48 



OLD WEST SURREY 



eighteen inches to about two feet six inches ; the one shown 

 in the picture being of the larger size. 



These three kinds of table were the most usual types, 

 but there were other forms, some folding, some fixed. Of 

 the latter an example of some antiquity is shown, with 

 three upright legs braced together with a stout bottom rail. 

 This was probably a children's table, as it is very low, its 



Linen Hutch and Eight-Legged Table 



height being only one foot ten inches. The common table 

 height is two feet four inches. 



Another not unusual form of children's table was made 

 of a joint stool with a sliding moveable top. The joint 

 stool was in olden days the seat of the carver at the end 

 of the long oak table. The addition of the moveable top 

 was of a later date, but as I have seen examples in Berkshire, 

 as well as the local one shown in the picture, it may be 

 taken that this later way of using the old carver's seat was 

 generally prevalent. In any case, it makes a good-looking, 

 little low table, with no appearance of irrelevant contrivance. 



