PART III. ARCHITECTURE. 137 



except in the towns or villages adjoining cathedrals or monas- 

 teries ; and even in those places it seems, by the fatal influence 

 of general poverty, soon to have given way to the common 

 mode. Occasionally, however, after the introduction of orna- 

 ment, the gables were finished with hewn stone in successive 

 pieces like steps. A border or frame of stone became frequent 

 round the windows, and slates were more generally introduced 

 in the roofs. — [Plate VI. fig. 3.] 



When Grecian architecture became fashionable, a few of its 

 ornaments were introduced into cottages, particularly in towns 

 and cities where stone was used, as in the suburbs of Edinburgh, 

 Glasgow, &c. But ere this time the great passion for fine 

 buildings that gave rise to our Gothic cathedrals was allayed ; 

 artists expert at carving on wood or stone became compara- 

 tively rare ; and the fashionable style of decorating cottages 

 seems to have been finally settled at nearly the same as that of 

 the present day. 



SECT. III. OF THE FIRE-PLACES OF COTTAGES. 



It is not necessary to make any observations on the internal 

 disposition of cottages. The best practical method for an ar- 

 chitect to adopt is, to take the remarks of county builders or 



t 



