Block  of  Four  Cottages. 
135 
to  give  the  maximum  amount  oE  convenience.  Each  of  the 
larger  cottages  has  two  fireplaces  on  the  ground  floor,  and  all 
of  them  have  a copper  and  sink.  The  outbuildings  can,  if 
desired,  be  placed  parallel  with,  instead  of  at  right  angles 
to,  the  house,  but  they  have  been  found  in  ])ractice  to  be 
suitable  as  drawn  ; and  if  more  space  is  desired  in  the 
sculleries,  the  coppers  might  be  omitted  and  set  up  in  the 
sheds.  This  would  be  advantageous  in  other  resjiects  also, 
as  the  steam  would  be  kept  out  of  the  house.  A few  sheets 
of  corrugated  iron  over  the  space  between  the  cottages  and  the 
outbuildings  would  also  furnish  excellent  sheds  for  coal,  &c. 
The  roofs  of  the  dormers  at  the  back  are  covered  with  lead. 
As  regards  cost,  a careful  estimate  shows  that  under 
ordinary  circumstances  the  block  of  four  cottages,  which 
occupies  an  area  of  1,190  superficial  feet,  could  be  built  for 
•180k,  including  a well  of  moderate  dej)th  and  a pump.  The 
outbuildings  would  cost  about  80/.,  and  if  10/.  were  allowed  as 
the  value  of  a site  of  an  acre  in  extent  (which  would  provide 
four  large  gardens — a valuable  addition),  including  the 
necessary  fencing,  the  total  cost  would  be  (iOO/. 
It  does  not  seem  practicable  to  build  four  cottages  suited 
to  present  requirements  for  a smaller  sum,  but  of  course  the 
amount  would  vary  according  to  the  facilities  for  obtaining 
the  necessary  materials.  A small  saving,  however,  might  be 
effected  by  substituting  wooden  casements  for  the  lead  lights, 
which  were  adopted  for  the  sake  of  their  better  appearance. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  upper  storey  walls  of  rough  cast 
were  built  of  brick,  the  cost  would  be  a little  more. 
In  connection  with  this  or  any  other  design  for  a two- 
bedroom  cottage  next  to  one  with  three  bedrooms,  a useful 
provision  may  be  made  by  which  each  cottage  may  be  converted 
at  will  into  one  having  the  larger  or  smaller  .number  of 
bedrooms.  The  stud  partition  wall  should  have  the  woodwork 
at  a suitable  place,  trimmed  ready  for  door  linings  and  a door,  if 
at  any  time  it  should  be  found  necessary  to  insert  them.  By  this 
means  extra  accommodation  in  a two-bedr(X)in  cottage  may  easily 
be  provided  for  a labourer  with  a growing  family,  without  the 
necessity  for  a change  of  cottage  ; and  a good  deal  of  injury 
to  the  wall  and  its  subsequent  rej)air  would  thus  be  avoided. 
Pig-sties  are  not  provided  in  any  of  the  designs,  as  handy 
tenants  with  some  rough  materials  can  j)ut  them  up  at  any 
convenient  place  on  the  premises — a small  pig  run  is  best  if 
available. 
