The Country Gentleman's Magazine 



355 



Jfarnr Jlrchitccturc ant) (Engineering. 



NOTES ON COTTAGES WITH COTTAGE PLANS. 



CHAPTER THE FIRST, 



WHEN, in 1624, the scholarly Sir Henry 

 Wotton published his '-Elements of 

 Architecture," he gave expression, with charac- 

 teristic terseness to the principles which 

 underlie and govern all " well building " — 

 Making allowance for the fluctuation of word- 

 meanings, it is tnie, now and ever, that 

 " Well building hath three conditions — com- 

 modity, firmness, and delight." " Condi- 

 tions " are these which most influence all good 

 architecture, whether in an Athenian Par- 

 thenon, decorated with the sculpture of a 

 Phidias, or the model cottage of a Shropshire 

 agricultural labourer. 



In undertaking to lay'down certain axioms, 

 upon the observance of which depends the 

 " well building " of cottages, it may not] be 

 either useless or impertinent to glance for a 

 moment at the necessity of a great change in 

 our national practice on this subject of do- 

 mestic architecture for the labouring-classes. 

 Certainly, tomes have been written on this 

 question, rivaUing in " cubic inches " and 

 "pounds weight avoirdupois," Dr Nares' 

 "Life of Burghley," by men of the scientific, 

 practical class — tomes great in merit as in 

 substance; but with what results the innumer- 

 able magnified pig-styes, or contracted ship- 

 pons shew, which are now building in all 

 quarters, for beings made in the image of God 

 to dwell in. Let these men, however, of the 

 scientific practical class not despair. " The 

 gods do ultimately triumph," whatever 

 temporary victories stupidity may boast of, 

 and the suggestions of the present will be- 

 come the doctrines of the future. 



Jeremiads, both loud and deep, are common 

 enough in relation to this matter, revealing a 

 state of things which calls for immediate 



VOL. I. 



thought, and for as immediate alteration,. 

 Philanthropists, clergymen, town missionaries, 

 medical men, and poor-law officials do at 

 times intrude rough facts upon our atten- 

 tion, which make it quite easy to beUeve that 

 " one half the world knows not how the other 

 half lives." In well nigh every city and town 

 in the kingdom there are heaps of dwellings- 

 scandalously constructed, standing huddled" 

 together as if for the purpose of finding a 

 refuge from public indignation and disgust, in 

 the concentration of their multiplied shame- 

 fulness. " Commodity " or appropriateness 

 they are utterly without ; firmness they al- 

 most universally shew a " a plentiful lack of;" 

 delight or beauty they can have in none other 

 eyes than those of a Yahoo. It is in nowise 

 nece.ssary that these jeremiads should be 

 taken upon trust. The data for fonning an 

 independent conclusion lie close at hand, and 

 if we will for a time leave " parmaceti " and 

 "pouncet boxes "on one side, and set ourselves^ 

 down to a thoroughgoing examination of facts, 

 it is likely we shall come to understand that 

 the said jeremiads have in them something 

 other than windy flatulence striving for dismal 

 vent. Cases, by the score, have been ad- 

 duced of a character similar to the following :: 

 — " The underground floor, one apartment, 

 occupied by one man, one woman, and five 

 children ; the ground floor, two apartments, 

 occupied by two men, two women, and eight 

 children ; the first floor, two apartments, twO' 

 men, three women, and five children ; second 

 floor, two apartments, three men, four women, 

 and six children ; garrets, two rooms, occupied 

 by three men, three women, and six children!'*' 

 Fifty-four persons in a house with seven 

 rooms and two garrets ! A pestiferous death- 



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