Implement Show at Manchester. 
565 
reduced to a minimum. No architect can govern the cost of materials, which 
differs with local circumstances ; and the only influence he can really have is in 
the selection of the best and cheapest which different neighbourhoods afford. To 
make, theretbre, a fair comparison of competitive designs of cottages, it is neces- 
sary to assume that all are built of the same materials,, that each description of 
material is paid for, and at the same rate, and further, that the carriage of all 
the materials is either fairly valued or paid for. When this is done, it will be 
surprising how very limited is the power to reduce the cost of cottages. This 
statement will be better understood when the dimensions and particulare of the 
three designs for which prizes have been given are com]3ared (see next page). 
The design, No. 2430, of Mr. Edwin Clarke, of No. 30, Monk's Koad, Lincoln, , 
is for a very compact pair of cottages with living-room, scullery, pantry, and 
fuel-store on the ground-floor, within a quadrangular base, the pantiy and 
coal-store being a lean-to within the quadrangle. The three bedrooms are 
all above. The privy and ashpit are detached. 
The plan No. 6844, of the Central Cottage Improvement Society, of Arundel 
Street, London, is that known as the Kirtlington Cottage, designed- and 
erected by Captain Dashwood, in which one bedroom is placed on the ground 
floor, and two above — the scullery, pantry, and fuel-store forming a lean-to at 
the back, and running the whole breadth of the cottage. Considerable advan- 
tage attends the arrangement of one bedroom on the ground floor ; it allows 
the parents when they get old to live with a married son or daughter. There 
is no copper in the scullery ; this it is designed to put in the outbuildings with 
the privy and ashpit. The living room and scullery are slightly deficient in 
space ; the bedrooms, however, are larger than necessary. 
The design No. 6855, of Mr. James Martin, of Waiufleet, is very compact, 
with accommodation arranged in a somewhat similar way to that of Mr. 
Clarke.. The rooms, however, are smaller, and there is only one door, and 
that at the back, which is objected to by some persons, though it has the 
recommendation of saving a little money, and of making the dwelling warmer. 
The objection to the arrangement rests on the ground that it is opposed to 
cleanliness and comfort, and though it prevents a draught, it discourages 
ventilation. 
It will be observed that, between the first (No. 2430) and second (No. 6844), 
there is a difl'erence of 613 cubic feet only (see Table, next page) ; and as the 
extent of accommodation is very similar, and there certainly is no. feature 
making the second cheaper in construction, any difference in cost will be due 
to this difference in cubical contents. It will be seen, however, that the 
estimate in the second case (the " Kirtlington Cottage ") is only 175^. the pair,, 
including the carriage of materials, which, as nothing is said to the contrary, 
we are led to infer is covered by the estimate ; while that in the first is 230L 
the pair, excluding the carriage of materials, showing a difference of 80/. if the 
carriage of materials is put at the ordinary cost of 25/. per pair, although the 
difference of space (613 cubic feet), if taken at 3j(/. per cubic foot, would amount, 
to only 8/. 2s. Qd. The competitors' estimates, therefore, cannot be taken as any 
guide to the public. In the third case, the estimate of cost approaches nearer 
the amount which general experience will confirm. The cubical content of this; 
design is less than either of the others, though the estimate is 220/., exclusive: 
of the carriage of materials, which, at 25/. per pair of cottages, will raise the: 
cost to 245/. General experience has decided that, if all materials with the 
carriage are paid for at the average prevailing cost, and labour is performed; 
at a price yielding a fair profit to a contracting builder, with interest upon 
the money he employs, the price cannot be taken at less than 2>id. per 
cubic foot, including outbuildings, having regard to such cottages as are 
described in the present conditions. The actual price will vary from Zid. to 
M. per foot. In some instances, where certain, materials used are produced or 
