ash and gypsum floors... must try to see if I can find anyone with copies! If anyone reading this has them handy... )
http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk