290 On the Old Porch-Rouse at Potterne. 



These roofs of open timber-work were often richly ornamented, and 

 sometimes pierced wood-work resembling the tracery of windows was 

 introduced under the arches. King-posts and tie-beams were also 

 characteristic features of these massive roofs. The foundations were 

 generally of stone, as were the fire-places and chimney shafts, where 

 they existed. The construction of the projecting stories and several 

 other portions displayed great ingenuity : these overhanging upper 

 stories were generally carried on corbels : the timbers in front were 

 often ornamented with panelling, either entirely carved on wood, 

 or the spaces between the timbers were filled with plaster, and the 

 timbers were left projecting. Moreover it would seem probable, 

 from the appearance of the timbers in many of these buildings, that 

 their surfaces were originally protected by a description of paint of 

 a rich brown colour : it is however extremely uncertain whether the 

 practice of blackening them, as is usually done in the present day, 

 can be traced to an ancient origin. 



As regards the interiors of these timber houses, perhaps we of 

 this more luxurious age should scarcely be satisfied with the ac- 

 commodation which met all the requirements of our ancestors, and 

 we might pronounce the rooms they generally contained, few in 

 number, and diminutive in size. Neither should we be content to 

 dwell in a hall without a chimney, and with windows guiltless of 

 glass, but which ably fulfilled their duties of letting in the air, and 

 letting out the smoke. Yet such were the simple manners of the 

 good old times that these arrangements were universally adopted. 

 Moreover the majority of houses consisted of no more than aground 

 floor, and of this the " hall " was the chief apartment ; the general 

 living room of the family ; into which the principal door opened ; 

 which in the case of the less pretentious dwellings, served for cooking, 

 eating, receiving visitors, and in short for almost all the ordinary 

 usages of domestic life. Adjacent to this, and oftentimes on the 

 same level, was the " chamber" the family bedroom, which was also 

 the private apartment of the lord and his family, and the resort of 

 the female part of the household by day. In addition to this were 

 the " cellar" and on the side opposite the chamber, the " stable" 

 which was considered a necessary appendage, because at this period 



