276 



Farming of Cumberland. 



being of little importance in dwellings where the domestic opera- 

 tions were simple. 



The fire-places were on the ground, and extended nearly across 

 the end of the building, with wide and open chimneys, through 

 which the sky might be seen, and where the rain entered freely. 

 The inside of the spacious chimney was the curing-place for 

 hams and other joints, and across it was a small oaken beam,* 

 from which the pot-crook was suspended, and on which the rats 

 were accustomed to disport, and annoy the inmates by the soot 

 they displaced. These clay houses were warm enough, but too 

 close to be healthy when the doors were closed. 



Some few examples of such buildings, in all their primitive- 

 ness, may yet be seen; and, being specimens of the common 

 residence of the laird, t the yeoman and the cottar " of the olden 

 time," should not all be extirpated till we can properly appre- 

 ciate the comfort of better dwellings. 



The plan originally followed in erecting these houses was a 

 long range J of building, without any lofts. When the border 

 disturbances partly ceased, greater cost in building and increased 

 conveniences were indulged in, though not without the risk of 

 incurring loss from marauding parties of moss-troopers. And to 

 guard against these, many stone-built detached farm-houses, 

 dating from 1600 to 1750, are found, forming squares, with a 

 fold-yard inclosed to hold the cattle ; the entrance being an arch- 

 way with knobbed oak doors, and the dwelling fronting into the 

 yard. After the latter date the precaution of the inclosed fold- 

 yard was omitted, under the comfortable feeling of greater security; 

 and we find the buildings more separated as convenience or fancy 

 dictated, or the wants of the occupiers required. When corn 

 began to be cultivated in such quantities that some farms had a 

 little to spare, the barns were constructed with a small door 

 directly opposite to the larger entrance, for the purpose of cre- 

 ating a draught sufficient to winnow the grain as it was poured 

 over the edge of a " weyt," § or a wooden shovel. On fine days 

 the grain was removed into the field to the nearest elevation, 

 called the " deetin' hill," and there deeted or winnowed. These 

 methods have been practised on many small farms till within the 

 present century. 



Few houses are now met with that are not built of stone and 



* The rannel tree. 



t The barons' and esquires' residences were mostly fortified halls and castles. 



X A barn at Salter Hall, and another at Grange near Egreraont, were of nineteen 

 lengths of timber. The former originated the saying " as long as Salter Leathe." 

 The latter stood at right angles across the highway, which passed through an 

 archway in the centre. 



§ This was a kind of shallow dish made of a sheep-skin fixed over a narrow 

 hoop, and used in the barn work solely. 



