6. YORKSHIRE. 139 



The copings of gables, let the walihig ma- 

 terial be what it may, is ufually of drefled 

 Hone, fiipported at the foot by an ornamental 

 bracket of the lame, projeding ten or twelve 

 inches without the fide walls ; giving a de- 

 gree of lightnefs, and an appearance of con- 

 fequence to the building. 



The end of the firft ftone of the coping 

 refts on this corner bracket ; the others rc- 

 fpedlively on thofe next below them. 



There is an evil cfFecl attends the common 

 method of putting on thefc copings : the ends 

 of the ftones being ufually cut fquare, and 

 flufh with each other, to prevent their flip- 

 ping, and to give them a fmooth uniform ap- 

 pearance, the joints between them, when the 

 mortar begins to fail, receive rain-water, and 

 conduft it into the end wall, by which means 

 their principal intention, the prcfervation of 

 the wall, is rendered dcfcflive. 



To prevent this effect, I have obferved, in 

 a few inftanccs, an ingenious expedient prac- 

 tifed. The upper ends of the coping floncs 

 are pared down to about half their common 

 thicknefs fas from two inches thick to one), 

 with a flope fufficient to give defcent to wa- 

 ter 



